Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy has been great for the Vols this season. He should just continue to get better.
“I think I was young at my old school,” the transfer from Oregon State said on Tuesday as the No. 7 Vols prepare for Kentucky on Saturday at 7:45 EST in Neyland Stadium. ”I was just out there playing. I didn’t really do a lot of studying and stuff. I just go on the field. But I think now, I do a lot more studying and the stuff that I have to do to like be prepared for the games.”
Whatever McCoy is doing, it’s working. The sophomore has started all seven games at corner this season and leads the Vols with seven passes defended, with two interceptions and five passes broken up. According to Pro Football Focus, his 85.4 coverage grade ranks third in the SEC and 10th in the FBS among cornerbacks who have played at least 200 coverage snaps.
Why has McCoy been so good for the Vols this season? Let’s start with the fact that he’s big, physical, fast and plays the ball well when it’s in the air. He’s also able to play zone and man coverage.
“The versatility between that just helps me from like giving different looks,” McCoy said of the mixture in Tennessee’s coverage schemes. “So just I think that helps me a lot.”
McCoy hasn’t been the only new cornerback to step up this season. Rickey Gibson III has also played well on the other side of the field. Both sophomores, the two have certainly discussed their future together, which could mean becoming the best cornerback duo in the SEC – or beyond.
“That’s something me and Rick have been talking about since the day I got here,” McCoy said. “We just wanted to be the best in the SEC, like we said, a bunch of goals and we’re still trying to get to those goals. Just trying to be the best DB’s in the nation. Honestly, not even an SEC.”
If the two continue to get better, that might just be the case.
