Bru McCoy more comfortable in Tennessee offense entering 2023

Bru McCoy is feeling more comfortable in the Tennessee offense, and ready to break out in a big way next season.

After a college career that did not quite pan out at Texas and USC amid lack of playing time and recruiting flips perviously, the wide receiver found success with the Volunteers in 2022. He finished this season with 48 catches, 619 yards, three touchdowns and 12.9 yards per catch.

However, McCoy’s ceiling is much higher, as he was ranked as a five-star prospect in the Class of 2019, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies, and was the No. 19 overall prospect in the class. He was also the No. 2 wide receiver in the class.

As spring practices rage on, McCoy elaborated on the difference from 2022 to 2023, stating that he has an “a lot better understanding of the offense” compared to last season.

“I don’t want to say night and day, but like similar to that,” explained McCoy. “A lot better understanding of the offense, a lot more comfortable. I have a better understanding of the broader goal, of what we’re trying to do. Why we do certain things a different way. Coming from a different offense, it was very unorthodox, we broke a lot of rules that I have been kind of beat over the head with for awhile.

“Now I’m more comfortable in knowing that we’re not going to do everything a certain way, and there’s leniency to certain things, and there’s rules. We have a certain goal in mind, and a why.”

That’s fantastic to hear that McCoy is feeling more capable after another season to get used to the Tennessee offense. If Josh Heupel and company can really hone in on their wide receiver’s abilities, their receiving corps, which looks semi-depleted after losing a myriad of talent to the NFL, will be just fine.

However, the Tennessee receiving corps isn’t the only position to be affected by the 2023 NFL Draft, as quarterback Hendon Hooker took his talents to the league following an amazing season. That’ll be another hurdle McCoy and the Volunteers will have to clear to have success next season.

Nevertheless, the talent is there, and Tennessee seems to have arrived. Nobody is going to count against Bru McCoy and the Volunteers getting back to their potent ways in 2023.