Defensive Back Jermod McCoy Shines on Vols Pro Day

(utsports.com) — Fourteen Tennessee VFLs showcased their skills in front of 70-plus NFL scouts and personnel as the Volunteers held their annual Pro Day inside Anderson Training Center on Tuesday afternoon.

“Pro Day, it’s a great time to see our guys kind of culminate and finish a career,” said head coach Josh Heupel. “Guys that are on the back end of their career, you look at a guy like Alvin Kamara that’s back here yesterday with our team. These are the guys that are going to continue to come back and pay it forward to the guys that are inside of our program. I can’t thank them enough for what they’ve done here at Tennessee with our staff, and I was really excited and happy with the way they performed today.”

All 32 NFL teams were in attendance at Pro Day, and VFLs returning from injury stood out. Quarterback Joey Aguilar, who led the SEC with 274.2 passing yards per game, underwent a procedure in early January and went through the route tree on the outdoor fields. He connected with the SEC’s leading wide receiver All-SEC Chris Brazzell II once again.

“It was nice,” Aguilar said. “I wish we had a little more time to get our timing back down. We were separate for a little while, but we started getting our connection back a little later. Especially for me, that was one of the first times I’ve thrown live routes in a while, with my throwing rehab. It felt good to see him out there and throw him the ball again.”

Aguilar arrived on Rocky Top in late May, and he credited the coaching staff with the crash course of preparing him to be a starter in the SEC.

“Shoutout to (Josh Heupel, Joey Halzle, Jared Peery and Landry Jones) for the time they poured into me for the short amount of time I was here. It was a good experience, and I’m thankful for these coaches.”

NFL first round cornerback prospect Jermod McCoy illustrated no signs of injury after not playing last fall. McCoy, who tore his ACL while training in January 2025, did not participate in the on-field workout at the NFL Combine, but he put on a show Tuesday. McCoy clocked a blazing 4.37 40-yard dash, and he produced 38-inch vertical jump and a broad jump of 10 feet, 7 inches. His elite speed, fluid movement and agility carried over into the defensive back drills where he shined.

Fellow cornerback Colton Hood is vying to join McCoy in the first round. Hood ran the 40-yard dash and participated in the defensive backs workout. The former Auburn and Colorado transfer joined the Vols in June, became a starter and produced an All-SEC season. He has appeared in multiple mock NFL Draft first rounds.

“I don’t think people understand how much Rocky Top means to me,” Hood said. “It’s just the love from the fans, just everything. In totality, all the people. It’s just a great place, an amazing place. I would say to any recruit out there, if you give your all for Rocky Top, they’re going to love you back. Definitely just overwhelmed with emotions, how this place helped me and how I want to help this place.”

Edge rusher Joshua Josephs posted an impressive 38.5-inch vertical jump, while Brazzell II displayed his versatility running a full route tree and illustrating his speed. Brazzell clocked a 4.37 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine last month.

Multiple VFL NFL standouts were in attendance Tuesday, including Byron Young of the Los Angeles Rams, Cade Mays of the Detroit Lions, Jerome Carvin of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Elijah Simmons of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and McCallan Castles of the Green Bay Packers. Mays signed a mega three-year deal with the Lions earlier this month, while Young was selected to his first Pro Bowl in his third season. Alvin Kamara of the New Orleans Saints attended Monday’s practice.

The Pro Day participants now turn their attention to the 2026 NFL Draft, which will be held April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.

Earlier Tuesday, the 2026 Vols held a full-pads workout, marking their 10th practice of the spring. Tennessee will hold its second spring scrimmage on Thursday in Neyland Stadium before breaking for Easter. The scrimmage is closed to the public.