Senior offensive lineman Cooper Mays made his season debut for the Vols on Saturday.
Mays had a minor medical procedure on Aug. 9.
Head coach Josh Heupel discussed Mays’ return after Tennessee’s, 41-20, win versus South Carolina.
“Coop being back this week was absolutely critical for us to be our best,” Heupel said. “Ollie (Lane) did a good job sliding out to the left, Gerald (Mincey) back at right. We were efficient. We were not perfect, but thick double teams, running backs did a good job running hard. We pushed the pile. Plays that are twos went for four. Those are big hidden yardages in the way that the game is played at the end of the set of downs.
“Coop, his experience, his athleticism, his ability to communicate at a really high level, all positives for us to go play our best.”
PHOTOS: Tennessee defeats South Carolina in dark mode uniforms
