Tennessee football home to top-20 player in college football this season

Tennessee football may be home to one of the best players in college football this upcoming season.

After being tabbed a PFF Preseason All-American and First-Round pick, Vols cornerback Jermod McCoy has received more high praise from On3.

The publication listed him as the lone Tennessee player in the top 100 players heading into this season.

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McCoy steps in as the No. 17 overall player on the list of rankings.

“McCoy blossomed during his sophomore season,” On3’s Clark Brooks wrote in the story. “He’s fluid and fast with pretty good results shielding targets. His 11 overall forced incompletions are the most of any returning SEC DB.

“Specializing as a zone cover corner, only two returning CBs top his 87.5 PFF grade spot dropping.”

This leaves him just outside the top 10, but does cement him inside the top 20. Topping the list is Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. Behind him are South Carolina EDGE Dylan Stewart, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, Texas EDGE Colin Simmons, Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt, Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams, Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore, South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers, Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. and Texas quarterback Arch Manning.

McCoy began his career at Oregon State. As a true freshman that was under-recruited, he played in 12 games and started five. In that time, he led the team with nine passes defended to go with seven pass breakups, two interceptions and 31 tackles.

Afterward, he entered the transfer portal and made his way to Tennessee. In Knoxville, he showed the qualities of a star defensive back early in his tenure.

After starting in all 13 games, McCoy notched 13 passes defended with nine pass breakups and four interceptions. This gave him a tie for the SEC lead in interceptions.

His four picks were the most since Nigel Warrior grabbed four in the 2019 season.

Memorable interceptions from his first season in orange included a one-handed snag in the end zone against Alabama and grab at Vanderbilt after a deflection.