How Tennessee replaces physical receiver Bru McCoy and his perimeter blocking is one of the biggest questions facing the No. 19 Volunteers on Saturday afternoon against Texas A&M and for the rest of this season as well.
Sixth-year senior tight end Jacob Warren is ready to offer his services.
“Obviously, the first person that I would say is myself and the tight ends in general,” Warren said earlier this week in a news conference. “I think his physicality is something you really desire, and you want that on the perimeter for all of the little passes that we throw out to the side.”
The biggest highlight of Tennessee’s otherwise lethargic 30-13 downing of Austin Peay on Sept. 9 was a 43-yard touchdown pass from Joe Milton III to tight end McCallan Castles that capped the scoring and finally put the Governors away with 8:03 remaining. A short gain became a lengthy touchdown because McCoy blocked a defender nearly 40 yards to the goal line, providing Castles a down-the-sideline avenue to the end zone.
McCoy and his blocking skills were lost for the season due to the fractured and dislocated ankle he sustained during the second quarter of the 41-20 vanquishing of South Carolina on Sept. 30.