Tennessee OL Cooper Mays announces decision to return to Vols for 2024 season

Tennessee offensive lineman Cooper Mays has made a decision on his future. Mays is returning to Tennessee for another year, he announced on Friday.

“‘The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.’ Back to finish what I started…” Mays posted.

Cooper Mays earned second-team All-SEC honors this season, despite missing the first four games of the year with an injury.

Once he got on the field, the former four-star recruit played well.

Mays is a Knoxville native who gave up no sacks in 463 snaps this season. He has been a contributor for the Vols since his freshman season.

Cooper Mays attended Knoxville Catholic High School. He was ranked as the No. 11 interior offensive lineman in the nation coming out, according to the On3 Industry rankings.

As a freshman, Mays appeared in all 10 games and made two starts. The 6-foot-3, 305-pounder started eight games as a sophomore in 2021 and all 13 games last season. He was once again a starter for the Vols this year once he got healthy.

Mays and the Vols will face Iowa in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1.

More on the 2024 NFL Draft

The 2024 NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Michigan, with the first round on Thursday, April 25, the second and third rounds on Friday, April 26, and the fourth through seventh rounds on Saturday, April 27.

Players will have the opportunity to solidify their draft stock at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, to be held in Indianapolis, Indiana from February 26 through March 4.

The three-day event will be broadcasted throughout the weekend on ESPN and NFL Network.

To be eligible for the NFL Draft, players must be at least three years removed from their final year of high school while having used up their collegiate eligibility. Underclassmen are able to request league approval to become eligible for the draft, as are players who have graduated prior to using up all of their collegiate eligibility.

Last season, 69 players were granted special eligibility for the 2023 NFL Draft. 13 underclassmen who had completed their college degrees were also deemed eligible to be selected.

The deadline to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft is on January 15. NFL teams will receive a full list of eligible players in the class on January 19.