Tennessee football: Cade Mays cleared to play by NCAA
The NCAA has cleared the Tennessee football Volunteers offensive lineman for the 2020 season.
In a huge boost for Tennessee football, offensive lineman Cade Mays has won his appeal for an eligibility waiver from the NCAA. Pending clearance from the SEC, the Georgia Bulldogs transfer will be able to play this year.
Jeremy Pruitt confirmed in a Thursday meeting with reporters that Mays won his appeal, according to a report from Grant Ramey of GoVols247. In terms of awaiting clearance from the SEC, Pruitt praised commissioner Greg Sankey and expressed confidence in the outcome.
A junior offensive lineman, Mays’ initial request for an eligibility waiver to be able to play this year was initially denied back in August. However, news broke that he would immediately appeal, and the NCAA made this decision after a groundswell of support for him from players and coaches.
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With him being able to play, Mays is the second offensive lineman for Tennessee football who was a unanimous five-star recruit, joining Darnell Wright. Meanwhile, Trey Smith, who wasn’t unanimous, is a Preseason All-American across numerous services.
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Beyond those three guys, Wanya Morris earned Freshman All-American honors last year and is Preseason All-SEC this year, meaning he could take a huge leap forward, and center Brandon Kennedy is a sixth-year senior. Simply put, this team is loaded provided no injuries.
Mays initially committed to the Vols back in 2017. However, he backed out after the disastrous season that took place under Butch Jones that year and joined Kirby Smart’s Dawgs, helping to give UGA the greatest recruiting class in history on paper. In 2018, he earned Freshman All-American honors.
A local product out of Knoxville Catholic High School, Mays is the son of Kevin Mays, who played offensive lineman for Phillip Fulmer in the early 1990s. His younger brother, Cooper Mays, is a four-star center who was part of UT’s 2020 recruiting class.
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Kevin Mays was locked in a lawsuit with Georgia when his son transferred back to Tennessee football. Assuming the SEC follows through, Rocky Top’s offensive line could be the best in the league now. Jeremy Pruitt, Jim Chaney and Will Friend have a lot to work with at this point.