KINGSPORT – Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel expects injured wide receiver Bru McCoy to be in the lineup in preseason practice in August.
Heupel isn’t a doctor. But he’s kept close tabs on McCoy, who could be a key target for quarterback Nico Iamaleava if he’s healthy.
“(McCoy) should be ready. He’s in a position to have an elite summer and be ready to roll,” Heupel said at the final stop of the Big Orange Caravan on Wednesday. “What do I expect from him? (I) expect him to play at a championship level, man.”
McCoy has been sidelined since suffering a serious ankle injury against South Carolina on Sept. 30.
If McCoy returns to 100% by the season opener against Chattanooga on Aug. 31, he’ll give the Vols a reliable receiver, a bruising blocker and an experienced leader in the lineup.
In 17 games at UT, McCoy has 69 receptions for 884 yards and five touchdowns. He would’ve gone into the 2024 NFL Draft if not for the injury. Instead, he will utilize an extra year of eligibility to play one more season with the Vols.
McCoy’s return also adds an interesting layer to the wide receiver rotation, which already has the potential of depth.
Here’s how Bru McCoy has progressed since injury
Heupel has good reasons to be optimistic. He’s monitored McCoy’s progress over the past few months.
“Been really exciting to see just his growth. I had our strength staff record him the other day as he was sprinting in the indoor, and he looks really natural,” Heupel said. “The gait is fluid. The speed is coming along really well. Man, just I’m really excited for him.”