The ongoing Bru McCoy eligibility drama is beginning to get snippy.
Southern California weighed in recently via a report by Outkick on the Tennessee receiver:
“USC has – consistently with NCAA rules – promptly and accurately responded to all requests from the University of Tennessee related to the eligibility of Bru McCoy. At no point since Bru entered the transfer portal in January have we objected to him being made immediately eligible to play at Tennessee. The issue of Bru’s eligibility ultimately rests with the NCAA, and we wish him the very best.”
That public statement has led to some serious questioning about its legitimacy. Some have asserted via social media that Southern California drug its feet in the McCoy transfer. If so, that would explain why the matter is not yet resolved. However, it could also be another case of the NCAA moving slower than its member institutions would prefer. That’s nothing new.
The question seems to be whether Southern California properly filled out the paperwork, which is called the “No Participation Opportunity Form”, in a timely manner so that McCoy could be deemed eligible. Apparently not, as the report stats that Tennessee has already filled an appeal for a waiver with the NCAA for McCoy to be eligible as soon as possible, preferably in the coming days.
Student-athletes are certainly able to transfer more freely than before, as evident by the fluidity of the transfer portal. However, McCoy is a special circumstance. After signing with Southern California in 2019, McCoy transferred to Texas and then back to USC before finally transferring to UT. McCoy is expected to have an immediate impact for the Vols once he’s deemed eligible. He was one of the highest rated receivers in his signing class.
Tennessee plays Ball State on Sept. 1 meaning that UT’s game-week preparation will essentially begin on Friday.
