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Jermod McCoy suffers torn ACL, projected back for 2025 season

On3 imageby:Austin Price•about 9 hours•

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Jermod McCoy, Tennessee Football | Tennessee Athletics
Jermod McCoy, Tennessee Football | Tennessee Athletics

Tennessee All-SEC defensive back Jermod McCoy will miss spring practice and several months after tearing his ACL during an off-season training session at home in Texas. McCoy has already had surgery to repair his knee sources additionally told Volquest with a projected return near the start of the 2025 season.

McCoy made some crucial plays during Tennessee’s run to the College Football Playoff. McCoy defended 13 passes this fall, with four interceptions and nine pass breakups. He is tied for the SEC lead in interceptions. Two of his interceptions came at critical times for the Vols as he made plays on the ball in the end zone to kill the opposing team’s drive.

McCoy made an immediate impact on the Tennessee secondary in his first season with the Vols, starting all 12 games during the regular season. His 13 passes defended are the most by a Vol since Theo Jackson also had 13 in 2021. McCoy’s 90.3 coverage grade according to PFF ranks second in the SEC and fifth in the FBS among cornerbacks in 2024.

McCoy was one of 14 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe award and one of just two sophomores who made the list nationally. He finished his sophomore season and was rewarded with All-SEC and All-American honors by different publications. 

Tennessee will enter spring practice with veterans Rickey Gibson and Jalen McMurray at the top of the depth chart at cornerback.

Jermod McCoy was a three-star wide receiver prospect out of Texas in 2023

Last season McCoy had 31 tackles in 12 games, with one tackle for loss, two interceptions and seven passes defended.

McCoy has turned into a shut-down corner despite being an unheralded recruit out of Whitehouse High School in Whitehouse, Texas, in 2023. He was a three-star prospect at wide receiver. 

“I think it just starts with his maturity as a person,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said. “Coming out of high school, what he did before he got on the field in three months at the previous stop (Oregon State), changing his body. A guy that was recruited to play some wide receiver, flips over to the other side of the football.

“He’s a sponge as far as soaking up information inside the meeting room. Extremely bright. It’s not like you’re restarting every single day. He’s able to grow upon what happened in the previous day on the field or in the meeting room.”

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