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ESPN names Tennessee's Jermod McCoy preseason First Team All-American

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey08/11/25GrantRamey
Jermod McCoy, Tennessee Football | Tennessee Athletics
Jermod McCoy, Tennessee Football | Tennessee Athletics

ESPN named Tennessee Football’s cornerback Jermod McCoy as a First Team All-American on Monday. McCoy has also been named a preseason First Team All-American by Athlon, Pro Football Focus, The Sporting News and Walter Camp.

Notre Dame’s Leonard Moore was the other First Team All-American and Clemson’s Avieon Terrell and Duke’s Chandler Rivers were Second Team picks.

“The only question with McCoy is his health after he tore an ACL in January while training at home,” ESPN wrote. “The Vols hope to have him back for the start of the season in some capacity, but there’s no timetable at this point as he continues to recover.

“McCoy, who started his career at Oregon State, was the backbone of Tennessee’s secondary last season. He tied for the team lead with four interceptions, and the Vols allowed just 11 touchdown passes in 13 games.”

Jermod McCoy last season: 44 tackles, 9 passes defended, 4 interceptions

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

McCoy last week returned to Tennessee practice for the first time since tearing his ACL during offseason training in January. He was limited to working out on the side and doing individual drills while making his return during practice Friday morning, then did some team drills on Monday.

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel on Saturday addressed McCoy’s return to the practice field.

“Yeah, cool moment for Jermod,” Heupel said after Tennessee’s first scrimmage of the fall. “Big moment getting back on the field, doing some of the individual work. It was cool to see the way his brothers were excited for him in that moment and how big that was, too. He broke us down before practice.

“He’s done an elite job throughout his rehab, and there’s still more that he’s got to continue to do, but excited to get him back out with us.”

The Athletic projects Jermod McCoy as No. 11 overall pick in NFL Draft

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.

Pro Football Focus in the spring ranked McCoy at No. 8 overall in its first Big Board for the 2026 NFL Draft. 

ESPN in June ranked McCoy as the No. 1 cornerback prospect in the draft, according to NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller. McCoy is coming off a breakout debut season with the Vols, after transferring from Oregon State.

“The Oregon State transfer thrived in his first season with the Vols,” ESPN’s Jordan Reid wrote, “intercepting four passes and looking like the CB1 of a strong 2026 corner class. 

“But he suffered a torn ACL during a January training session, putting his status for the 2025 season in doubt. Can McCoy return to the field this season, and how would he perform if he does?”