Bru McCoy explains pressure of being Tennessee's 'cookie monster' through NIL deal with Moonshine Mountain
Tennessee receiver Bru McCoy has taken on the title of “cookie monster” this season. Through an NIL partnership with Moonshine Mountain Cookie Co., McCoy has an opportunity to score Vols fans two free cookies in any game where he records two or more touchdowns.
The deal with Moonshine Mountain began during the first year of NIL in 2021, and McCoy will follow in the footsteps of defensive back Alontae Taylor and receiver Cedric Tillman. So far, he’s already heard a lot from hungry Tennessee fans with a sweet tooth.
“You’d be surprised,” McCoy told On3‘s Andy Staples. “I think after about a week ago or so, someone had came and delivered food to my house and they wrote a note like, ‘Please score. I want cookies.’ My girlfriend, she had a friend of hers over and she was like, ‘I really need you to score. I love Moonshine Mountain.’ So I’m like, ‘I guess it’s bigger than me at this point.'”
It’s understandable why Vols fans would be so eager to see McCoy score. Tillman suffered an early injury last year that caused him to miss several games and scored two touchdown only once on Nov. 19 in a loss to South Carolina. McCoy has yet to score a touchdown through the first two games, but will hope his time comes soon.
Of course, with an NIL deal comes perks, and the receiver has more free cookies than he probably needs. As he tries to stay in shape during the season, he is taking measures to ensure he doesn’t eat too many.
“I try not to go too much because if I go I’m gonna eat ’em,” he said. “I tell my girlfriend she can’t leave them in the fridge at all because she was doing that for a while. You can’t leave ’em around the house.”
McCoy transferred to Tennessee last offseason after spending the first three seasons of his college career at USC. He had the best season of his college career playing next to Tillman and Jalin Hyatt to finish with 52 catches for 667 yards and four touchdowns.
With Hyatt and Tillman both gone to the NFL, McCoy has a chance to step up as the Vols’ leading returning receiver. He ranks third on the team with seven catches for 72 yards through the first two games.
McCoy’s next chance to score free cookies for Tennessee fans will come Saturday as the Vols open up SEC play on the road against Florida.