Josh Heupel provides update on eligibility of USC transfer Bru McCoy ahead of fall camp

With Tennessee football set to open fall camp on Monday, the Volunteers are still waiting to hear word on the eligibility of USC transfer receiver Bru McCoy. Coach Josh Heupel provided an update on where that process is at Sunday, saying he feels good about the chances of McCoy playing this season.

“I’ve been in dialogue with the people that we need to,” Heupel said. “Our administration has been on the other side of the coin. We feel good about where that’s going. Bru’s healthy and ready to compete this training camp, so he’ll be involved in everything that we’re doing.”

The NCAA allows players to play immediately only after the first transfer of their career, requiring a waiver to be eligible after any additional transfers. In January 2019, McCoy enrolled at USC, transferred to Texas several weeks later for spring practice and then transferred back to USC that summer before playing a college game. However, that all occurred before the NCAA’s one-time transfer rule went into effect in April 2021.

McCoy also dealt a legal issue at USC stemming from an altercation with his ex-girlfriend. Although the receiver was arrested on suspicion of felony intimate partner violence, the district attorney’s office declined to file charges due to insufficient evidence in what they described as a “he said, she said” case. USC still opted to suspend McCoy as he sat out the entire 2021 season before entering the transfer portal in January. It’s unclear whether or not that could be a hurdle that is delaying Bru McCoy from gaining eligibility.

Coming out of high school, McCoy was a five-star prospect according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting services. He ranked as the No. 3 wide receiver in the country and the No. 2 player in California.

If McCoy becomes eligible for the 2022 season, he will likely fit in as a starter. The Volunteers return last year’s leading receiver Cedric Tillman, but must replace Velus Jones and JaVonta Payton. Tennessee is set to kick off the 2022 season on Sept. 1 against Ball State.