Mays, McCoy and Sampson Garner All-America Accolades

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Cooper Mays, Jermod McCoy and Dylan Sampson garnered All-America honors from multiple outlets this week as organizations continue rolling out their postseason honors.
 
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.
 
Sampson was honored by all three outlets and the Football Writers Association of America, garnering second-team accolades from the FWAA, USA Today and Sports Illustrated with third-team recognition coming from the Associated Press.
 
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…