'Doesn't look good': Tennessee's Bru McCoy carted off with leg injury against South Carolina
The injury bug bit Tennessee again in the second quarter against South Carolina Saturday night at Neyland Stadium. Redshirt senior Bru McCoy was carted off with what a gruesome lower leg injury with 6:16 left in the first half.
Joe Milton III 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.
McCoy left Neyland Stadium in an ambulance after being carted off the field. He entered the 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 the Gamecocks.
“Obviously, doesn’t look good,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel told SEC Network broadcast crew on the way off the field at halftime. “I hate it for the kid. Not a better kid, not a tougher kid in the country”
Tennessee led South Carolina 17-10 when the injury occurred. The Vols had just taken over at the 29-yard line.
Tennessee opened the scoring with a 42-yard touchdown from Jaylen Wright. South Carolina scored 10 straight points sandwiched around a Milton interception, then the Vols answered back to 10 straight of their own.
Jabari Small scored on a 2-yard touchdown run following a 50-yard completion from Milton to Squirrel White. Charles Campbell kicked a 24-yard field goal to get the lead back to seven.
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.
Both McCoy and Keyton started Saturday night for Tennessee against South Carolina.
The Vols got senior center Cooper Mays back against the Gamecocks after he missed the first four games of the season.
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Mays has missed four straight games to start the season after undergoing surgery on August 9. He returned to practice in the week leading up to the 30-13 win over Austin Peay on September 9 and has dressed for the last three games before ultimately not playing.
“Practiced really well,” Heupel said of Mays during his press conference on Thursday. “Like those other guys that I talked about, will ensure that through tomorrow and obviously game day that they’re ready to go compete at the level that you need to in this one.
“South Carolina is a big, strong, physical, explosive up front. So hopefully we’ll have them locked and loaded, ready to roll.”
Keyton left late in the third quarter against UTSA after appearing to land on the football while attempting to make a diving catch on a go route. He walked off under his own power after being checked on by the training staff on the field. McCoy didn’t play in the second half but was seen jogging on the sideline while being held out.
Tennessee wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope said Monday during an appearance at The Knoxville Quarterback Club that all of his wideouts would be available for tonight’s game against South Carolina.
“All the receiver are available for Saturday,” Pope said. “Everybody’s good. Coach Heup, I’m sure will address the injury report. But yeah, we’re all in good shape.”
