Jermod McCoy (3) celebrates an overtime victory over Florida at Neyland Stadium. Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. Photo by Cole Moore/Rocky Top Insider
Could Tennessee football get its second top-10 selection of the Josh Heupel era this year? According to The Athletic’s latest draft prospect rankings, the answer could be yes. It has Vols cornerback Jermod McCoy as the No. 9 player in the class.
If he does go at No. 9 in the draft, it’d top Darnell Wright’s selection at No. 10 as the highest pick under Heupel at Tennessee. It’d also be the highest selection out of UT since Eric Berry went fifth overall in 2010. McCoy would join Wright and James Pearce Jr. as first-round selections under Heupel.
McCoy has not played this season due to an ACL injury suffered just after the 2024 season. His production as a sophomore in that playoff run has been enough to propel him to be considered a top prospect, though.
“Based on his 2024 tape, McCoy looked like one of the top defensive prospects in this draft class,” The Athletic‘s Dane Brugler wrote. “But a January ACL injury clouded his projection, and we still haven’t received much of an update on his situation…”
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Also in the list of top 50 prospects is Vols cornerback Colton Hood. Starting in his first year as a Vol after transferring in from Colorado, Hood has begun to work his way into some first-round mock drafts.
“From Auburn to Colorado and now Tennessee, Hood is on his third program in three years – and playing well for the Volunteers,” The Athletic‘s Dane Brugler wrote. “A good-sized athlete, Hood has a team-high eight passes defended…”
Not included in the top 50 list were two notable names. Neither breakout wide receiver Chris Brazzell nor senior edge rusher Joshua Josephs made the cut. After strong starts to the season, both have popped up as potential first-round selections on other big boards and mock drafts.