By Missy Grimes
Mays received first-team honors from Sports Illustrated and USA Today, while McCoy was honored as a second-teamer by the Associated Press and SI.
During the Josh Heupel era (2021-present), Tennessee has produced seven All-Americans – its most in a four-year span since 2006-09.
Cooper Mays (C) – All-America First Team (USA Today, Sports Illustrated)
In his fourth straight season as the starting center, Mays anchored UT’s offensive line that helped the Vols finish with a top-10 rushing offense and total offense in the country. The Kingston, Tennessee, native, played a team-high 816 offensive snaps according to PFF and did not allow a sack or quarterback hit throughout the entire 2024 campaign. He carries a streak of 26 consecutive games without allowing a sack into next week’s CFP first-round contest against the Ohio State Buckeyes, which dates back to the 2022 season.
Mays led an offensive line unit that paved the way for the top rushing attack in the SEC for the second year in row. Tennessee’s 232.0 rushing yards per game ranked first in the conference and ninth in the FBS, while its 462.9 yards of total offense per game were second in the league and eighth nationally. For their efforts, UT’s offensive line was recognized as Joe Moore Award semifinalists for the third-straight season, joining Oregon as the only schools in the country to accomplish that feat.
Jermod McCoy (DB) – All-America Second Team (Associated Press, Sports Illustrated)
McCoy has emerged as one of the nation’s top cornerbacks this season after transferring to Tennessee following his true freshman year at Oregon State.
During the regular season, the sophomore standout finished tied for second in the SEC with four interceptions and was third in the conference with 13 passes defended, a mark that ranked No. 2 in the FBS among underclassmen. McCoy also was the Vols’ third-leading tackler with 39 stops on the year.
The Whitehouse, Texas, native, has posted a 90.3 coverage grade according to PFF, which ranks fifth nationally and second in the SEC among cornerbacks.
Dylan Sampson (RB) – All-America Second Team (FWAA, USA Today, Sports Illustrated); Third Team (Associated Press)
Sampson, who was also tabbed the SEC’s Offensive Player of the Year by both the league’s coaches and the AP, has had a record-setting season for the Big Orange while helping lead Tennessee to its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance.
Sampson finished the regular season as the SEC’s leader in carries (256), rushing yards (1,485), rushing yards per game (123.8) and rushing touchdowns (22), setting UT single-season records for rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and total touchdowns along the way. In total, Sampson leads the SEC in 11 different categories and is tied for first among Power Four players (third nationally) in rushing scores, with his 22 touchdowns on the ground ranking tied for the fifth most in SEC single-season history.
The junior workhorse became the second player in Tennessee history with 10 100-yard rushing games in a single season, joining Jay Graham, who had 11 in 1995. He also leads the SEC and ranks eighth nationally in all-purpose yards with 1,620 entering the Vols’ CFP first-round contest at No. 6 Ohio State on Dec. 21.
Sampson has been a point-scoring machine in 2024, leading the conference and ranking fifth in the FBS with a program-record 132 points scored. His 11 straight games with a touchdown earlier this season was also a single-season school record.
2024 Tennessee Postseason Award Honors as of Dec. 17
DC Tim Banks
Broyles Award Finalist
DB Will Brooks
Burlsworth Trophy Semifinalist
DB Boo Carter
Freshman All-SEC
TE Ethan Davis
Freshman All-SEC
QB Nico Iamaleava
Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Semifinalist
Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award Finalist
OL Cooper Mays
Rimington Trophy Finalist
All-America First Team (USA Today, SI)
All-America Second Team (AFCA, The Athletic)
All-SEC First Team (Coaches)
All-SEC Second Team (AP)
WR Bru McCoy
Witten Award Semifinalist
Comeback Player of the Year Semifinalist
SEC Community Service Team
DB Jermod McCoy
Thorpe Award Semifinalist
All-America Second Team (AP, SI)
All-SEC First Team (AP)
All-SEC Second Team (Coaches)
DE James Pearce Jr.
Bednarik Award Semifinalist
Lombardi Award Semifinalist
Walter Camp Player of the Year Semifinalist
All-SEC First Team (Coaches)
All-SEC Second Team (AP)
LB Keenan Pili
NFF Campbell Trophy Semifinalist
DL Jordan Ross
Freshman All-SEC
RB Dylan Sampson
SEC Offensive Player of the Year (AP, Coaches)
USA Today SEC Player of the Year
All-America Second Team (The Athletic, Walter Camp, FWAA, USA Today, SI)
All-America Third Team (AP)
Maxwell Award Semifinalist
Doak Walker Award Semifinalist
All-SEC First Team (AP, Coaches)
LB Jalen Smith
Freshman All-SEC
OL Javontez Spraggins
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches)
KOS Josh Turbyville
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches)
Offensive Line
Joe Moore Award Semifinalist
