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Josh Heupel updates Tennessee corner Jermod McCoy's return from torn ACL

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey07/16/25GrantRamey
Jermod McCoy, Tennessee Football | Tennessee Athletics
Jermod McCoy, Tennessee Football | Tennessee Athletics

Josh Heupel on Tuesday didn’t have an updated timetable for the return of Tennessee corner Jermod McCoy, who is continuing the rehabilitation process after tearing his ACL during offseason workouts in January.

“I think with the injury and his rehab process, it’s how he encounters the next phase,” Heupel said at SEC Media Days in Atlanta, “and next stage as he continues to prepare himself and get ready to play. 

“I saw him the other day as he’s going through his rehab. He looks really good, his movement skills are good. It’s a progression throughout the course of the end of the summer and through training camp. And we’ll figure that out as we get into the season.”

‘He’s a huge part of us defensively, but his short term and long term health (is part of it) as well’

Tennessee opens training camp later this month, with the season opener against Syracuse on August 30 (Noon Eastern Time, ABC) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

McCoy is coming off a breakout season in his first year at Tennessee, finishing with 44 tackles, nine passes defended and four interceptions last season. He had 31 tackles and two interceptions in 12 games as a freshman at Oregon State before transferring to Tennessee.

McCoy is the biggest piece in a Tennessee defense that finished No. 7 nationally and No. 2 in the SEC in scoring defense last season, carrying the Vols to the 12-team College Football Playoff in December. 

“Obviously we want him,” Heupel said, “he’s a huge part of us defensively, but his short term and long term health (is part of it) as well.”

Jermod McCoy expected to be a first-round pick in 2026 NFL Draft

McCoy is widely projected to be a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, as one of the top defensive backs, if not the top corner, available.

“The current favorite to be the top corner selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, McCoy was a lockdown player for the Volunteers after transferring in from Oregon State,” Pro Football Focus wrote earlier this year . “His 89.6 PFF coverage grade in 2024 is second among returning Power Four corners, while his four interceptions were tied for second in that same group.”

PFF has McCoy listed as the 13th-best player in college football in its preseason player rankings, while On3 has him ranked 17th.

“McCoy blossomed during his sophomore season,” On3’s Clark Brooks wrote. “He’s fluid and fast with pretty good results shielding targets. His 11 overall forced incompletions are the most of any returning SEC DB. Specializing as a zone cover corner, only two returning CBs top his 87.5 PFF grade spot dropping.”

Way-too-early NFL mock drafts all seem to agree on McCoy as a first-round pick in the NFL Draft. McCoy is projected at No. 11 overall pick according to The Athletic, No. 12 by USA Today, No. 13 according to Todd McShay and No. 20 according to CBS Sports.

 ESPN’s Matt Miller projected the Miami Dolphins to pick McCoy at No. 15 overall.

“There are some questions about McCoy’s status to start the season after he tore an ACL in January during offseason training,” Miller wrote in the ESPN mock draft, “but there’s no question about his tape. The 6-foot, 193-pound corner has six career interceptions and emerged as a true No. 1 CB last season.

“He has the length, height and speed to run with NFL-caliber wideouts and the ball skills to flip the field. He’s my CB1 as long as he recovers and stays healthy. The Dolphins need a capable outside cornerback — especially after trading Jalen Ramsey to the Steelers on (June 30).”

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