When Jermod McCoy makes it back to the field in 2025 he’s likely to take the mantle of CB1 immediately. In 2024 he was a real danger zone to throw into in the SEC with a 53.6 passer rating against, and double digit pass breakups as well as 4 interceptions, and entered 2025 as the top Jim Thorpe watch candidate. He is an archetype general cover corner, especially to the field or in mixed zone/man assignments. Possessing an above average ability to diagnose and match his cover to offensive concepts. He is at his best playing close to his man, but also has ball skill reflexes playing back. He’s adept in press coverage, smooth even, phasing with his receiver. He’s loses versatility points because he is less physically imposing in coverage than would be required as a pure boundary corner or a CB capable of tackling alley responsibilities. But his tracking, stickiness, hair trigger, and ball skills, and very sound technique when he is using his hands at the line suit him to most modern defenses.

Jermod McCoy’s build is a bit light to be universal defensive back. This limits his total athletic potential, and shows up in some press reps. It also limits dims his outlook as a * or alley type moonlighter. McCoy’s best athletic traits are his agility, short area explosion and transitional speeds. His recovery speeds and top gear are merely average for a cornerback. He rides on his soft skills like balance and vision as well as his considerably sound technique.

How high McCoy goes depends on how soon he returns in 2025, and how good he looks. As a good, not great, athlete at corner he’ll need to show he’s healed from his 2024 ACL injury. He doesn’t have the physical tape like Devon Witherspoon to challenge to very top of the draft, but he’s not a poor projection to come in just under that in the top-10 if he returns to form.

prospect comps • Darius Slay
system fit • mixed man and man match field corner