Tennessee Coaches Evaluate Early Contenders for Starting Center Role

The Tennessee Volunteers are in the process of determining their new starting center following the departure of Cooper Mays. Offensive line coach Glen Elarbee recognizes that whoever fills Mays' shoes will face significant expectations, given Mays' 43 starts under coach Josh Heupel and his vital contribution to the team's offensive success. Currently, Elarbee is considering multiple candidates, notably redshirt freshman William Satterwhite and transfer Sam Pendleton from Notre Dame. Both players have had opportunities to work with Tennessee's first-team offensive line during practice sessions. Although they are yet to don full pads in preseason drills, Elarbee expressed optimism about their progress. "Replacing Coop is no small feat; his mental and physical prowess set a high standard," Elarbee commented after Tuesday's practice. "Both Satt and Sam are competing fiercely. They're putting in extra effort, practicing diligently, and striving to improve daily. Competition is our greatest asset, and these guys must continue pushing to earn the starting spot." Pendleton, a sophomore, brought experience from Notre Dame, where he started seven games at left guard last season and played...