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Pro Football Focus has Jermod McCoy as a top-10 prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•04/27/25•

GrantRamey

Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy. Credit: UT Athletics
Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy. Credit: UT Athletics

Jermod McCoy is already being projected as a first-round pick and a top-ten prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft. Pro Football Focus on Saturday published its first look at its 2026 NFL Draft Big Board, with McCoy at No. 8. 

“The current favorite to be the top corner selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, McCoy was a lockdown player for the Volunteers after transferring in from Oregon State,” PFF’s Max Chadwick and Trevor Sikkema wrote.

“His 89.6 PFF coverage grade in 2024 is second among returning Power Four corners, while his four interceptions were tied for second in that same group.”

Jermod McCoy tore ACL in January during offseason training

The top prospect on the PFF Big Board was Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, ahead of Clemson edge rusher TJ Parker, Clemson defensive lineman Peter Woods, Texas quarterback Arch Manning, Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik and Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor.

McCoy tore his ACL during offseason training in January and did not go through spring practice with Tennessee.

His breakout season at Tennessee included 44 tackles and nine passes defended to go with the four interceptions, which he returned for 71 yards. 

“McCoy possesses exceptional ball skills and phenomenal movement ability,” PFF wrote, “scoring a near-perfect 99.9 in PFF’s Game Athleticism Score metric.”

He had 31 tackles and two interceptions in 12 games as a freshman at Oregon State before transferring to Tennessee. 

17 Tennessee players drafted during Josh Heupel era

Four Tennessee players were selected in the 2025 NFL Draft. 

James Pearce went at No. 26 overall in the first round Thursday night, selected by the Atlanta Falcons, and defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott was the No. 63 overall pick, taken in the second round Friday night by the Kansas City Chiefs. 

Dont’e Thornton went on Saturday afternoon, picked in the fourth round by the Las Vegas Raiders in the third round. Running back Dylan Sampson went later in the third round at No. 126 overall to the Cleveland Browns. 

The four picks in this year’s draft bring the total to 17 Tennessee players drafted during the Josh Heupel era: Hendon Hooker; Joe Milton III; Jaylen Wright; Dylan Sampson; Dont’e Thornton; Cedric Tillman; Jalin Hyatt; Velus Jones; Cade Mays; Darnell Wright; Kamal Hadden; Theo Jackson; Alontae Taylor; James Pearce; Byron Young; Omarr Norman-Lott; Matthew Butler.

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