Josh Heupel updates the injury status of Tennessee center Cooper Mays
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel said Monday that the status of senior center Cooper Mays for Saturday’s season-opening game against Virginia will be determined later this week. Mays has been out since August 9 after undergoing an undisclosed minor procedure.
“Cooper, we’ll find out here as the week goes on, his availability in this one,” Heupel said during his weekly press conference. “We’ve had two and a half, three weeks of different guys having an opportunity to play on the interior (of the offensive line), if he’s not able to go. Feel really confident in those guys.”
Tennessee’s depth chart released Monday had Mays listed as the starting center with redshirt seniors Ollie Lane and Dayne Davis as the backup options at the position.
Countdown to Kickoff: Tennessee vs. Virginia, Saturday, Noon ET, ABC
The Vols kick off the new season against Virginia Saturday at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, scheduled for a Noon Eastern Time on ABC.
“I do feel good about the development of our young guys,” Heupel said. “Some of the guys that have had experience playing. (We will be) rotating some of those guys at the guard and tackle positions in this first one as well.”
Heupel confirmed the injury for Mays on August 10, after Tennessee’s first scrimmage of fall camp. He said at the time that Mays had underwent a “minor procedure” and that he expects to to be “a couple-week deal.”
“Coop had a minor procedure,” Heupel said at the time. “He’ll be back, he’ll be healthy as we get closer to kickoff. I anticipate that being a couple-week deal.”
Vols’ depth chart lists seven possible starters on offensive line
The depth chart on Monday had three possible starters bracketed at left guard: Texas transfer Andre Karic, redshirt senior Jackson Lampley or Ollie Lane. Senior Javontez Spraggins is the starting right guard, ahead Lampley. Senior Jeremiah Crawford and Davis were bracketed as possible starters at right tackle.
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The depth chart listed Miami transfer John Campell Jr. or Gerald Mincey as starters at left tackle.
“(Campell’s) maturity, the amount of football that he’s played all certainly help us,” Heupel said on Monday. “And he’s had a great camp. We’ve got great trust in him to play at a really high level.”
Mays, a preseason Second Team All-SEC pick, started all 13 games at center last season, playing 894 snaps while not allowing a sack over the last five games. He played and started at center in eight games as a sophomore in 2021.
Heupel early in fall camp mentioned Lane, Parker Ball, freshman Vysen Lang and redshirt freshman Addison Nichols as players Tennessee initially rotated through in place of Mays.
“Those guys are all competing for those spots,” Heupel said at the time. “All of those guys have taken some reps, even when Cooper’s here too, so we continue to look for that backup center spot.”
