Cooper Mays considers effect recovering from injury had on decision to return to Tennessee
Cooper Mays had a rough start to his 2023-2024 campaign with the Volunteers. He was sidelined for more than a month with a hernia and the surgery that followed. It wasn’t until early October before he finally saw the field for the Volunteers. That injury played a critical role in his decision to return to the Vols for another year this fall. In the one of the latest episodes of Andy Staples On3, Mays sat down with Staples to chat about the injury and the impact it made in his decision to pass up on the 2024 NFL Draft.
“It was tough. You know, I’m not gonna sit here and act like it wasn’t tough. But it wasn’t something that I wasn’t used to,” Mays began. “I think I’ve always kind of been in a role where I’ve had to kind of claw my way up and kind of fight through adversity and different stuff to figure out a way to win. And I think that was kind of right on par with it.”
How hard was it for him watching from the sidelines and not being able to play in the first few months of the season? “It was rough as well. That was probably the hardest part of it, ya know. The pain is one thing and then going through rehab and stuff. That’s something. But knowing that you could be helping and you not being able to, that’s the biggest thing that eats away at you,” Mays explained.
When he came back in October, it felt like the offense moved more efficiently. It certainly had to make Mays feel good, but frustrated at the same time. “Yeah, you’re frustrated, but you know, it’s always great when you finally get back out there with your guys and can enjoy the game. You know, it’s a beautiful game and we’re lucky to play it,” he said.
What factors went into his decision to return the Vols?
Mays easily could have been preparing for the 2024 NFL Draft at this point in time, but he made the tough decision to come back to the Volunteers for his senior year this fall. He said one of the biggest reasons he decided to come back was he wanted to put a full season of healthy tape on film for NFL scouts.
“There were a lot of factors that went into it,” Mays explained. “But kind of what we were talking about my injury and everything. That. I didn’t want to end on that kind of note. And then, you know as well as I do, that scouts love seeing a full healthy season and everything. So, that was kind of what I was striving to end on.”
Mays is a huge believer in consistency in every task in life. He wanted to demonstrate that in his final year with the Vols. “I think a big thing that everybody wants out of life, no matter what path you’re in, is consistency out of the people that they’re working with. So, you’ve gotta be consistent. You’ve gotta be there,” he explained.
His brother Cade Mays has played in the NFL for the past few seasons with the Carolina Panthers. How much did he lean on his brother’s advice in the decision-making process?
“Big time. I take my family’s advice even more than my own sometimes. Because a lot of the people that are making decisions, like you said, they’ve been there, done that. So, I looked into it a lot and you know, my faith played a big part in that as well. Kind of figuring that out. You know, I think I’m at the right spot now,” Mays explained.
How much more fun is it for Cooper Mays to come into his senior year with a full grasp of the offense and knowing everything extremely well? “It’s big for me. You know, I’ve done a lot of things well over my time here but I think the biggest thing that I’ve done well is kind of played my role in a certain way,” the senior explained.
“Center. That’s gotta be the biggest thing that you figure out is kind of get to where you fit in and just help people. You know as well as I do, the center, you’re on a combination every time trying to help people out. So, I’ve been trying to play my role as best as possible and figure out ways to help the team,” Mays said.
Mays will try to help along a talented newcomer
One of the talented newcomers to the Tennessee offensive line that Mays will need to help bring along is former LSU left tackle Lance Heard. Heard was rated as a five-star prospect and the No. 22 overall prospect in the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Rankings. How does Mays plan on bringing along the uber-talented left tackle?
“I think just guiding him and using my eyes as a way to kind of meet him in the middle and figure out where he needs help, what he needs help with, you know. I’m an older guy and like you said, he’s young. And he’s got a lot of stuff to figure out and learn just like all of us did when we were young. So, I think I can help him in a lot of ways, but he’s a really humble guy, good kid, he kind of understands,” Mays said.
Cooper Mays has already played with one of the more talented Tennessee offensive linemen in recent history in Darnell Wright, who was blessed with jaw-dropping physical tools. What was it like working with such a special talent?
“I think it all depends on how the kid is. How he is as a person because you know, there’s so many people that have God given ability and they just don’t put it to the right use. And those are two examples of guys that are A) humble and B) trusting of people to help them and help cultivate. Like, Darnell, he went from being maybe a mid-round to late round draft pick one year, flipping sides, and then went first round. Which we all always saw that in Darnell,” Mays explained.