Here’s a polished, in-depth profile of Jermod McCoy, the top-ranked cornerback in College Football 26. I’ve woven together his on‑field performance, game-changing traits, injury outlook, and NFL draft prospects—packed with verified insights and expert takes:
- Sierra-high ratings: McCoy is rated a 94 overall in College Football 26, making him the highest‑rated cornerback in the game—and fifth overall among all players (si.com).
- SEC dominance: After transferring from Oregon State, McCoy started all 12 games in 2024 with Tennessee, compiling 44 tackles, four interceptions, and nine pass breakups. His 13 passes defended tied for second in the SEC and placed him 15th nationally (utsports.com).
- PFF coverage strength: Pro Football Focus pegged his coverage grade at 90.3, second in the SEC and top-5 in FBS cornerbacks (utsports.com).
- Bye-memory interception vs. Oklahoma: Against No. 15 Oklahoma, McCoy recorded an interception on 48 coverage snaps—allowing 0.0 passer rating—earning Jim Thorpe Award Defensive Back of the Week (utsports.com).
- Steal against Alabama: He also snagged a spectacular one‑handed end‑zone interception versus Alabama, preventing a certain touchdown .
- Clutch in Nashville: Added another decisive interception in the red zone to preserve the win against Vanderbilt (stadiumrant.com).
McCoy shows an innate knack for the ball—tracking passes, timing his jumps, and baiting quarterbacks into mistakes (nfldraftbuzz.com).
Whether in man or zone, he’s sharp. PFF rewarded his positional instincts and route anticipation highly (stadiumrant.com).
While not elite track-speed, he combines explosive first-step bursts with clean footwork—excellent agility that elevates his coverage, especially short to intermediate (nfldraftbuzz.com).
Scouts note he can sometimes play grabby in tight coverage and needs to refine tackling mechanics in space (nfldraftbuzz.com).
- Second‑Team All‑America (AP & Sports Illustrated) and First‑Team All‑SEC (utsports.com).
- Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist and multiple national DB of the week honors (utsports.com).
- PFF ranked top returning corner: No. 2 among all returning FBS corners (on3.com).
In January 2025, McCoy suffered a torn ACL during offseason workouts, requiring surgery (rockytoptalk.com). Recovery is ongoing—with projections being 8–9 months, meaning his availability at the start of the 2025 season is still a big question (rockytoptalk.com). His missed spring training adds to the recovery challenge .
- Multiple mocks: CBS projects him at No. 20 (Chargers), PFF has him No. 8 on their big board, and The Draft Network slots him at No. 18 overall (rockytoptalk.com).
- PFF’s opinion: Labelled a “corner to know,” he earned elite marks in coverage and athleticism (tennessee.rivals.com).
- NFL Draft Buzz: Scouting noted his play-processing intelligence, ball instincts, and smooth coverage—despite questions about straight-line speed and ACL recovery (nfldraftbuzz.com).
If McCoy regains full mobility post-ACL, his film instincts, recognition, and ball production (turnovers) project him as a modern-day CB1 mold—a playmaker who can flip field position and anchor a secondary.
- Health & practice participation: His presence in fall camp and games—how many snaps he’ll regain.
- Footwork/agility post-ACL: Can he still mirror elite receivers off the line?
- Consistency & tackling improvements: Turning coverage chops into full-game consistency, tightening spacing, and avoiding penalties.
Jermod McCoy blends intelligence, ball instinct, and physical cornerbacking into a profile that, when fully healthy, projects as a potential top‑15 NFL pick in 2026. He’s both a gritty finisher and technical disruptor—with a rare knack for high-impact plays.
Yes, the ACL injury clouds the 2025 outlook, but history shows elite corners can return effectively. If McCoy hits the field ready, the Volunteers’ defense gets a loaded back-end, and NFL franchises get a premium cover guy who can shape conversations about the best CB in the draft.
Let me know if you’d like a breakdown of specific games, comparison with NFL prospects, or even a 2,000‑word deep‑dive!
