Jermod McCoy ACL tear, explained: How knee injury caused Tennessee CB's draft stock to decline

Here's a look at how long it's been since McCoy's injury.

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When did Jermod McCoy tear his ACL?

McCoy tore his ACL in mid-January 2025, in an offseason workout back home in Texas. He initially hoped to play in 2025, but he missed the entire season for the Volunteers before putting his full focus on the NFL Draft.

When was the last time Jermod McCoy played a game?

McCoy hasn't played in a game since Dec. 21, 2024, when Tennessee suffered a blowout loss to Ohio State in the first round of the College Football Playoff.

A transfer from Oregon State, McCoy played a full season for the Volunteers in 2024, recording four interceptions and nine pass deflections. He got through the season healthy before the unfortunate injury less than a month after his final game.

On draft day in 2026, it will have been 488 days since McCoy last played in a game. That figure will stretch to nearly 600 by the time the preseason begins.

Here's more to know about McCoy's projected range in the draft.

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Jermod McCoy NFL Draft projection

Whether the new injury concern of the time away from the field heavily impacts McCoy on draft night is still unclear. Many mock drafts don't predict much of a fall for the Tennessee star, who was actually recruited as a wide receiver out of high school.

SN's Vinnie Iyer projects McCoy to be the No. 11 pick to the Miami Dolphins in his seven-round mock draft, while the NFL Mock Draft Database has McCoy as the No. 12 pick to the Dallas Cowboys in its consensus mock draft, sourced from numerous mocks from different outlets.

Every draft seems to bring surprising draft night tumbles, including CB Will Johnson's slide to the middle of the second round last year due to injury concerns. McCoy is hoping his injury history doesn't cost him millions despite his sky-high potential.