As expected, Jermod McCoy is off to the NFL. Tennessee’s standout cornerback declared for the 2026 NFL Draft on Wednesday, ending his two-year stint in Knoxville. McCoy is still working back from a torn ACL suffered back in January which caused him to miss the entire 2026 season.
McCoy announced his decision on social media.
“Dear Vol Nation,
First, I want to thank God for blessing me with the ability and opportunity to play this game at the highest level. And even though my time on the field was cut
short, I will be forever grateful for my time here at the University of Tennessee. It has been a true honor, and I’m appreciative for every moment I had in the orange and white.
To my coaches and the entire coaching staff – thank you for believing in me, developing me, and pushing me every day.
To the academic staff – thank you for supporting me in the classroom and helping me grow beyond the field.
To my teammates – my brothers — thank you for the battles, the laughs, and the bond we built.
To my family – thank you for your love, sacrifice, and constant support. Without you, I’m not sure where I would be.
And to the fans – thank you for embracing me and showing me love from day one.
Thank you to everyone who has given me the opportunity to chase this dream. I will forever be indebted. With that said, I am officially declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft.
GBO, Jermod McCoy”
McCoy has been projected as a first round selection all season long — some even have him as a potential top ten pick. The projection is based off of a fantastic sophomore season which saw him intercept four passes. McCoy was credited with nine total pass breakups.
The 6-0, 193 pound will now go through the draft process with no tape from this season, which will make for a pretty interesting evaluation. Teams will undoubtedly want to get a look a his knee at the NFL Combine, which may end up determining how high he goes in April.
For Tennessee, new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles is also expected to lose cornerback Colton Hood. The Volunteers should retain both Rickey Gibson and Ty Redmond, however. Still, expect Tennessee to be active in the transfer portal as they attempt to find a replacement at STAR and build out depth.
The NFL Draft is set for April 23rd and will run through April 26th.
