What USC transfer wide receiver Bru McCoy could mean for Tennessee's offense

Bru McCoy decided Rocky Top was “home sweet home,” as the well-travelled ex-USC wideout transferred to Tennessee on Tuesday, exiting the transfer portal. 

The former five-star recruit and No. 89th overall player in On3’s transfer portal rankings has had a nomadic start to his college career — signing with USC out of high school in 2019, quickly transferring to Texas only to have a change of heart and return to the Trojans. McCoy then medically redshirted during his freshman season, played in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and missed all of last year due to a suspension stemming from an arrest for alleged domestic violence, charges that were later dismissed. 

It’s a long preamble for a guy who has played in just six games in college, but Tennessee is banking on McCoy fulfilling his promise as a star recruit out of Mater Dei High (Calif.). 

It’s a good bet to make. 

While McCoy has had a turbulent path to Tennessee, it’s notable that he had never been in trouble before last summer’s alleged off-the-field issue, so the Vols aren’t gambling on some major character concerns. As a player, although McCoy’s production — 21 catches for 236 yards and two scores in 2020 — hasn’t equaled his recruiting pedigree, much of that was due to opportunity. That shouldn’t be a problem at Tennessee, either. 

At USC, McCoy was vying to targets alongside Amon-Ra St. Brown, who had 90 catches a rookie for the Detroit Lions in 2021, and Drake London, who was the top receiver drafted in the 1st Round of the 2022 NFL Draft last week. Conversely, the Vols must replace a pair of starting receivers, with former USC transfer Velus Jones (62 catches for 807 yards) and JaVonta Payton (18 receptions including six touchdowns) off to the NFL. Cedric Tillman, who is the top returning receiver in the SEC with 1,081 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, is back, and now he has a big-bodied partner who can star opposite him. 

“Tools to win:” How Josh Heupel might utilize Bru McCoy in Tennessee’s offense

McCoy is an immensely gifted athlete, who at 6-3, 220-pounds is a matchup mismatch for most corners, especially in Josh Heupel’s wide-splits scheme. He immediately gives Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker a big weapon in the red zone, but McCoy offers much more potential than just that. 

Before last season, Tillman was a little-recruited 3-star who had eight career catches in three years at Tennessee. Then he exploded in Heupel’s modern homage to Art Briles’ veer and shoot. The Vols’ entire offense is dictated on tempo and exploiting the hashes vertically. All the 1-on-1 shots perfectly unlocked the skill-set of a player like Tillman, a 6-3, 215-pound ball-winner who can run. In 2021, Hooker had 20 completions over 20+ yards, per Pro Football Focus, including a 10:1 touchdown ratio on such attempts — many of which went to Tillman. 

Now Tennessee has another playmaker to pair with Tillman — only someone who’s a more dynamic athlete.

Bru McCoy was recruited as an athlete out of high school, capable of playing receiver or outside linebacker in college. His build and play style — like a bull in a china shop — is a lot like his former teammate London. He’s explosive, particularly after the catch, and a 50-50 ball-winner. With the Vols, Heupel can line McCoy up solo in Tennessee’s favorite 3X1 formations and either get him the ball quickly via screens and let him work in space or send McCoy vertically against an undersized corner.  

Last spring, Heupel described his system as giving receivers “the tools to go win.”

“Our ability to play with tempo, for those guys to be put in a position where we’re going to try to find ways to isolate them in a one-on-one position, and then give them the tools to go win. I think at the end of the day, as a wideout, that’s what you’re looking for,” Tennessee’s second-year coach said. 

The Vols have never had a pair of 1,000+ yard receivers in the same season, and while that’s unlikely to happen this fall, McCoy could easily catch 50 balls in Heupel’s offense. He has the tools, and now he’s in an offense that will hammer home his traits. Tennessee was among the most efficient passing offenses in the country last season, and McCoy’s addition could make the unit even better. 

“The tempo we play, the number of snaps we get, the number of ball-in-hand opportunities that our skill players have. I think you put all of that together, plus the energy with which we play on game day, and even on the practice field, I think it is a really unique offense for skill players and wide receivers to play in, and something they can absolutely flourish in.”

It’s taken Bru McCoy a long time to find the right landing spot in college football, but his long-awaited breakout season might finally happen at Tennessee.