Bru McCoy undergoes surgery for fracture-dislocation in lower right leg

Tennessee football on Sunday announced that redshirt senior Bru McCoy underwent surgery after suffering a fracture-dislocation in his lower right leg in the second quarter of the Vols’ 41-20 win over South Carolina Saturday night at Neyland Stadium.

“Bru McCoy underwent successful surgery this morning,” the Vols announced on social media, “after suffering a fracture-dislocation of his right ankle on Saturday night. Bru and his family appreciate all of your prayers and support since last night and in the days ahead.

“Bru has displayed unwavering toughness, character and leadership as a Vol on and off the field, and he now begins the road to recovery determined to make this just a minor setback on his football journey.”

McCoy had surgery overnight to repair the fracture and dislocation of his right ankle. He has a COVID year available, should he choose to use it.

McCoy was carted off the field after suffering a gruesome lower-leg injury with 6:16 left in the first half, while Tennessee was leading 17-10. Milton completed a pass to McCoy for 18 yards before he went down. 

Trainers immediately brought the cart onto the field for the injury to McCoy’s right leg, as McCoy covered his face with his hands. He left Neyland Stadium in an ambulance after being carted off the field. 

Josh Heupel on Bru McCoy’s injury: ‘I hate it for him’

“Hate what happened to Bru,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said after the game. “We’ll have a more of an update tomorrow or on Monday I’m sure, but everybody saw it. (It) was (a) lower body injury that didn’t look good. So I hate it for him.”

McCoy entered Saturday night’s game leading the Vols in receptions with 15 for 196 yards and a touchdown. He had two catches for 21 yards before the injury against South Carolina.

Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton III  finished 21 of 32 passing for 239 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. The Vols rushed 40 times as a team for 238 yards and three touchdowns, led by Jaylen Wright’s 16 attempts for 123 yards. 

Jabari Small had 11 carries for 59 yards and Dylan Sampson had nine carries for 49 yards. All three running backs had one rushing touchdown each.

“I truly honestly didn’t want to go back out there no more,” Milton said during his postgame press conference, “just because I know how hard he works and I knew how hard — it is a loss of words pretty much.”

The Vols entered the game shorthanded at wide receiver with Oregon transfer Dont’e Thornton not dressed. Redshirt freshmen Kaleb Webb and Chas Nimrod were forced into playing time last week in the 45-14 win over UTSA after McCoy and Ramel Keyton left the game with apparent injuries. 

Up Next: Tennessee vs. Texas A&M, October 14, Neyland Stadium

Squirrel White led Tennessee in receiving against the Gamecocks, catching nine passes on nine targets for 104 yards, including 35 yards after contact. Tight end Jacob Warren caught three passes for 26 yards and a touchdown. 

Keyton caught two passes for 25 yards and redshirt freshman Chas Nimrod had one catch for 10 yards. 

McCoy, a native of Palos Verdes Estates, Calif., started his collegiate career at USC before transferring to Tennessee before the 2022 season. With the Trojans during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, he caught 21 passes for 236 yards and two touchdowns. 

In his debut season with the Vols last year, McCoy caught 52 passes for 667 yards and four touchdowns. It was McCoy’s 27-yard catch with two seconds left against Alabama last October that set the Vols up for the 40-yard walk-off field goal in the 52-49 win at Neyland Stadium. 

“There’s nobody better than him,” Heupel said. “Great teammate, great leader, tough as they come. Works extremely hard to be his best and make sure his teammates do that too.”