Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy makes an extremely bold statement at the NFL Combine about crucial Vols defender for 2026
The former Vols standout sees big things next season from his Tennessee teammate.
The 2025 season was a chaotic one for the Tennessee Vols’ cornerback room.
With starting cornerback Jermod McCoy out for the season while recovering from an offseason ACL tear and other starter Rickey Gibson III suffering a season-ending injury in the season opener, the Vols had to pivot to their reserves to play big minutes.
And boy, how they got them. Colorado transfer Colton Hood was a revelation on one side of the field, with 50 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and a pick six. After a strong Senior Bowl to top things off, Hood has put himself firmly in the first round conversation for April’s 2026 NFL Draft.
However, the Vols got solid play on the other side from freshman Ty Redmond. And his teammate McCoy sees very big things for Redmond in 2026. McCoy talked about Redmond at the NFL Combine, and he says that Redmond will become an All-American next year.
Jermod McCoy says Tennessee CB Ty Redmond will become an All-American in 2026
“I think Ty (is) gonna be an All-American next year for sure after the year he had,” McCoy said. “He learned a lot from me and Colton (Hood), so next year for sure is his year. His size. He’s tall, long. He can attack the ball when it’s in the air. His press is elite. So, I mean, overall, he’s a great corner.”
Redmond really was thrown into the deep end in a sense, as he was a true freshman in 2025. However, he delivered under pressure. He played in 12 games with 11 starts and totaled 39 tackles, three interceptions, 10 pass breakups, and a tackle for loss. His 13 total passes defended tied for the lead in the SEC, and his 10 PBUs led all SEC freshman.
Tennessee’s defense will look very, very different next season with new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles in charge and a number of new faces in the secondary, including cornerback Jadais Richard (Miami) and safeties Dejuan Lane (Penn State) and Qua Moss (Kansas State).
However, at least if you believe McCoy, the Vols could have a star in the making from 2025 in Redmond, and he’s obviously a player for fans to keep an eye on as a crucial part of Tennessee’s defense next fall.
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