Josh Heupel addresses addition of transfer receiver Bru McCoy

Wide receiver Bru McCoy intends to be back on a football field this fall. After six games at USC as a freshman, McCoy missed the entire 2021 season due to legal matters. The suspension led to an eventual lawsuit that McCoy filed against the Trojans. He transferred to Tennessee this offseason and plans to play a role amidst the depleted Volunteer receiving corp. Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel thinks McCoy could play a major role for their team this season.

Heupel talked about McCoy in his appearance at SEC Media Days this week. He says the former five-star receiver has hit the ground running since he started working with the team this summer.

“He’s a young man that we’re excited to have in our program. He has handled himself with such poise, grace, great competitive nature since he has come into our program. (He has) been about going about his work habits the right way and been really consistent,” said Heupel. “Extremely gifted physically, big, strong, ability to make competitive catches out on the perimeter. His best football is still a long ways ahead of him and I say that as a positive.”

McCoy was the No. 2 receiver and No. 19 player overall in the 2019 class according to On3’s Consensus Top Football Recruits. He played the one season with USC where he totaled 21 catches for 236 yards and two touchdowns.

USC suspended McCoy heading into the 2021 season after he was arrested and charged due to a situation involving violence with his partner that summer. His lawsuit later said the university had no right to indefinitely suspend him due to the evidence in the case. Regardless, that was the end of his Trojan career.

McCoy still has the talent to make an impact when you focus on the field, especially in an offense like Tennessee’s. Josh Heupel says he has some making up to do, though, as there’s a lot still for him to learn in the Tennessee offense.

“I’m really excited about getting him on the grass here as we get going in training camp. He’s a guy that didn’t have spring ball and is just getting integrated into what we’re doing offensively,” Heupel said. “With some of the transfers we had a year ago on offense, there’s a growth process to understanding how we play. He’s gotta soak those things up and be able to handle the tempo in particular in a really positive way here early as we get going.”

McCoy will slot in alongside Cedric Tillman as one of the better wide receiver weapons for Hendon Hooker. After losing Velus Jones Jr. and JaVonta Payton, the Josh Heupel and the Vols could use a player of McCoy’s caliber on the outside. If he can put the troubles behind him, this new opportunity in the SEC could be the fresh start he needs.