Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy Named a Semifinalist for Prestigious National Award
Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy is gaining national recognition for his stellar performance this season, with a chance to win an award only achieved by Tennessee’s legendary Eric Berry.
The Volunteers’ defense has been one of college football’s most surprising successes in 2024, particularly its secondary—a unit once viewed as a weakness. Leading this transformation is McCoy, who has now been named a semifinalist for the 2024 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the best defensive back in college football. If he wins, McCoy would join Berry, who won the award in 2009, in the ranks of Tennessee’s all-time defensive greats.
McCoy has emerged as Tennessee’s lockdown corner, not allowing a single touchdown this season and ranking fifth in the SEC with seven defended passes and five pass breakups. His recent game-sealing interception against Alabama’s Jalen Milroe in the endzone highlighted his abilities on a national stage.
After transferring from Oregon State, McCoy is proving his elite talent as an SEC cornerback with a promising future.
