Bru McCoy’s Rise and Fall: From Five-Star Football Recruit to College Career Cut Short

By Jason Bolton May 21, 2025 12:30

Bru McCoy’s football journey is a tale of extraordinary promise, resilience in the face of adversity, and the harsh realities that can define even the most talented athletes. Once considered one of the top high school prospects in the nation, McCoy’s career was marked by flashes of brilliance, off-field turbulence, and ultimately, a premature end due to injury.

High School Stardom and Recruitment Frenzy

McCoy’s legend began at Mater Dei High School in California, where he was a dominant two-way player. As a senior, he recorded 78 receptions for 1,428 yards and 18 touchdowns, while also making an impact on defense with 13 tackles, 6.5 for loss, and five sacks. He helped lead Mater Dei to a prep national championship in 2018 and was named the U.S. Army Player of the Year, MaxPreps National Player of the Year, and Los Angeles Times High School Football Player of the Year. “He was the most dominant player on the field every Friday night,” recalled one high school coach.

Rated as the No. 9 overall prospect and the top athlete in the 2019 recruiting cycle, McCoy initially signed with USC, briefly transferred to Texas, then returned to USC—all before playing a college snap.

College Career: Promise and Setbacks

At USC, McCoy’s early years were disrupted by illness and off-field issues. In 2020, he showed his potential by recording 21 receptions for 236 yards and two touchdowns in just six games, including a pivotal fourth-down touchdown and a crucial onside kick recovery against Arizona State.

However, McCoy’s time at USC was marred by suspension following an arrest related to an alleged off-field incident, though no charges were filed due to insufficient evidence. “I am struggling with frustration and the sense that my dream school, USC, has abandoned me,” McCoy wrote in a court declaration. The turbulence led to his transfer to Tennessee in 2022.

Tennessee: Redemption and Heartbreak

McCoy found new life with the Tennessee Volunteers. In 2022, he posted 52 receptions for 667 yards and four touchdowns, playing a key role in Tennessee’s 11–2 season and their Orange Bowl victory over Clemson. “Now whenever someone’s like, ‘When are you going home?’ I’ll be talking about going back to Knoxville. It’s a very special place to me,” McCoy reflected emotionally on his time at Tennessee.

Tragedy struck in 2023 when McCoy suffered a severe ankle fracture that required four surgeries and a 10-day hospital stay, ending his season after just five games (17 catches, 217 yards, one touchdown). Despite a determined comeback in 2024, where he led the Vols with 35 receptions and reached his 100th career catch, the lasting effects of his injury loomed large.

The End of a Dream

McCoy’s college career concluded with 129 receptions for 1,592 yards and nine touchdowns. He attended the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl and was projected as a mid-round NFL Draft pick, but on May 6, 2025, he announced his medical retirement from football, citing the lingering impact of his ankle injury. “As of you I came and played after what’ve been career ending. I it was responsibility to, coaches, and important the I have Knoxville to back for of the that has been shown for me,” McCoy shared in a heartfelt statement.

Bru McCoy’s rise and fall is a reminder of both the heights of athletic achievement and the fragility of a football career. His story resonates as one of talent, perseverance, and the unpredictable turns that define the lives of elite athletes.