The path has been paved for Tennessee fifth-year senior receiver Bru McCoy.
During the 2021 football season, which transpired several months before McCoy arrived in Knoxville as a Southern California transfer, Cedric Tillman came out of nowhere to rack up 1,081 yards for the Volunteers. Last year, it was Jalin Hyatt who erupted for a 1,267 yards, a school-record 15 touchdown receptions and the first Biletnikoff Award in program history.
Hyatt and Tillman are now readying for the NFL draft later this month, and McCoy knows that being Tennessee’s next standout receiver isn’t an automatic.
“There is more to it than that,” McCoy said in a news conference that followed Tuesday’s practice. “I saw their work. I saw their preparation. I saw the way they attacked every day. Yeah, there is a model to it, and you want to see yourself as a high draft pick, but it’s a process and a grind.
“Seeing that they went through the same process I’m going through and seeing the opportunity they now have shows the light at the end of the tunnel.”
McCoy won’t be emerging from any kind of unknown after amassing 52 receptions for 667 yards and four touchdowns last season. The 6-foot-3, 221-pounder had 102 yards in the fourth game against Florida, including a 70-yarder, and hung 140 yards on LSU two weeks later.
There would also be a nine-catch, 111-yard performance against Missouri in November, but his most memorable reception was a 27-yard snag at Alabama’s 23-yard line that set up the game-winning, 40-yard field goal by fellow USC transfer Chase McGrath.
McCoy, uniquely enough, never caught a pass during the regular season from Joe Milton III, but that changed with his four receptions for 48 yards in the 31-14 Orange Bowl topping of Clemson. His 16-yard touchdown at the 5:17 mark of the first quarter resulted in the first score of the game.
The Vols also have fifth-year senior Ramel Keyton, sophomore Squirrel White and Oregon transfer Dont’e Thompson as possible breakout candidates at receiver, but McCoy is doing what he can to be Tennessee’s next perimeter star.
“I need to be better at understanding defenses, especially in the SEC, because you get a lot of disguises and a lot of different rotations,” he said. “With the offense we run, we have to understand how the secondary is working to where it can help us make better and smarter decisions.”
The Vols will practice again Thursday before conducting the Orange & White game Saturday afternoon at 2:30. McCoy has not gone through contact work this spring due to a procedure he underwent on his arm to address an injury from early last season.
The ticket frenzy
Tennessee announced Tuesday afternoon that 70,255 season tickets have been sold for the upcoming season, nearly 10,000 more than its target goal of 61,000.
The school announced a 96% renewal rate from last year, when the Vols were undefeated in Neyland Stadium and 11-2 overall, and that 8,996 new season tickets have been purchased. Tennessee’s “Rise Glorious” strategic plan, which was unveiled last July, called for selling 70,000 tickets by the 2026-27 athletic year.
Praising Sampson
Sophomore running back Dylan Sampson was quickly lauded by head coach Josh Heupel following last Thursday’s second spring scrimmage, and he has been praised by teammates as well.
On Tuesday, it was running back coach Jerry Mack’s turn.
“He’s way further ahead than any guy we’ve had here going into year two, to be honest with you,” Mack said. “More so than Jabari Small and Jaylen Wright, just for the simple fact he got a chance to play a few more snaps and had a little more success in big moments. It’s why you want to give these guys as much time as possible on the field early.
“He didn’t come in last spring, either, so for him to process the information and learn the system probably after the eighth or ninth practice of fall camp let us know he was a guy who could help us at some point last season.”
One fast Duck
McCoy said Tuesday that Thornton has been a nice addition. The 6-5, 199-pounder had 17 catches for the Ducks last season and averaged 21.5 yards per reception.
“I think he’s going to add a ton to the offense,” McCoy said. “His athleticism and his ability to stretch the field pairs well with a guy like Joe, who can throw the ball a mile. I can’t wait to see the things that we do.”
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com.