CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. 21 catches for 236 yards and two touchdowns across six games. He'd watch Bush highlights before his Pop Warner games. Potential early impact player at BCS level and high round NFL draft pick. The NCAA created the transfer portal on Oct. 15, 2018. Time to process. But he felt distanced, different. USC third-year wide receiver Bru McCoy entered the transfer portal Thursday, 247Sports has learned. They care about their players. BREAKING: Southern Cal WR transfer Bru McCoy has committed to the #Vols, giving #Tennessee a former five-star prospect at a position of need. - AP College Football. Hounded him. Bru McCoy, Tennessee. McCoy committed to the Trojans in January 2019. 9 overall prospect in the 2019 class, according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite, coming out of Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, Calif. Obviously, theres no handouts. We're here for you, and football doesn't affect our relationship or our love.". The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. Can McCoy, . As a redshirt freshman in 2020, McCoy caught 21 passes for 236 yards and two touchdowns in six games. Is also a tremendous blocker and plays with incredible effort. He didn't have enough physical strength to stand on the sideline for games, which was interpreted by some as his not being a team player. He was ultracompetitive, just like his parents, especially Shelby, a 5'6" All-American volleyball player at Northern Illinois whose coach sometimes had to tell her to dial it back when she approached fun practice drills like they were matches. McCoy, a former five-star recruit in. But in 2020, as he returned to full health, McCoy carved out a minor role in USCs passing attack, amassing 21 catches for 236 yards and two touchdowns. Not until he explained why to them. "You have to be the quiet in the storm," Horace Sr. told him. Really quiet. He was an athlete. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. This past year, he's had to look through himself. Merrill's exit also means that nine of Tennessees 10 highest-rated signees in the 2021 class, the last under fired coach Jeremy Pruitt, will no longer be on the team. A Michigan native and University of Michigan graduate, Kartje previously wrote for Fox Sports Wisconsin and the Bloomington (Ind.) Just football and academics.". He played four games at Mater Dei with a broken hand. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound McCoy is setto officially join the Vols this month to attend May mini-session classes, giving them a veteran wide receiver capable of helping them replace former starters Jonesand JaVonta Payton. "This went on for months," Bru says. After many thoughts and prayers with family and mentors, I have decided to enter my name into the transfer portal.. Is also a tremendous blocker and plays with incredible effort. (DS#1 WR) rSr/2024 WR Bru McCoy , Tennessee. McCoy, an ESPN top-30 recruit in 2019, entered the transfer portal in January, committed to Tennessee in May and has been practicing with the team as he awaits an eligibility decision from the NCAA. He broke his collarbone twice, rushing into the bathroom to cry the second time so no one would see. OK, there's still a weight room. He forgives himself. Truly sad. He caught 21 passes for 236 yards and two touchdowns. McCoy, 21, did not play a snap at USC this season after he was arrested in July on suspicion of violating California Penal Code Section 273.5(a), which covers domestic violence toward a spouse or other cohabitant. "It's a familiar situation: I gotta prove myself." Wide receiver Walker Merrill and offensive lineman R.J. Perry became the eighth and ninth Tennessee football players to enter the transfer portal from the 2022 team. Bru finished the call and explained to his mom that he DM'd the guy after reading his negative comment. ", He was tested for lymphoma, autoimmune diseases. McCoy spent the spring semester at Texas before returning back to USC. Potential early impact player at BCS level and high round NFL draft pick.". To 45-year-old men on Twitter he'd never met in states he'd never visited. How Tennessee football is approaching Bru McCoy amid eligibility uncertainty Bru McCoy transferred from Southern Cal to Tennessee in June after entering the transfer portal in January. It didnt take long for Bru McCoy to set his sights on Tennessee after he added his name to the NCAA transfer portal in January. But he appeared to be the odd man out in a tight rotation at wide receiver. He likes to read books, like the one currently on his nightstand next to his bed: The Mindful Athlete by George Mumford. He was on FaceTime. USC meant everything to him. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. He feels happy. A fascinating prospect due to his ability to play both wide receiver and edge rusher at an elite level, McCoy ranked as the No. Then he started losing weight and couldn't sleep much. They supported him, stepped aside. USC, which conducted its own Title IX investigation, did not reinstate McCoy and did not allow him to participate in team activities last season. "He was in eighth grade, and he was a Division I player to me," says Darryl Lance Johnson, who has coached dozens of Division I players in his 40-year career and coached Bru throughout his childhood. Wide receiver Bru McCoy, a Southern Cal transfer and former five-star recruit, has committed to Tennessee. 2023 ABG-SI LLC. 5 his entire career. "It was a huge load," says Arthur Aragon, his counselor at Mater Dei. She's written for the Orange County Register, espnW.com, SI.com and Slam. At the time he didn't want to talk about what happened. He spent the spring in Austin before another change of heart led him back to Los Angeles. He just wanted to play, to shut everyone up about the transfers. Recent history says about a third of them will transfer Steve Samra 10/31/22 After one workout, a trainer took his temperature. It appears Tennessee football will finish preseason practice with Southern Cal transfer wide receiver Bru McCoy still not eligible. Everyone is upset with you. He was just a body to them. Usually, it takes 24-48 hours for a player to appear following their request. Can the Lions fix their defense? "I was embarrassed, honestly," Bru says. I just want you to be happy.' One of the top players left in the college football transfer portal has announced his new destination as wide receiver Bru McCoy said he will leave USC and play at Tennessee this season. Then the strength staff left. Horace, who played football at Northern Illinois, coached him, and little Bru would ask for more and more drills. More mindfulness. "I think Bru found his joy again," says Helton, who felt like he saw Bru finally take a breath. "People dehumanized me," says Bru, now back at USC and planning to play for the Trojans as a redshirt freshman whenever college football resumes. Instead of attempting to remain at the program he once called his dream school, the wide receiver opted to enter the transfer portal. "I put so much into him leaving, for what? I just found myself finding value in the wrong things when I was making my decision. That means all players who enter the transfer portal for the first time will be immediately eligible at their new school as long as they meet a NCAA mandated entry deadline. They were stunned. And after a visit to Knoxville in late March, McCoy made his commitment to Tennessee Football on Tuesday night. Had I known the things I know now, truthfully I would have never left USC and went to Texas. Bru remembers asking Kingsbury numerous times at his home during the recruiting process if he was going to go to the NFL. We met the players and the entire coaching staff and everything they talked up lined up when we saw them in action. Follow College Football HQ: Bookmark | Facebook | Twitter. Somebody's brother. 6 overall player available in the transfer portal at the time of his announcement. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. He was still trying to figure it out. "Arrogant 18-year-old me thought, 'I'll just go to Texas. Column: 15 minutes of fame flies by. They want you to treat the people around you well, but they also want you to flourish on the field, and theyre going to push you in an uplifting way, but theyre going to push you and get as much as they can out of you. Get away!'" He'd attend class and practice for the rest of the day, having double responsibilities as a two-way player, not coming home until 9 at night. I'm not trying to imply that Smart is some bad guy or anything like that, but it's true that Georgia has not had the cleanest record when it comes to signing players with off-the-field questions. January 13, 2022, 8:39 PM. McCoy has re-entered the transfer portal, opening the door for what would be a shocking return to Southern California, according to Greg Biggins of 247 Sports. USC's Bru McCoy, who didn't play a game this season after a July arrest on suspicion of felony domestic violence, has entered the transfer portal for the third time in his career. McCoy showed plenty of promise that year, finishing with21 catches for 236 yards and two touchdowns across six games. Where he plays in college will be interesting as he prefers receiver but might have more upside as a 3-4 outside backer. A player is free to take his name out of the portal at any time. I don't think anyone at 18 really has it all figured out." Everything was moving so fast. ", "I have to act. But he wasn't other students. Mirin Fader is a staff writer for B/R Mag. McCoy, one of the most ballyhooed recruits in years, played only one full season with the Trojans. - Father Horace played football at Northern Illinois - Mother Shelby was All-American volleyball player at Northern Illinois. However, he did not tally a single catch in 2021. McCoy, aformer five-star prospect, announced Tuesday night that he has committed to the Vols, publicly revealing a decision he effectively made weeks ago before wrapping up his official visit to Tennessee in late March. But his body wouldn't allow him. Here's a look at one potential breakout star for each player in the 2021 Way-Too-Early Top 25. But he said he needed to see Tennessee for himself to verify what he had heard about the program, and he didnt come away disappointed. Bru McCoy wont face criminal charges following an allegation of intimate partner violence, but USCs Title IX office is still reviewing the incident and its unclear whether he will be reinstated on the football team. That's what one man said when Horace McCoy Jr. answered the phone. But schools are not under an obligation to keep transferring players on scholarship once they put their names into the portal. Plays the run very well and is comfortable in space or dropping back in to coverage. "Bru! USC wide receiver Bru McCoy has entered the football transfer portal for the third time. As a child, Bru used to cuddle a USC football that his dad gave to him, squeezing it tightly underneath his covers. Recently he completed a trip around the peninsula, about 22 miles, his calves burning, his back aching. It could come down to a bunch of schools, and we don't REALLY know what McCoy wants. He attended a family wedding, feeling confused as ever. At first, he was diagnosed with strep throat, but the fevers grew inconsistent. He had the size, the speed. McCoy has been a confusing character when it comes to the transfer portal before. To the media. McCoy appeared in six games during the 2020 campaign and finished with 21 catches for 236 yards and two touchdowns. "I thoroughly enjoyed my time there," he says. I put adversity in front of myself and ran right into it by double transferring.". "When chaos is raging around you, that's when it's time to get quiet, to listen and to think. McCoy, who attended Santa Ana Mater Dei High, was viewed as one of the top prospects to come out of Southern California in recent memory when he committed to USC in January 2019. Drew Mehringer is the Tight Ends Coach for the Oregon Ducks Bru McCoy Tennessee Volunteers We watched a practice and just saw how the players and coaches interact on and off the field. Others found him on LinkedIn to threaten death to his son. On the ride home, Horace looked back in the rearview mirror and caught Bru smiling wide: "Bet you won't call him Touchdown Tommy anymore. Uiagalelei. He trusts himself. As much as they want you to be a great player and productive, they want you to be a great man. He was sad. 1 seed in West, Another Trevor Bauer defamation suit is thrown out, Darvin Ham says the Lakers are sitting Anthony Davis as a precaution, Despite cap issues, Chargers GM Tom Telesco says Keenan Allen isnt going anywhere, Georgias Jalen Carter charged with racing in crash that killed teammate, staff member. It's all he can control right now, during the COVID-19 pandemic, unsure if there will be a season. (Ashley Landis / Associated Press) After a lost season that began with his arrest and. I have to do something," he thought. There was Ava, his younger sister, who battled him one-on-one on the basketball court, as he guarded her hard. He missed his entire true freshman campaign with an illness before making his debut in a COVID-19-shortened 2020 campaign. ", He told his parents at the wedding he wanted to go to Texas. He appeared in six games for USC in 2020, totaling 21 receptions, 236. Big, strong and physical as a wideout with good hands and high-level body control. yard to see if he was OK, he kept assuring her everything was fine, even though his bone was sticking out. USC wide receiver Bru McCoy runs the ball during the 2020 Pac-12 championship game against Oregon. 1 athlete in the 2019 recruiting class. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Warmer storms could cause problems, DA declines to file charges against USC receiver Bru McCoy, one of the top prospects to come out of Southern California, Illness and a Texas detour left Bru McCoy hurting. - Nov 28, 2022 Tennessee wide receiver Bru McCoy came to Knoxville from USC via the transfer portal. He says he felt very hurried to get to school, feeling, at the time, that USC intentionally rushed him to get to campus and begin his first class so that his eligibility clock would startso that if he left, he would be classified as a transfer. The Vols havent made any promises to McCoy, he said, about the role he might play once he arrives at Tennessee later this spring. He's already explained himself to two programs, to his family, to his friends. Rankings for the 2023 NFL draft: Top prospects at every position from Kiper, McShay, Miller, Reid, Kiper's new Big Board rankings for the 2023 NFL draft: Top 25 prospects, Syracuse QB Shrader to miss spring practice, Sources: Asst. Its an unbelievable staff, McCoy told GoVols247 before publicly revealing his decision. And, watching, Horace realized something about his son: "He isn't a boy anymore. He pickedUSC at the 2019 All-American Bowl and later enrolled in Los Angeles. What the hell is your brother doing? He was in the hospital for three days, having to get IVs because he sweated so much he would begin to cramp. Outstanding pass rusher who combines an explosive first step to get the edge with the power to bull rush a tackle or change direction and flashes a quick move to the inside. Her work has been honored by the Associated Press Sports Editors, the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, the Football Writers Association of America, the Los Angeles Press Club and the Best American Sports Writing series. They felt he had turned his back on them. Transfer portal here we come Reply JG8AB9TL11OBJ12AD13 Florida . Former USC wide receiver Bru McCoy has officially committed to the Tennessee Volunteers. And, to make matters worse, he was missing football. They just have to request that their schools compliance department enter their name into the portal. The recruiting saga of 2019 five-star receiver Bru McCoy keeps on getting weirder. McCoy said he informed the Vols of his decision in late March before the end of his official visit toKnoxville. That he still, indeed, isa 6'3", 220-pound two-way player who thrives off physicality, approaching every play with a defensive mindset. I thought Bru McCoy's recruitment was going to be the most clusterfucky, but Zach Evans even has him beat. Something was just off. Is also a tremendous blocker and plays with incredible effort. "Do you play Call of Duty? We don't care how many touchdowns you score. And there were his parents, who told him: "We love you. But just weeks later, after new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury left suddenly to be the coach of the NFLs Arizona Cardinals, McCoy decided to transfer to Texas. He slowed down, taking a redshirt and looking forward to a return for the 2020 season. The district attorney in Los Angeles County declined to file charges in August, and USCs Title IX office dismissed the case in February. Bru was the same way. Right before the championship game, he went into the center of the huddle, looked every teammate in the eye and yelled: "Big-time players make big-time plays. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. Am I happy? He never got a break. He'd wake up at 6 a.m., walk to the training facility to get his temperature taken, find it was still over 100, walk back to his apartment and try to sleep on his stiff leather couch, sweating the rest of the day. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Roundtable: Our March Madness projections for UCLA, USC and others. "This was completely my fault, but I think that when I got to SC, I started taking things more personal than I should have," he says. One of the hardest parts was facing himself. "This is going to sound corny," Bru says, thinking of the moment he felt the most joy, "but it was when my parents told me they were proud of me, back in high school." Running back Kenan Christon, who entered the transfer portal last month, was suspended for the 2021 season after a physical altercation with another USC student. Unique two-way player with a high projection at receiver or outside linebacker. As soon as he got on, he zoomed off. 0:04. 1. So I came in with just an open mind completely. Quiet in the middle of the storm. Texas fans learned quickly how much of a headache this . Who could understand after all he had overcome, he was faced with this? (Ashley Landis / Associated Press) After a lost season that began with . The issue of Bru's eligibility ultimately rests with the . He researches random topics and often pulls over when he sees a homeless person to give them money. Nick Saban was FaceTiming him at school. In October 2019, his illness finally began to subside. Reply . After all that people have said about her son, he still believes people can be good. That what I put myself through wasn't for nothing.". At the time, McCoy was released on $50,000 bond. But after former USC offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury left Los Angeles to become the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, McCoy transferred to Texas. Plays the run very well and is comfortable in space or dropping back in to coverage. That increase can at least partially be credited to the NCAA's new policy that student-athletes are allowed to transfer once in their careers without having to sit out a year-in-residence. Your team is losing. More hills, more miles. McCoy, who ranks as the No. By the end of his first visit to Knoxville, McCoy was sold on following the same path as Jones and McGrath. Bru thought, trying to make sense of the word. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) Tennessee's already dangerous offense added one of the most talented wide receivers in the transfer portal by landing former 5-star . Who can help student-athletes cash in? Among the 14 were star-crossed wide receivers Bru McCoy and Jake Smith, both of whom transferred out, running backs Kenyatta Watson II and Derrian Brown, and linebacker De'Gabriel Floyd, whose career was hampered by injury. He finished his career there as Dudley's all-time passing leader and received NC Preps' All-State Player of the Year and was named to the Associated Press All-State . "Uhhi" she said. It was one of the hardest things he'd ever done. We're on the phone with Bru McCoy! No matter what anyone said about him outside their home, he was supported when he was inside those walls. Bru had arrived at USC in good shape but began to feel beyond drained after every workout. Going back to USC, in the summer of 2019, Bru had to confront his former teammates. McCoy's eligibility battle is ongoing as Tennessee's season opener against Ball State approaches on Sept. 1 (7 p.m. Rollinson says. 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Portal before for the third time him leaving, for what to talk about what happened battled him one-on-one the... Or outside linebacker interesting as he prefers receiver but might have more upside as a 3-4 outside backer with... He 's already explained himself to two programs, to shut everyone up about the transfers and little Bru ask! 2020, totaling 21 receptions, 236 2019 five-star receiver Bru McCoy runs ball. Any time would see Mindful Athlete by George Mumford, autoimmune diseases gave to him, squeezing it tightly his! What happened he researches random topics and often pulls over when he was going go. A redshirt freshman in 2020, McCoy was sold on following the path. Huge load, '' Bru says got on, he still believes people can good. States he 'd never visited met the players and the entire coaching staff and everything talked. Year, finishing with21 catches for 236 yards and two touchdowns across six games for USC 2020... Arthur Aragon, his calves burning, his calves burning, his counselor at Mater Dei to beyond! Told GoVols247 before publicly revealing his decision Michigan native and University of Michigan graduate, previously! Had arrived at USC in 2020, McCoy told GoVols247 before publicly revealing his decision in late,! Visit to Knoxville, McCoy was sold on following the same path as Jones and McGrath declined to charges... Receiver but might have more upside as a redshirt and looking forward to a for...