Bru McCoy gave Tennessee football additional good news to open up 2024 on Wednesday night when he announced that he is returning to Knoxville for his super senior season.
When McCoy announced last winter that he was coming back to Tennessee for the 2023 season, he planned on it being his final collegiate season. But a gruesome ankle injury that ended his season after just over four games made McCoy reevaluate his career plans and led to him returning for one final season.
Joe Milton III and the 2023 Vols’ loss is Nico Iamaleava and the 2024 Vols’ gain. So what does McCoy’s return mean for Tennessee?
A Reliable Receiver For Nico Iamaleava
Bru McCoy isn’t a high-level No. 1 receiver but he is a consistent and steady receiver. He totaled 667 yards and four touchdowns as Tennessee’s third receiving option in 2022 and had 217 yards and a touchdown in just over four games to begin the 2023 season.
Tennessee knows what it’s going to get from McCoy. He’s a physical, sure handed receiver that’s going to pick up extra yards after the catch and can snag 50/50 balls down the field. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound receiver is also an elite blocker that can spring big plays in the Vols’ run and screen game.
McCoy is reliable and that’s something Tennessee needs coming off a season in which none of its receivers were reliable and entering a season with a redshirt freshman starting quarterback.
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A Veteran Leader
Prior to the Citrus Bowl, Iamaleava talked about how he was recruiting McCoy to come back and stressed the importance the veteran receiver’s leadership could have next season.
In the same way that McCoy is important because of the unproven nature of Tennessee’s receiver room, he is important as a leader. Squirrel White is the only veteran that’s proved his worth on the field and he’s not a talkative person that’s going to be outspoken verbally.
Just as a whole, Tennessee’s skill position players will include a lot of new, younger faces next season. Running back Dylan Sampson was already on Tennessee’s leadership council as a sophomore but McCoy will be an important leader too.
McCoy is a hard worker who is about his business, has proved he’s an effective player and is entering his third season in the program. He’ll command respect in the Vols’ locker room.
Could Tennessee Receivers Enter The Portal?
Tennessee hasn’t lost a receiver to the transfer portal yet this offseason while adding Tulane transfer Chris Brazzell II to the roster. While the transfer portal closes on Wednesday, Tennessee players have until Saturday to enter the portal since that date is five days after the Vols’ bowl game.
Players could also enter the transfer portal when the window re-opens after spring practice. Due to injuries and inconsistent play, a number of Tennessee receivers saw playing time this season.
McCoy, White, Brazzell, Dont’e Thornton, Kaleb Webb and Chas Nimrod are all competing for receiver snaps and freshmen Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley will also be pushing for playing time.
It wouldn’t be shocking for one of Thornton, Webb or Nimrod to move on to a school with a clearer path to playing time. Thornton, who transferred to Tennessee from Oregon last season, was originally tied to Tennessee due to the NCAA’ one-time transfer rule. But after the courts shot that rule down, Thornton could transfer again and be eligible.
