Cade Mays receives waiver from SEC, cleared to play for Tennessee football

Tennessee's Cade Mays has cleared the final hurdle in his path to playing this season. 

The SEC granted the Vols offensive lineman a transfer waiver on Wednesday, UT confirmed. That comes after the NCAA granted Mays a waiver on Sept. 17.

Mays, a junior, transferred to Tennessee from Georgia in January. As an intraconference transfer, he needed to navigate the two-step waiver process to gain immediate eligibility. 

“In consideration of current circumstances resulting from disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, including eligibility relief provided to student-athletes in August by the NCAA, and in anticipation of changes to NCAA transfer legislation, the Southeastern Conference today approved a number of transfer waiver requests that originated from member institutions seeking exceptions to the long-standing Conference bylaw that requires intraconference transfers serve a year in residence before being eligible to compete," SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement. 

“It must be stated unequivocally that these approvals are solely a reflection of the unique circumstances present and should not be interpreted as endorsement of the rationale set forth by individuals seeking these waivers. These are unprecedented times in which decisions about eligibility and competitive opportunities demand consideration of the current challenges facing our student-athletes and schools as a result of COVID-19.  In a non-COVID environment there may have been a different outcome for some of the waiver requests determined today."

Knoxville lawyer Gregory P. Isaacs represented Mays through the waiver appeal process.

“Mission accomplished," Isaacs told Knox News. "Great team effort with the University of Tennessee. Cade is a deserving student-athlete.”

The NCAA initially denied Mays a waiver in August. Tennessee then filed a request that the NCAA reconsider its decision and submitted additional information. The NCAA reversed course, approved the waiver and put the ball in Sankey's court.

Sankey suggested during multiple interviews last week that if SEC members didn't like the conference's intraconference transfer rule, then presidents and chancellors should vote to change the rule. That's a topic for another day.

“Our member institutions have been clear in the past that they oppose immediate eligibility for intraconference transfers," Sankey said in his statement. "Given the increased number of waiver requests this year, and a changing national landscape related to student-athlete transfer issues, it is evident that the current transfer bylaw must undergo a thorough review by Conference membership in the most timely manner possible and prior to the 2021-22 academic year.”

Kentucky quarterback Joey Gatewood, a transfer from Auburn, also received a waiver for immediate eligibility.

Mays was allowed to practice while he awaited his waiver fate, and he becomes a projected starter for what should be a robust Tennessee offensive line. He can play for the 20th-ranked Vols (1-0, 1-0 SEC) when they play Missouri (0-1, 0-1) on Saturday (noon ET, SEC Network) at Neyland Stadium.

Tennessee will play Georgia the following week.

"Today is a great day for all of college athletics," Mays said in a statement he posted on Twitter. "First off I would like to thank Coach Pruitt, Coach Fulmer, Chancellor Plowman, and my attorney Greg Isaacs. All of these individuals have spent ample amounts of time fighting for my eligibility to make this season a reality for me. Thank you to my teammates without your support this wouldn't be possible. I love each and every one of of y'all and am thankful to be a part of the family. Thank you to my friends and Vol Nation for being relentless in our pursuit of eligibility. You guys made your voice heard and sent a powerful message for all to hear. God is good! Go Vols!!"

Mays is most likely to play right guard or right tackle, although he's also an option at left tackle.

Left guard Trey Smith and center Brandon Kennedy are cemented as starters.

Mays started 18 games at Georgia, where he took snaps at every offensive line position.

The Vols returned every starter from last season's offensive line, and nine Tennessee linemen have started at least four games during their career, creating the team's deepest and most talented offensive line in years.

Mays joins Smith, Darnell Wright and Wanya Morris to give the Vols four offensive linemen who were five-star recruits.

Mays' father, Kevin, was a first-team All-SEC offensive guard for Tennessee. Mays' younger brother, Cooper, is a freshman offensive lineman for the Vols. 

Mays' father is suing Georgia after his right pinkie finger got caught in a folding chair and was severed during Cade's 2017 recruiting trip to Athens.

Mays will be eligible to declare for the 2021 NFL Draft after this season, and he is viewed as having high draft stock.

Mays was thrust into action as a true freshman at Georgia after an ankle injury to starting offensive tackle Andrew Thomas. Mays played in 11 of Georgia's 14 games during that season, including seven starts. He was named to the SEC All-Freshman team in 2018.

Tennessee offensive coordinator Jim Chaney was Georgia's offensive coordinator that season. 

As a sophomore, Mays played in all 14 games and started 11. After the 2019 season, Mays' position coach, Sam Pittman, left Georgia to become the head coach at Arkansas.

Blake Toppmeyer covers University of Tennessee football. Email him at blake.toppmeyer@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @btoppmeyer. If you enjoy Blake’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it. Current subscribers can click here to join Blake's subscriber-only text group offering updates and analysis on Vols football.