2026 NFL Draft Profile: Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy
A complicated situation.
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 19: Jermod McCoy #3 of the Tennessee Volunteers before a game between Alabama and Tennessee at Neyland Stadium on October 19, 2024 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Roger Wimmer/ISI Photos/Getty Images) | Getty Images In a vacuum, Tennessee’s best 2026 NFL prospect is cornerback Jermod McCoy. The Oregon State transfer exploded onto the national scene back in 2024, making big play after big play in the Tennessee secondary.
McCoy stepped onto campus two years ago and immediately became CB1 for the Volunteers, locking things down and helping power Tennessee to a College Football Playoff berth. An ACL tear in January of 2025 during offseason training has clouded his NFL Draft projection, however. McCoy was rumored to be close to a return to action for Tennessee late in the season, but opted to shut things down after the Volunteers were eliminated from playoff contention.
Prospect Information Position : Cornerback Schools : Oregon State, Tennessee High School Ranking : 3-star, 1,481st nationally Height : 6-1 Weight : 188 pounds Stats : 2024 season — 9 pass breakups, 4 interceptions, 44 tackles (Missed entire 2025 season with a torn ACL) Scouting Jermod McCoy McCoy has just about everything you want as a cornerback. A lengthy frame to go along with quick-twitch reactions, he’s able to be sticky in man coverage. McCoy’s ability to find the ball and make a play on it is special, as evidenced by his 2024 season.
The Texas native made game-changing plays for Tennessee against Oklahoma, Alabama and Vanderbilt during his breakout season in Knoxville. Two particular plays, both man-to-man challenges in the endzone against Vandy and Alabama, show McCoy’s ball skills. McCoy was able to get position on a fade against Alabama’s Ryan Williams for the pick, flipping that entire game on its head and sparking a Tennessee victory.