Bru McCoy explains 'tough' rehab process, opens up on grandfather's passing

Bru McCoy played less than five games during the 2023 season before suffering a season-ending injury last September.

Over the weekend, he made his comeback where he caught six passes for 89 yards as Tennessee went on to defeat Chattanooga 69-3 during the season opener. McCoy made the most of his return — which was satisfying for the veteran wideout given he missed out on playing in the Vols’ final eight games of the year.

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“It’s tough. For me, personally, I had to watch a few games from a hospital bed, from a bed at home,” McCoy told Paul Finebaum on Wednesday. “It’s tough not being able to contribute the way you want to, but it’s also motivating. Once you get on the other end of it, you think back to how that felt and you’re able to kind of push yourself, just how much you care about it, and having a high care factor will take you a long way.”

During his rehab, McCoy’s grandfather, Tom Snyder, passed away in December after battling with cancer. McCoy said after the game that his highlight-reel catch on a 37-yard connection with Nico Iamaleava reminded him of a catch that he made during the last game his grandfather saw him play in.

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McCoy said that he couldn’t think of anyone who would be prouder of his performance over the weekend than his grandfather.

“The impact he had on me, just growing up, just thinking about it makes me happy, because now I get to kind of live out a lot of things and he can kind of live through me,” McCoy said. “He’s always been in my heart every time I hit the field. Now, he’s just really motivated me in everything I do.”

The senior said he felt like he was home back on the field inside Neyland Stadium. It was a bit “surreal” to him, but he managed to soak in the moment and was able to make the most of it.

McCoy will try and continue to honor his grandfather throughout the 2024 season, including during Tennessee’s Week 2 matchup, a ranked battle between the No. 14 Vols and No. 24 NC State. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, live on ABC.