Of all of Tennessee football’s returners for the upcoming season, there is nobody with higher expectations than cornerback Jermod McCoy. After a breakout sophomore year, his first with the Vols, he’s been placed in plenty of first-round NFL mock drafts and preseason All-American teams this offseason.
However, McCoy is going to have to battle through injury to be ready to get back on the field to start the season. The defensive back suffered an ACL injury in January, forcing him to miss the entirety of spring practice.
With Josh Heupel meeting with the media for SEC Media Days on Tuesday, he gave the latest on what he can say about McCoy’s timetable to return.
“I think with the injury in his rehab process, it’s how he encounters the next phase and the next stage as he continues to prepare himself and get ready to play,” Heupel said. “I saw him the other day and he is going through his rehab. He looks really good. His moving skills are good. It’s a progression throughout the course of the end of summer and through training camp. We’ll figure that out as we get into the season. Keep it in mind, obviously, we want him, he’s a huge part of us defensively, but his short-term and long-term health, as well.”
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Tennessee will open the season against Syracuse on August 30 in Atlanta. This gives McCoy approximately a month and a half more time to gear up if he intends to be ready for the opener. Fall camp will begin in just two weeks.
When healthy, McCoy is projected to start at cornerback opposite of Rickey Gibson III. In his first year with UT, McCoy managed 44 tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss. He came up with four interceptions, as well, including a one-handed snag against Ryan Williams of Alabama and a circus catch in the end zone at Vanderbilt.
McCoy started his career at Oregon State after being ranked as a three-star recruit out of high school. He played his prep ball in Whitehouse, Texas, before making the move to play for the Beavers.
With Oregon State, he played in 12 games and started in five as a true freshman. He led the team with nine passes defended and came down with a pair of interceptions.
