DALLAS – The Football Writers Association of America recognized defensive end James Pearce Jr. and center Cooper Mays on Tuesday – naming Pearce Jr. to its 2024 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List and Mays to the watch list for the Outland Trophy.
Each year the Nagurski Trophy recognizes the top defensive player in the country, and the Outland Trophy honors the nation’s top interior lineman.
Pearce Jr. is one of 19 SEC players on the watch list – the most of any conference. The full Nagurski watch list can be seen here.
The Charlotte, North Carolina, native is coming off a breakout sophomore season in which he earned first-team All-SEC recognition from the Associated Press and Coaches.
In 2023, he registered 28 tackles (18 solo), 14.5 tackles for a loss, 10 sacks, 16 QB hurries, one interception for a touchdown, two pass breakups and two forced fumbles. Pearce Jr. also tied for the SEC lead in sacks and ranked second in the league in tackles for loss.
The junior is the SEC’s returning statistical leader in both tackles for loss (16.5) and sacks (12).
The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce finalists for the 2024 trophy on Nov. 20 and the winner will be unveiled Dec. 9 at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet in Charlotte.
Mays is one of 18 players from the SEC on the watch list and is one of 14 centers who made the preseason list for the prestigious award. The full 2024 Outland Trophy watch list can be seen here.
An All-SEC performer and preseason All-American, Mays enters his fifth year with the program and will be the Vols’ starting center for the fourth consecutive season.
Last season, Mays did not allow a sack and surrendered only one QB hit in 531 snaps as he anchored an offensive line that became Joe Moore Award semifinalists for a second straight year.
The Kingston, Tennessee, native has played in 40 games with 32 starts – all of them coming at center. Mays has seen action on 2,075 career offensive snaps and has allowed only four sacks.
The FWAA will announce the Outland Trophy semifinalists on Nov. 20, and those players will then be paired down to three finalists announced on Nov. 26. The Outland Trophy winner is chosen from those finalists who will be part of the annual FWAA All-America Team.
Sixteen NCFAA members are unveiling preseason watch lists over a two-week period as the association spearheads a coordinated effort to promote each award’s preseason candidates….
Each year the Nagurski Trophy recognizes the top defensive player in the country, and the Outland Trophy honors the nation’s top interior lineman.
Pearce Jr. is one of 19 SEC players on the watch list – the most of any conference. The full Nagurski watch list can be seen here.
The Charlotte, North Carolina, native is coming off a breakout sophomore season in which he earned first-team All-SEC recognition from the Associated Press and Coaches.
In 2023, he registered 28 tackles (18 solo), 14.5 tackles for a loss, 10 sacks, 16 QB hurries, one interception for a touchdown, two pass breakups and two forced fumbles. Pearce Jr. also tied for the SEC lead in sacks and ranked second in the league in tackles for loss.
The junior is the SEC’s returning statistical leader in both tackles for loss (16.5) and sacks (12).
The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce finalists for the 2024 trophy on Nov. 20 and the winner will be unveiled Dec. 9 at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet in Charlotte.
Mays is one of 18 players from the SEC on the watch list and is one of 14 centers who made the preseason list for the prestigious award. The full 2024 Outland Trophy watch list can be seen here.
An All-SEC performer and preseason All-American, Mays enters his fifth year with the program and will be the Vols’ starting center for the fourth consecutive season.
Last season, Mays did not allow a sack and surrendered only one QB hit in 531 snaps as he anchored an offensive line that became Joe Moore Award semifinalists for a second straight year.
The Kingston, Tennessee, native has played in 40 games with 32 starts – all of them coming at center. Mays has seen action on 2,075 career offensive snaps and has allowed only four sacks.
The FWAA will announce the Outland Trophy semifinalists on Nov. 20, and those players will then be paired down to three finalists announced on Nov. 26. The Outland Trophy winner is chosen from those finalists who will be part of the annual FWAA All-America Team.
Sixteen NCFAA members are unveiling preseason watch lists over a two-week period as the association spearheads a coordinated effort to promote each award’s preseason candidates….
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