As Tennessee football opened up fall practice earlier this week, one key Vol made his return to the practice field for the first time since last September: Bru McCoy.
McCoy suffered a gruesome ankle injury in the first half of Tennessee’s win over South Carolina last season. The injury ended his 2023 season and kept him completely sidelined for spring practice. But diligently attacking his rehab has McCoy on track to return to the field for the start of his super senior season.
“It is absolutely insane what that kid did this offseason,” Tennessee offensive coordinator Joey Halzle said earlier this week. “That ankle injury, we all saw it. The fact that that kid is out there running full speed and making cuts and catches. He didn’t gain a bunch of weight, and he still looks like a superhero when he walks around out here. This guy is absolutely insane, the way he went through that.”
Physically, McCoy looks as good as ever on the practice field— now in a new No. 5 jersey. He’s been a partial participant in the open portions of Tennessee’s first two fall practices but did go through parts of routes on air on Thursday.
When McCoy announced that he was returning for the 2024 season it was uncertain when he’d be fully healthy. But with the season opener just under a month away, McCoy is nearing that point.
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“The training staff was actually saying, ‘Hey Bru, we actually have to pull you back a little bit right now.’ He is pushing it over and over and over to try and get there as quickly as possible,” McCoy said. “The guy is just an absolute animal in every aspect. Whether it is strength training, conditioning, rehab or his football knowledge. He attacks it all the same way, which is why he has made this comeback so quickly. I don’t know if everyone thought he was going to be able to. It is special to watch.”
In just over four games last season, McCoy caught 17 passes for 217 yards and a touchdown before suffering the season ending injury. Playing the full 2022 season, McCoy hauled in 52 passes for 667 yards and four touchdowns in his first season in Tennessee’s offense.
As the Vols break in new starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava this season, having McCoy as close to the player he was before the injury as possible would be a huge win. The Vols have depth and a ton of talent at receiver but Squirrel White is the only other receiver that’s had consistent success in the SEC.
On top of his receiving skills, McCoy is an elite blocker which is particularly important in Tennessee’s offense that prioritizes the quick screen game.
Time will tell the level that McCoy plays at this season, but his recovery to this point has impressed Halzle and numerous others inside the football facility.
