Tennessee starting OL reportedly will miss season opener vs. Virginia

Tennessee will reportedly be without a vital piece along the offensive line for its season opening matchup against Virginia.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel is reporting that senior starting center Cooper Mays will be out for Week 1 after undergoing a “minor medical procedure” on Aug. 9 and sixth-year senior Ollie Lane will be his replacement.

Thamel notes that No. 12 Tennessee is optimistic Mays will be back for the Week 3 contest at Florida.

Sources: Tennessee senior center Cooper Mays is expected to miss the opening game against Virginia on Saturday. He underwent a minor medical procedure on Aug. 9. He’ll be replaced by sixth-year senior Ollie Lane, who has five career starts but none at center.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 2, 2023

Mays has started 23 game the last three years for Tennessee. There’s a hope he’ll be healed in time for the Vols’ Week 3 game at Florida.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 2, 2023

This will snap a streak of 19 consecutive starts for the 6-foot-3, 305-pound Mays. Mays was voted to the Preseason All-SEC Third Team by the coaches and media heading into the 2023 campaign. The reliable Mays didn’t allow a sack in Tennessee’s final 5 games last season.

Tennessee-Virginia is slated for Sept. 2 at noon EST from Nissan Stadium in Nashville and will be televised on ABC.