Three of Tennessee’s top players landed on the two Associated Press All-SEC teams released on Monday.
Three of the best players from Tennessee’s 2023 campaign were recognised by being named to the Associated Press All-SEC teams, which were unveiled on Monday. Tennessee finished the regular season with an 8-4 record and third-place finish in the SEC East, and on New Year’s Day, they will take on Iowa in the Citrus Bowl. Defensive end James Pearce Jr. was the only selection to the first team, having ranked second in the conference in sacks as a sophomore.
The Associated Press selected Mississippi State linebacker Nathaniel Watson as the Defensive Player of the Year and LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels as the Offensive Player of the Year. Hendon Hooker of Tennessee had earned the award the previous year. Caleb Downs, a freshman safety from Alabama, was awarded the best rookie in the league. Eli Drinkwitz of Missouri was named the AP SEC Coach of the Year, succeeding Josh Heupel of Tennessee.
During a strong sophomore campaign, Pearce tied for seventh in the league in tackles for loss (13.1) and third in the SEC in sacks (8.5). The former Top247 recruit from Charlotte was one of the greatest pass-rushers in the conference, recording 46 quarterback pressures according to Pro Football Focus. The Crimson Tide played a 13th game, and Alabama’s Dallas Turner (53) and Chris Braswell (52) led the SEC in defensive linemen. Pearce was unstoppable for the most of the season against opposing offensive tackles, with two-sack games against South Carolina and Virginia in addition to sacks against Texas A&M, Alabama, Missouri, and Vanderbilt.
Prior to Wright, who became Tennessee’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 2015, the first-team selections at running back were Cody Schrader of Missouri and Ray Davis of Kentucky.
Wright finished fifth in the SEC (and fourth among running backs) in rushing during his impressive junior season, averaging 84.4 yards per game. He also led SEC running backs in yards per rush (7.39) and ranked second behind Schrader in runs of 10+ yards (35). Wright totaled 1,013 yards on 137 carries and scored four touchdowns this season.
Mays returned from hernia surgery in August to stabilize Tennessee’s offensive line. The senior Preseason All-SEC center missed the first four games, but started the final eight games and did not allow a sack this season. Tennessee finished second in the SEC in rushing, averaging 202.6 yards per game on the ground.
