Jermod McCoy 2026 NFL Draft Early Scouting Report

Jermod McCoy emerged as one of the best cornerbacks in college football during the 2024 season, and his scouting report evaluates what makes McCoy one of the top players at his position and how his skills might translate to the NFL.

Jermod McCoy Scouting Report

Measurables:

Height- 6’0″

Weight- 193 lbs

Background:

McCoy attended Whitehouse High School in Whitehouse, Texas, where he was a three-star recruit in the class of 2023. He committed to Oregon State, where he immediately became an impact player for the Beavers, playing in 12 games and recording two interceptions and seven pass deflections. McCoy transferred to Tennessee for his sophomore season in 2024, where he quickly developed into one of the best players on Tennessee and in the SEC. He started all 13 games for the Volunteers and led the team in both interceptions and pass deflections, helping the team to a College Football Playoff appearance and 10-3 record on the season. McCoy earned All-SEC Second Team honors and All-American Second Team honors during his sophomore season. He suffered an ACL injury early in the offseason and has not yet played a game through the first nine weeks of the 2025 season.

Related: NFL Mock Drafts

Strengths:

McCoy has incredible athletic ability. He is an explosive athlete with tremendous change-of-direction speed. McCoy has fluid hips, and while he may not have elite long speed, he absolutely still has the speed to effectively carry receivers vertically downfield. He also has really good size and length, and is a very physical defender. McCoy is a tough competitor and a strong press coverage corner. He is also solid in run support and a hard-hitting tackler. He is a high-IQ player with great awareness on the field as well. McCoy pairs his athletic ability and competitive toughness with great instincts and ball skills. In his first two seasons of college football, McCoy has recorded six interceptions and 16 pass deflections, including four interceptions and nine pass deflections in 2024. 

Weaknesses:

The main concern for McCoy is the ACL injury he suffered in early January. Through the first nine weeks of the season, McCoy has still not played a single game for Tennessee. On the football field, the biggest concern for McCoy is that he can be a bit too physical and grabby downfield at times. He also occasionally struggles to disengage from blocks in run support. 

NFL Projection:

If McCoy returns well from his injury, he is possibly the best cornerback prospect in college football. He has all the tools needed to be a great coverage player in the NFL. With his athletic ability, size, and advanced coverage skills as a younger prospect with just two years of college experience, McCoy has a ton of upside. He is a well-rounded player with all the traits needed to potentially develop into a great outside CB1 for a team in the NFL. How early McCoy ends up going in the draft, if he declares, will depend a lot on his injury, but he is currently projected to be a first-round draft pick, and maybe even the first cornerback taken in the draft.