Tag: Bru McCoy

Bru McCoy could be an SEC star for Tennessee this season

The former USC Trojan prepares for what could be a star turn this year. #Vols

Top college football programs have to find ways to reload at important positions. Consider Tennessee at wide receiver in 2023. Jaylin Hyatt (New York Giants) and Cedric Tillman (Cleveland Browns) are both gone due to the 2023 NFL draft, but have no fear Vols fans: Bru McCoy is here and will be a top wide receiver for Tennessee this year.

After transferring in from USC, the former Mater Dei five-star recruit caught 52 passes for the Vols last year for 667 yards and four scores. He finished second on the team in catches and receiving yards and third in receiving touchdowns.

The Vols added Nathan Leacock from the prep ranks and Dont’e Thornton from the transfer portal this offseason to accompany sophomores Squirrel White and Chas Nimrod.

The stars for the Vols at wideout could be Bru McCoy and Ramel Keyton, with similarly high expectations in Knoxville for quarterback Joe Milton and head coach Josh Hepuel. Many will expect another 10-plus-win season for Tennessee.

McCoy, a 6-foot-3 and 221-pound senior, says watching former teammates Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman go through the draft process has motivated him more.

“I saw their preparation, I saw the way they attacked each day,” McCoy said. “Obviously you want to see yourself go as a high draft pick and the fruits of your labor. It’s a process and a grind. Seeing that they went through the same process I went through and the opportunity that they have, it definitely shows the light at the end of the tunnel.”

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2023 SEC football returning receiving yard leaders

A look at the SEC returning receiving yard leaders entering the 2023 season.

The 2023 college football season will kick off Aug. 26 with Week 0.

Tennessee will kick off its 2023 season on Sept. 2 versus Virginia at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee (noon EDT, ABC).

Josh Heupel enters his third season as the Vols’ head coach in 2023. Heupel has compiled an 18-8 (10-6 SEC) record during his first two seasons at Tennessee.

2023 SEC football returning passing yard leaders

2023 SEC football returning rushing yard leaders

The Vols are replacing wide receivers Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman in 2023. Bru McCoy, Dont’e Thornton Jr. and Squirrel White are projected wide receiver starters by Phil Steele.

Ahead of the 2023 season, Vols Wire looks at returning receiving yard leaders in the Southeastern Conference and are listed below.

Tennessee football’s highest-graded returning offensive players in 2023

A look Tennessee football’s highest-graded returning offensive players ahead of the 2023 season.

The 2023 season will be Tennessee’s third under head coach Josh Heupel. Heupel has compiled an 18-8 (10-6 SEC) record with the Vols.

The Vols will kick off their 2023 season on Sept. 2 against Virginia at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.

Tennessee football: 2023 post-spring game-by-game predictions

As the 2023 season approaches, Vols Wire looks at the highest-graded returning offensive players for Tennessee.

All grades were gathered using the Pro Football Focus (PFF) database and grading system. Data compiled represents a player’s overall offensive grade from the 2022 season, including postseason games.

Student-athletes who played 20 percent of the minimum number of snaps in 2022 were included.

Below are the top-10 highest-graded returning Vols entering the 2023 season.

Bru McCoy discusses returning to Tennessee next season

Wide receiver Bru McCoy discusses returning to Tennessee next season.

Tennessee redshirt junior wide receiver Bru McCoy will return in 2023.

McCoy and No. 6 Tennessee (10-2, 6-2 SEC) will play No. 7 Clemson in the Capital One Orange Bowl Dec. 30 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Kickoff is slated for 8 p.m. EST. ESPN will televise the contest.

McCoy met with the media Dec. 21 and announced his decision.

“Without a doubt, I will be coming back next year,” McCoy said. “I just want to be the best teammate I can be, continue to grind and work, and do what I can do to help win games.

“Ultimately, just set more team goals than I do personal, and just go out there and have success.”

McCoy has recorded 48 receptions, 619 yards and three touchdowns during the 2022 season at Tennessee.

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Former Trojans Chase McGrath and Bru McCoy help Tennessee defeat Alabama

Hours before USC lost at Utah, two former Trojans helped @VolsWire’s Tennessee team take down a Nick Saban-coached Bama squad for the first time.

USC did win on Saturday … if you count former Trojans in the college football spotlight with other teams.

Clay Helton coached Georgia Southern to a win over James Madison. Georgia Southern handed James Madison its first loss of the 2022 season.

Meanwhile, in Knoxville, two Trojans played a role in helping Tennessee score its first-ever win over a Nick Saban-coached Alabama team. Tennessee won its first game over Alabama since 2006, which was the last year before Saban’s arrival in 2007. Mike Shula was still the head coach of the Crimson Tide the last time the Vols beat Bama.

Chase McGrath and Bru McCoy were both part of the Vols’ Big Orange attack against Saban. Let’s look at some of the highlights:

Former Trojan Bru McCoy makes an impact for Tennessee in Week 1 win

Bru McCoy is getting used to Josh Heupel’s #Vols offense. He and kicker Chase McGrath contributed to Tennessee’s blowout victory in its season opener.

Bru McCoy played his first game for Tennessee on Thursday night against Ball State in a 59-10 blowout victory. The former Mater Dei five-star recruit and USC receiver had three receptions for 42 yards in the rout on Thursday night.

The 6-3, 220-pound McCoy earned his first start as a Volunteer alongside wide receivers Cedric Tillman and Jalin Hyatt.

With Walker Merrill, Ramel Keyton and Jimmy Holiday also at the WR position, the Vols are deep this season. Dark horse Heisman candidate Hendon Hooker will use that to his advantage as the Vols’ quarterback.

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel mentioned to media that he wanted to play more bodies at receiver this year, and against Ball State he certainly did that.

Tennessee also had former USC Trojan kicker Chase McGrath on display as well. The Newport Beach, Calif., native was 1 for 1 on field goals, knocking in a 34-yard kick and scoring eight extra points after a tidal wave of Tennessee touchdowns.

The Vols will take on another former USC Trojan when they play Kedon Slovis and the Pittsburgh Panthers next week on the road at 12:30 p.m. Los Angeles time on ABC.

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The best prop bets for the Tennessee Vols in 2022

A look at the 10 best prop bets for the Tennessee Vols in the 2022 college football season.

With the start of the 2022 season for the Tennessee Volunteers, we are diving into the best prop bets to kick off the season.

Several players are the focus this year and we start on the offensive side of the ball. Quarterback [autotag]Hendon Hooker[/autotag], wide receiver [autotag]Cedric Tillman[/autotag], and newcomer [autotag]Bru McCoy [/autotag] should all have a big impact on the offense. We laid out some of the best prop bets for these individuals.

On defense, it will come down to [autotag]Byron Young[/autotag] and [autotag]Jeremy Banks[/autotag] and of course, we have you covered for the Ball State-Tennessee showdown on Thursday.

Ball State-Tennessee Betting Odds per Tipico

Line: Tennessee (-35.5)

O/U: 67.5

Money Line: Ball State (+1500) | Tennessee (-10000)

All prop bet odds via Tipico. Colorado and New Jersey residents can make their season-opening prop bets here at Tipico Sportsbook.

Here are the top prop bets for the Tennessee Vols as they kick off the 2022 campaign against Ball State:

Bru McCoy ruled eligible to play immediately for Vols

Transfer wide receiver Bru McCoy ruled eligible to play immediately for the Vols.

Wide receiver Bru McCoy committed to Tennessee in May.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound McCoy transferred to Tennessee from USC. He appeared in six games for USC in 2020, totaling 21 receptions, 236 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

USC released a statement Sunday regarding McCoy and his eligibility at Tennessee.

“USC has — consistent 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.”

On Friday, McCoy was ruled eligible to play immediately for the Vols, according to a Tennessee spokesperson.

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Bru McCoy’s playing status unresolved at Tennessee; USC releases statement

.@VolsWire continues to follow the slow-moving process involving former USC receiver Bru McCoy, who hopes to be able to play for Tennessee this season.

Another week has brought a lack of resolution to Bru McCoy’s playing status at Tennessee.

The former USC receiver is seeking a fresh start in Knoxville after a Trojan career which was marred by off-field troubles and complications.

As noted by our friends at Vols Wire, USC released a statement about the larger situation encompassing McCoy:

“USC has — consistent 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.”

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Issue of Bru McCoy’s eligibility at Tennessee ‘ultimately rests with NCAA’

Issue of Bru McCoy’s eligibility at Tennessee ultimately rests with the NCAA.

Wide receiver Bru McCoy committed to Tennessee in May.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound McCoy transferred to Tennessee from USC. He appeared in six games for USC in 2020, totaling 21 receptions, 236 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Second-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel met with media following the Vols’ fifteenth practice during fall training camp Aug. 19.

Heupel was asked if there is an update on McCoy’s eligibility status.

“Obviously, getting him prepared, being able to rep him, you’d like that before you start your regular game plan week,” Heupel said. “Essentially seven days before kickoff. That’s best-case situation where you are able to work him, incorporate him and play him for what it’s going to look like when we run out of the tunnel.

“Our administration has done everything that they possibility can. They’ve been great throughout the entire process from the very beginning. They’re still working as hard as they can to give him the opportunity to play. I don’t have an answer on that (when eligibility decision would be). There are some things that are out of my control, Bru’s control and our administration’s control in this process. Everybody on our side is working as hard as they possibility can to make sure that we come to a resolution as quickly as possible and give the kid an opportunity to go play.”

Wide receiver Bru McCoy during Tennessee’s first fall training camp practice on Aug. 1, 2022 at Haslam Field in Knoxville, Tennessee. Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

USC released a statement Sunday regarding McCoy.

“USC has — consistent 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.”

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