Tennessee Corner Earns Spot On Jim Thorpe Award Watchlist
Image: RockyTopInsider
By Aidan Sidoti
Tennessee junior cornerback Jermod McCoy has been named to the Jim Thorpe Award preseason watchlist, which honors the top defensive back in college football.
The accolade follows a breakout 2024 season in which McCoy earned AP All-SEC First Team and All-America Second Team honors, helping lead the Volunteers to a 10-3 record and their first College Football Playoff appearance.
McCoy, the Oregon State transfer, amassed 44 tackles last season, along with 13 passes defended and four interceptions.
As he recovers from a January torn ACL, McCoy’s consistent production and tight coverage have him positioned as one of the country’s premier defensive backs when he returns.
The Jim Thorpe Award committee will announce the semifinalists during the season, with the winner revealed at the College Football Award Show in December.
