If chemistry is the key to a dominant offensive line, it sure helps to have a professor like center Cooper Mays leading the class.
Following a 51-10 takedown of N.C. State in Charlotte on Saturday, Mays was named the SEC lineman of the week. It was more than well-deserved, as Mays did not allow a sack, a penalty or a QB hit against the Wolfpack’s defense. In fact, Mays hasn’t allowed a sack in 16 straight games, going back to 2022.
“It’s invaluable,” Mays said of the offensive line magnetism. “You know, you’ve got to have chemistry. But all five gotta be playing in unison and know what each other are doing and what they’re doing. So, if things don’t go the right way, if it moves after the snap, then you can figure stuff out. It’s all about process of elimination. And figuring out the best way to get it done.”
For the offensive line to generate that chemical reaction that is so invaluable to Mays, you need the right elements in the mix. And Mays thinks the Vols have it this season. One in particular is Andrej Karic, a senior who transferred in from Texas last year. Karic is back on the field after missing the last eight games of the 2023 season due to injury. Left guard was a bit of a concern during preseason camp when Karic was banged up and forced to miss some time. Now, that position seems to be well taken care of.
“I think (Karic) plays really, really hard,” Mays noted. “And he’s an athletic guy that has gotten a lot better in the last year. He’s just doing a really good job. I like playing next to him… he makes a center feel comfortable in there.”
What has changed with Karic?
“I think just being healthy and getting stronger, just kind of just getting better at all things,” Mays said about Karic elevating his game. “He’s a guy that already is blessed with a lot of athleticism and natural leverage and everything. And he understands the game. But just getting stronger and remaining healthy, that’s the biggest thing for him.”
And while Tennessee fans hope for a healthy and strong offensive line all season long, it’s a relief to know that the depth of the line runs… deep, according to Mays. Should the unfortunate happen, there’s a few guys in the background that could step up immediately, if needed. “I guess that would be Dayne (Davis), Larry (Johnson III), Satt (William Satterwhite),” Mays said of his offensive line bench. “Lamp (Jackson Lampley) is in that group. I feel like we’ve kind of built it up… (OL) Coach (Glen) Elarbee has recruited it up to be two strings of guys that could play. And then you got some six-man type stuff that we have going on, maybe some seventh-man stuff where you’ve got guys that kind of rotate in and shuffle in with if need be.
“So, we’re pretty comfortable,” Mays noted of the Vols’ offensive line roster. “We know how it goes. If you’re a two, then that means you’re one play away from being a starter. And it doesn’t get more serious than being a backup, you know?”
