Josh Heupel: Jermod McCoy ‘continuing on that journey’ in return from torn ACL

Jermod McCoy did not play in Tennessee Football’s scrimmage Friday morning at Neyland Stadium, but that doesn’t mean the All-American defensive back and projected first-round NFL Draft pick is off schedule as he continues his return from the torn ACL he suffered in January.

“He was not a part of the scrimmage,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said during his press conference after the second scrimmage of fall camp. “He’s continuing his rehab and I think you guys saw him out on the practice field with us a few days ago. (He’s) continuing on that journey.”

Tennessee is now off until Tuesday, as the Vols continue working toward the season opener against Syracuse on August 30 (Noon Eastern Time, ABC) in the Aflac Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

McCoy, who suffered the injury during offseason training on his own, made his return to the practice field last Friday. He worked on the side doing individual drills, then returned to more team-oriented drills with his teammates in the days that followed.

Jermod McCoy last season: 44 tackles, 9 passes defended, 4 interceptions

“He’s itching to do whatever it takes,” Tennessee secondary coach Willie Martinez said after practice on Monday. “He’s always been that way, but I’m not surprised that he’s hit all the benchmarks to this point where he needs to hit. The guys feel it, they sense it. He’s in our room, he’s engaged.

“It’s not like it’s like a one-time thing where you saw on the field doing some drills the last practice and fire everybody up to see him go through the individual drills. But they see him also in all the things he does in the room, in the team room, the energy he brings each and every day. It’s exciting, it really is.”

McCoy finished his first season at Tennessee with 44 tackles, nine passes defended and four interceptions. He had 31 tackles and two interceptions in 12 games as a freshman at Oregon State before transferring to Tennessee. 

Heupel said after last Saturday’s scrimmage at Neyland Stadium that McCoy led his teammates in the huddle before his return to practice last Friday.

“Cool moment for Jermod,” Heupel said. “Big moment getting back on the field, doing some of the individual work. It was cool to see the way his brothers were excited for him in that moment and how big that was, too. He broke us down before practice.

“He’s done an elite job throughout his rehab, and there’s still more that he’s got to continue to do, but excited to get him back out with us.”

The Athletic projects Jermod McCoy as No. 11 overall pick in NFL Draft

Way-too-early NFL mock drafts all seem to agree on McCoy as a first-round pick in the NFL Draft. McCoy is projected at No. 11 overall pick according to The Athletic, No. 12 by USA Today, No. 13 according to Todd McShay and No. 20 according to CBS Sports.

Pro Football Focus in the spring ranked McCoy at No. 8 overall in its first Big Board for the 2026 NFL Draft. 

ESPN in June ranked McCoy as the No. 1 cornerback prospect in the draft, according to NFL Draft analyst MattMiller. McCoy is coming off a breakout debut season with the Vols, after transferring from Oregon State.

“The Oregon State transfer thrived in his first season with the Vols,” ESPN’s Jordan Reid wrote, “intercepting four passes and looking like the CB1 of a strong 2026 corner class. 

“But he suffered a torn ACL during a January training session, putting his status for the 2025 season in doubt. Can McCoy return to the field this season, and how would he perform if he does?”