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Tennessee center Cooper Mays named finalist for Rimington Award

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Cooper Mays, Tennessee Football | Tennessee Athletics
Cooper Mays, Tennessee Football | Tennessee Athletics

Tennessee senior center Cooper Mays has been named one of three finalists for the Rimington Award. Mays joins Jacob Gideon of Western Michigan and Seth McLaughlin of Ohio State that have the chance to be the latest award winner.

The Dave Rimington Trophy is awarded to the player considered to be the best center in college football. Dave Rimington was a center who played at the University of Nebraska from 1979 to 1982.

Mays has been a staple at center for the Vols during Josh Heupel’s four years on Rocky Top. It’s a journey that has flown by.

“It’s really went by faster than I thought it would,” Mays said when joining Vol Club Confidential. “It’s really been a great experience. I came into college and if you had told me all the stuff that happened and how it all went down, I’d have told you that you were crazy and no way but it’s been a really great experience. I’ve got to watch my little brother grow up and play with my older brother. Got my first start right beside him and it’s been a really beautiful journey.”

The Mays family has a long history of wearing the orange. He lined up alongside his older brother, Cade, on the offensive line for two seasons, while his father, Kevin, was an All-SEC guard in the 90s. His uncle Michael Frogg.

Mays has played in 52 games with 44 starts, all at center. He has seen action on 2,891 career offensive snaps, allowing only four sacks. He has not allowed a sack in 26 straight appearances, a streak that dates back to the 2022 season. He is a graduate of Tennessee and wears the SEC graduate patch in 2024 after earning his degree in May.

His 98.9 pass blocking efficiency rating according to PFF ranks second in the SEC and 12th in the FBS among centers (min. 800 blocking snaps).

Mays earned SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors after his performance vs. #7 Alabama by helping pave the way for a Tennessee offense that put up 408 total yards and 214 rushing yards. During that game, he was the highest graded blocker in the game on both sides at 82.9 according to PFF.

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