KNOXVILLE - When Cade Mays decommitted from a struggling Tennessee football program last November, the Volunteers lost the highest-rated player in their 2018 recruiting class.
The hulking offensive lineman's flip to Georgia might sting all over again Saturday at Sanford Stadium when Mays and the Bulldogs (4-0, 2-0 SEC) host a Tennessee team (2-2, 0-1) with a struggling offensive line.
Mays, who played at Knoxville Catholic High School and was 247Sports' No. 3 offensive tackle prospect in the 2018 class, has played a key role for the Bulldogs while filling in for injured offensive lineman Andrew Thomas early in the season.
Georgia enters the contest with an offensive line ranked first in the SEC by Pro Football Focus, while Tennessee is ranked 13th in the same ranking.
The Pro Football Focus analysis noted that the Vols have dropped back to pass 99 times, which is the lowest amount in the conference, and have allowed 25 pressures, which is sixth-most in the league. That equates to a pass-blocking efficiency rating of 85.4, which is 13th in the league.
"Among their starters, only tackle Drew Richmond and guard Jerome Calvin have been good enough so far this season, allowing three and two total pressures, respectively," the analysis reads. "While they have combined to allow five pressures between them, the rest of the line have each allowed at least five on their own."
Despite the woes, wholesale changes are not expected on Tennessee's offensive line as a brutal stretch of games against Georgia, Auburn and Alabama arrives.
"I think we've kind of narrowed it down to the guys we think give us the best chance to have success," Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt said Monday.
The lineup since center Brandon Kennedy's season ended with a knee injury after the season opener has consisted from left to right of Trey Smith, Jahmir Johnson, Ryan Johnson, Carvin and Richmond.
Smith is widely regarded as Tennessee's top offensive lineman, but the sophomore left tackle is still working out some kinks after missing all of spring practice and most of the preseason practice session. He started all 12 games as a true freshman but just one at left tackle.
"I'm getting a little bit more comfortable," Smith said Monday. "There's a lot of consistency there, playing and practicing there. Obviously, missing all of spring and a good portion of fall camp, it was tough getting adjusted. I'm still a little rusty. I'm still working through some kinks. A couple technique errors. Just reviewing film. A couple habits I need to break. I'm still just working through it."
For the sake of continuity, it appears unlikely that Smith would change positions. But there are at least two players challenging for snaps.
Sophomore Riley Locklear appears close to edging out Johnson at left guard, while redshirt junior Chance Hall continues progressing toward full speed following an injury-plagued 14 months.
"He been a little bit stiffer, and we're getting him back," Pruitt said. "When we first knew he was coming back, we felt like sometime between this past week and this week would be the start of when he could play. It was so positive for him, we've kind of had to hold him back a little bit."
Contact David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DavidWCobb and on Facebook at facebook.com/volsupdate.