Whereas he missed the whole 2025 school soccer season with a torn ACL, Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy stays maybe the greatest cornerback prospect within the 2026 NFL Draft class, and he mentioned he’s recovered from the harm that held him out throughout his remaining 12 months with the Volunteers. His return to full energy opens the door for a possible first-round choice regardless that he solely has two years of faculty manufacturing to his title.
Regardless of being cleared and having “no limits” bodily, McCoy is not going to take part at this week’s NFL Scouting Mix. He’ll, nevertheless, full exercises at Tennessee’s professional day. McCoy mentioned he elected to cross on the mix as a result of he desires extra coaching time as he seeks to place the very best product on the sector.
“I used to be simply easing into my coaching out of faculty and simply making an attempt to verify every thing was good,” McCoy mentioned on the mix. “The plan from the leap was for me to do professional day, do all my medicals and stuff to point out that I am wholesome.”
McCoy’s medicals are one of many largest storylines on the mix. If all checks out, he might very effectively be one of many first defensive gamers taken in April’s draft. Any concern over his knee can be grounds for a slide down the board.
The cautious method McCoy took in 2025 might repay within the type of preferrred medical analysis outcomes. He mentioned he made a push to get again onto the sector final season at Tennessee, however whereas he was cleared to return, he didn’t really feel able to compete. That didn’t cease him from declaring for the draft, although, and the movie he produced over one 12 months at Tennessee and one other at Oregon State is sufficient to warrant first-round projections.
“I acquired again to coaching, and I simply felt like myself once more,” McCoy mentioned. “I made a big effect the 12 months that I performed. I simply felt like I used to be prepared.”
McCoy debuted as a real freshman in 2023 and performed in all 12 regular-season video games at Oregon State. He was a right away standout for the Beavers and hauled in two interceptions and a fumble restoration on what was a nice shock of a marketing campaign for the former three-star recruit. That season made him a prized prospect within the 2024 switch portal, and he made the leap to the SEC with excessive expectations.
McCoy delivered on the thrill with a splendid first 12 months at Tennessee, doubling his interception whole with 4 takeaways in 2024. He broke up an extra 9 passes in what ended up being his remaining 12 months on the school gridiron.
