A huge get.
Tennessee made a big splash on Wednesday morning, grabbing Jermod McCoy out of the transfer portal to reinforce the secondary. The Volunteers have seen six defensive backs enter the transfer portal so far this month, so adding one back with playing experience was a must. Josh Heupel and company have done that here, and McCoy has plenty of room left to grow with three seasons of eligibility remaining.
McCoy announced his decision via X this morning.
#Committed GBO!
@coachjoshheupel @Coach_Nez_ @Vol_Football pic.twitter.com/U9NrCTDlx8— Jermod McCoy (@Jermodmccoy) December 20, 2023
Per 247Sports, McCoy is the seventh-ranked transfer cornerback in the country. Originally from Texas, McCoy chose the Volunteers over an offer to play for his home state Texas A&M Aggies. He also never made it to planned trips to Oregon and Oklahoma.
McCoy is coming off of a standout freshman season for Oregon State, where he appeared in 11 games. He earned four starts late in the year for the Beavers, as the 6-0, 180 pound cornerback picked off two passes and broke up another seven. He’ll likely have a clear path to big playing time right off the bat, with Kamal Hadden, Doneiko Slaughter, Warren Burrell, Brandon Turnage and Tamarion McDonald exiting the program.
You’re going to see a completely different looking secondary in 2024, and McCoy is a nice building block to start with. Multiple former blue-chip prospects will have their chance to crack the starting role during the spring, and it will be interesting to see if Tennessee feels comfortable rolling with that youth into the fall. Will they add another? It’s certainly possible, considering the roster turnover.
McCoy joins MTSU safety transfer Jakobe Thomas in the secondary in Tennessee’s current transfer class. The Volunteers have also pulled tight end Holden Staes from Notre Dame.