By all accounts, Tennessee football defensive back Jermod McCoy is the Vols’ best player. The numbers help that, as UT’s scoring defense jumped 16 spots into the top 10 last year when they added him as a transfer from the Oregon State Beavers. He proved the value of a cornerback who can shut down one side of the field.
As a result, it has been a concern all offseason for the Vols that McCoy tore his ACL in the winter. Although he is expected back in the fall, there is a major question as to when he will reach 100 percent. At SEC Media Days, Heupel didn’t seem to quell those concerns.
“It’s a progression throughout the course of the end of summer and through training camp,” Heupel said when speaking of McCoy’s injury. “We’ll figure that out as we get into the season. Keep it in mind, obviously, we want him, he’s a huge part of us defensively, but his short-term and long-term health, as well.”
The key comment right there is that the Vols will figure that out as they “get into the season.” There’s no way you can look at that quote and not think that McCoy won’t be 100 percent healthy when the season begins. Adding in the focus on his short and long-term health only further emphasizes that point.
Sure, McCoy may be ready to go at 100 percent by October, but the Vols have to face a dangerous Syracuse Orange team and the Georgia Bulldogs before them. Although neither is on the road, UT not having McCoy could be a huge concern for its defense. Now, to be fair, based on the quotes, McCoy should be fully ready by som point in the season.
“I think with the injury in his rehab process, it’s how he encounters the next phase and the next stage as he continues to prepare himself and get ready to play,” Heupel said. “I saw him the other day and he is going through his rehab. He looks really good. His moving skills are good.”
So without McCoy at 100 percent, where does Tennessee football turn for a lockdown cornerback? The most obvious case is Colton Hood. A post-spring transfer from the Colorado Buffaloes, the Vols seem to have added him specifically to offset the McCoy injury.
However, despite starting his career with the Auburn Tigers, all of Hood’s experience is in the Big 12. SEC competition is much fiercer, and although he was in line to replace Travis Hunter, he wasn’t expected to play at the same level. Simply put, there are concerns.
Rickey Gibson III started at cornerback opposite McCoy and held out in the spring, likely for more money, after McCoy got hurt and it was clear he would be more valuable. However, all signs point to Gibson being a No. 2 corner, which is fine, but he can’t guard a team’s best receiver.
Boo Carter may have potential, as could Jalen McMurray or Jourdan Thomas. None of those guys seem like true No. 1 corners who can play out on an island, though. As a result, the Vols are likely left with one of two options: go forward with McCoy not at 100 percent in September or turn to Hood.
To be fair, McCoy was a transfer just like Hood, but the chances of back to back transfers working out like that seem slim to none. At the same time, Tennessee football at least has depth at the position, and if Tim Banks can get creative with his blitz packages like he used to, the Vols could be in good shape still.
