Roster turnover is inevitable in the current era of college football, but the Tennessee Volunteers have become victims of their own success.
On Wednesday, cornerback Jermod McCoy announced his intentions to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft. A day later, receiver Chris Brazzell II followed suit.
Tennessee watched both develop into SEC stars, and as they take their talents to the next level, it's worth noting where their stocks stand after 2025.
Jermod McCoy, Chris Brazzell II declare for NFL Draft
McCoy entered the year as the consensus CB1. His film in Year 1 with the Volunteers was elite, but a torn ACL in January cost him his junior season.
For many prospects, declaring for the NFL Draft without a platform season is a page out of the COVID playbook, an ill-advised decision that could take the floor out of one's stock. However, the rest of McCoy's profile is worthy of first-round capital. He has enough size to check the measurable boxes (without elite size) at 5'10" and 193 pounds, and there's more to his game than straight-line speed.
He's exceptionally fluid and has the change-of-direction and burst to make plays on the ball in zone coverage. In man, McCoy has the requisite foot speed and polished technique, far beyond the expectations of his inexperience. As a sophomore, he acclimated to SEC competition exceptionally well, finding four interceptions and nine passes defended in 2024.
He is no longer a lock to be the first corner off the board. We aren't privy to his medicals, and a handful of CB1 contenders have emerged. Still, McCoy safely projects as a first-round pick thanks to his 2024 tape and ability to start right away in virtually any scheme. While some teams will be scared off by the injury, there are too many CB-needy teams to expect too long a tumble.
Brazzell, meanwhile, blossomed into a star while McCoy was sidelined. Next in the line of Tennessee vertical threats to earn NFL Draft hype, Brazzell comes more in the mold of Dont'e Thornton Jr. Than Cedric Tillman or Jalin Hyatt.
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The 6'4" target has sub-4.50 speed and a knack for making plays at the catch point. He was strong in contested-catch situations and had just three drops on 88 targets (PFF). Brazzell led the SEC in receiving yards (1,017) and touchdowns (nine) in an explosive Tennessee offense.
Despite his strong season, Brazzell is expected to be a Day 2 pick, in line with other Volunteers draftees instead of McCoy. Recent runs at receiver late in Round 1 will keep the door open for a Thursday selection -- especially to a contending team in need of a downfield threat -- but an incomplete profile could dampen his stock.
Brazzell is limited to the boundary and comes with the schematic concerns attached to every Tennessee target. As a redshirt-junior breakout, the analytics crowd might not give him the green light, either.
It isn't immediately clear how much of a pre-draft process McCoy will have to (or choose to) complete, but athletic testing for Brazzell is an important hurdle to clear as he challenges for top-50 draft capital. Both have the opportunity to make the Tennessee faithful proud as impact starters in 2026.
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