As the leaves begin to change and the air grows crisp in Knoxville, wide receiver Bru McCoy stands at the threshold of a pivotal moment in his life. Halfway through his sixth and final season of college football and third with the Volunteers, McCoy’s journey has been marked by resilience, growth and a profound desire to impact his community. This year, he steps onto the field not just to play football but to honor the lessons learned throughout his time at Tennessee.

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As he goes through his last fall on Rocky Top, the Southern California native has made a conscious effort to cherish every moment with his teammates on the practice field and in the meeting rooms of the Anderson Training Center.

You just have an appreciation for it. I’ve kind of found myself never really being in a hurry to get out of the building, because you enjoy being around your teammates and how special it is. It’s definitely made practice a lot more enjoyable. You’re a lot more present where you are because you know it’s your last time around.

Bru McCoy

Suiting up for a rare sixth season of college football was not a decision McCoy made lightly. After sustaining a season-ending fracture-dislocation of his right ankle against South Carolina on Sept. 30, 2023, he dove head-first into the recovery process and began weighing his options. Relying heavily on his family and his faith, McCoy announced his decision to return to Knoxville for the 2024 campaign on Jan. 2, 2024 – one day after Tennessee shut out Iowa in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.

I was actually back home in California when I was trying to figure out what I was going to do … My family is just so thankful for everything Tennessee has done for me. A lot of what I had going on factored into it. What was already pretty evident to me, was that Tennessee was where I wanted to be. It was a special opportunity to be able to come back … When I looked at what I wanted to do, it was just to be here.

McCoy rehabbed throughout the spring and worked his way back into playing shape for the start of preseason training camp. He entered the 2024 season with a new number and renewed mindset, donning No. 5 – his favorite number that he previously wore during a five-star, All-American prep career at powerhouse Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California.

“You don’t want to leave any stone unturned, have any regrets or feel like you didn’t maximize your opportunity while you were here,” McCoy explained. “For me (entering the season), it was just trying to make sure every box was checked, every T was crossed.

“Changing to number 5, that’s been my favorite number my whole life. It’s a special number to me, but I think it became extra special (at Tennessee) after Hendon Hooker wore it. I gave it a year to kind of relax, and then for my last year I was like, ‘I’m going to wear the number I always wanted.’”

Known for his intense, physical play style and instant impact on UT’s record-setting offense, McCoy quickly blossomed into a fan favorite during the 2022 season. Volunteer faithful remember his gutsy effort on the bayou with 140 receiving yards at No. 25 LSU, his spectacular go-ahead touchdown catch against No. 20 Florida late in the first half, and a tone-setting touchdown grab in the first quarter of Tennessee’s Capital One Orange Bowl win over No. 7 Clemson.

No on-field moment stands out more than McCoy’s clutch effort on Oct. 15, 2022. His 27-yard catch with two seconds remaining set up former USC teammate Chase McGrath’s 40-yard, game-winning field goal as time expired to knock off No. 3 Alabama and send Neyland Stadium into a field-storming frenzy that will be regarded as one of the greatest nights in program history.

Through the highs and lows of his journey on Rocky Top, McCoy notes the unwavering support of Vol Nation. Beyond the memorable plays on the field, his platform and status as a Tennessee football standout has led to incredible experiences off the field – including a recent appearance accompanying country music star Morgan Wallen for his second show at Neyland Stadium.

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It’s pretty surreal. You don’t even really realize it, because you’re kind of in a bubble. But man, the fan support and the opportunities it has given me, it’s just something that you’re truly thankful for. You kind of want to pay it back, pay it forward, which is why I try to be so involved in the community and do a lot of the things I do. I’m really thankful for the way the fan base has embraced me and how they’ve lifted me up, especially after my injury. I’m just thankful.

McCoy serves as one of Tennessee’s leaders in the community, most notably through his “Huddle For Hearts” initiative which has helped provide local youth athletic organizations with AEDs (automated external defibrillator), a medical device designed to save those experiencing Sudden Cardiac Arrest. He hosted a charity golf tournament with his teammates in Knoxville to benefit Huddle For Hearts this past summer and has an NIL deal in place where for every touchdown he catches, an AED will be donated to the community.

When asked about his motivation to pay it forward in the community, McCoy expressed his desire to humbly establish his character and leave an impactful legacy during his brief stint as a Tennessee Volunteer.

If you don’t write your own story, someone will write it for you … It’s important to me that I put my character on display and take ownership for who I am on a day-to-day basis. That means doing the things that make my heart feel good, which is getting out in the community, using my platform for the right things and keeping myself grounded in those ways.