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. Following is the remaining 2024 preseason watch list calendar:
Mon., July 29: Maxwell Award
Tue., July 30: Outland Trophy/Bronko Nagurski Trophy
Wed., July 31: Paycom Jim Thorpe Award
Thu., Aug. 1: Paul Hornung Award/Wuerffel Trophy
Fri., Aug. 2: Lou Groza Award/Ray Guy Award
Mon., Aug. 5: Walter Camp Award
Tue., Aug. 6: Doak Walker Award
Wed., Aug. 7: Biletnikoff Award
Thu., Aug. 8: Davey O’Brien Award
Fri., Aug. 9: Mackey Award/Rimington Trophy
Mon., Aug. 12: Bednarik Award
Tue., Aug. 13: Butkus Award
For more information about the NCFAA and its college football awards, visit the redesigned NCFAA.org or follow on Twitter @NCFAA.
2024 Tennessee Football Preseason Honors
John Campbell Jr., OL, R-Sr.
Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List
Bryson Eason, DL, R-Sr.
Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List
Nico Iamaleava, QB, R-Fr.
Maxwell Award Watch List
Lance Heard, OL, So.
Fourth-Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Cooper Mays, C, Sr.
First-Team All-American (Walter Camp)
First-Team All-SEC (Media)
Second-Team All-SEC (Athlon, Phil Steele)
Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List
Outland Trophy Watch List
Bru McCoy, WR, R-Sr.
AFCA Good Works Team Nominee
Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List
Omarr Norman-Lott, DT, Sr.
Third-Team All-SEC (Phil Steele)
James Pearce Jr., DE, Jr.
First-Team All-American (Athlon, Phil Steele, Walter Camp)
First-Team All-SEC (Athlon, Media, Phil Steele, Walter Camp)
Lott Trophy Watch List
Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
Keenan Pili, LB, Sr.
Fourth-Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List
Jackson Ross, P, So.
Fourth-Team All-SEC (Phil Steele)
Dylan Sampson, RB, Jr.
Third-Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Fourth-Team All-SEC (Phil Steele)
Javontez Spraggins, OL, Sr.
Third-Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Fourth-Team All-SEC (Phil Steele)
Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List
Omari Thomas, DL, Sr.
Fourth-Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List
Squirrel White, WR, Jr.
Third-Team All-SEC (Athlon, Phil Steele)
