Despite making a run to the College Football Playoffs in 2024, Tennessee football didn’t have a single player land on an All-American team for their play during the season.
But ESPN is predicting that Tennessee won’t go another year without an All-American. In its way-too-early All-American predictions, ESPN predicted Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy to be a First Team All-American.
“Tennessee struck it rich in the transfer portal when it brought in McCoy from Oregon State last season,” Chris Low wrote. “He was an instant difference-maker for the Vols, who finished seventh nationally in scoring defense (16.1 points per game) and allowed just 11 touchdown passes in 13 games. McCoy tied for the team lead with four interceptions.”
The big question for McCoy this offseason revolves around his health. The rising junior cornerback tore his ACL last month while training at his Texas home before the start of Tennessee’s winter workouts. Tennessee is hopeful that McCoy will be back by the start of the season but the star corner will not have a full offseason.
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McCoy’s interceptions were often game changers. He intercepted passes in the end zone against Alabama and Vanderbilt and had an early game interception in Tennessee’s win at Oklahoma.
McCoy was a game changer for the Vols’ defense after transferring from Oregon State to Tennessee following his freshman season. He earned Second Team All-SEC honors from the league’s coaches in 2024 after his breakout year
The 6-foot, 193-pound corner ranked second in the SEC with four interceptions and eight pass breakups. Over the course of the season, McCoy allowed 27 catches for 337 yards and one touchdown on 58 targets. His end zone interceptions against Alabama and Vanderbilt were critical first-half plays in crucial Tennessee wins.
McCoy earned a 87.0 PFF grade during the 2024 season, earning the second highest grade of any cornerback in the SEC.
