‘I know it was probably affecting him’ —Tennessee CB Colton Hood pulls back the curtain on Jermod McCoy’s missed season in 2025
The Tennessee standout talked about his teammate’s presence around the team despite his injury.
The Tennessee Volunteers had two of the best defenders in the nation on their roster during the 2025 season. Unfortunately, only one of them was able to play in 2025.
Cornerbacks Jermod McCoy and Colton Hood are at the 2026 NFL Combine this week in Indianapolis, and both come into the event with different goals.
For Hood, who has first round draft aspirations like McCoy, it’s about proving he has the elite physical tools and athleticism to back up what he put on tape in 2025 for the Vols. For McCoy, who will not work out at the NFL Combine, it’s about letting teams get a look at his medicals and give them a chance to get to know him a little bit better since he hasn’t played in a game since Tennessee’s 42-17 College Football Playoff loss to Ohio State in December 2024.
Speaking of McCoy being sidelined last season, Hood spoke with the media on Wednesday at the Combine, and his discussed his position mate and how he remained involved in meetings and being a part of the team during his recovery.
Tennessee CB Colton Hood says that Jermod McCoy was in team meetings and that he wanted to play
“He took the rehab process the right way,” Hood said. “Didn’t really show how — I know it was probably affecting him, not being able to play, wanting to go out there and play, but he was still around all the time. Still in all the meetings. So, great guy. One of my good friends.”
McCoy was on the practice field in early August performing some limited drills, which generated hope that the Vols could have their star cornerback back on the field at some point during the season. But the weeks went by, and McCoy continued to miss action until it became clear in early November that they would be without him all season.
He still remained around the team, and he gave advice to potential up and coming star Ty Redmond as the latter put forth a strong first season.
McCoy still has a very important day in Knoxville, with Tennessee’s Pro Day coming up next month. That’s where McCoy should finally return to the football field at full speed and try to show NFL teams that he’s put his January 2025 ACL injury full past him and is ready to move forward with the next phase of his career.
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