KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee offensive lineman Ja'Wuan James and defensive lineman Daniel McCullers have accepted invitations to the 2014 Reese's Senior Bowl, set for Jan.
25 in Mobile, Ala.
The game will air on NFL Network at 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT.
With invitations to a pair of Vols, this season marks the 25th time in the last 30 years Tennessee will have at least two representatives at the premier senior college all-star game. The duo brings Tennessee’s all-time total to 122 players in the Senior Bowl.
James started all 49 games of his college career, all at right tackle, including all 12 in his senior season of 2013. With 49 starts, the Suwanee, Ga., native set the record for career starts by an offensive lineman in Tennessee history, passing Jeff Smith (48). His 49 games played, stands second to former teammate and 2013 Senior Bowl invitee Dallas Thomas (50) for most games played on the offensive line at Tennessee.
The 6-foot-6-inch, 318-pound James was an All-SEC second-team selection by the Associated Press in 2013. He was also a member of the preseason Outland Trophy Watch List. James earned SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week on Dec. 2 following his college finale at Kentucky, when he set the school record for consecutive start by a Vols offensive lineman.
As a senior, James helped the Vols to 2,261 rushing yards in 2013, the most by UT since 2004. With James as a anchor, the Vols' offensive line allowed just 23 sacks over the last two years, including just eight in 2012, the fourth fewest in the NCAA at 0.67 per game. Tennessee had five games of more than 500 yards of total offense in 2012.
The massive McCullers, 6-8 and 351 pounds, posted 72 tackles in his two seasons with the Vols after transferring in from Georgia Military College. McCullers was named to the preseason watch lists for the Outland, Bednarik and Nagurski Trophies in 2013. He was also a 2013 preseason All-SEC second-team selection.
As a senior, McCullers made 33 tackles including 4.5 tackles for a loss in starting all 12 games at nose tackle. McCullers was second on the team quarterback hurries with four and blocked one kick -- the second block of his career. He had six tackles including a career-high 2.5 tackles for loss in the Vols' upset win over South Carolina.
A native of Raleigh, N.C., McCullers played his first two college seasons at Georgia Military College and made 64 total tackles.
On UTSports.com: http://1tn.co/SrBowl14 | James Highlights: http://1tn.co/1iQs98I | McCullers Highlights: http://1tn.co/1fdPLz4
(E-mail Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com)