SAD NEWS: Tennessee Volunteers ARE SO DEVESTED AS KEY PLAYER SUFFER BRAIN INJURY

Tennessee receiver Bru McCoy exited the Vols’ game vs. South Carolina on Saturday with what appeared to be a devastating lower-leg injury, one that caused him to be carted from the field vs. the Gamecocks.

The injury occurred on an awkward tackle by Marcellas Dial in which McCoy’s right leg was tangled up under their bodies. By the time Dial was finished with the act of tackling McCoy, the receiver was laying flat on his back. He immediately saw the damage he sustained in the injury and grabbed his helmet.

REQUIRED READING:Bru McCoy injury update: Tennessee football receiver undergoes ankle surgery

Trainers tended to McCoy on the ground before he ultimately was carted off the field.

McCoy exited Saturday’s game vs. South Carolina in the second quarter following the awkward tackle by South Carolina’s Dial. It followed an 18-yard catch-and-run by the redshirt senior receiver. Here is a video of the play (warning: graphic content).

McCoy did not return to the game vs. South Carolina. The university announced Sunday he underwent season-ending surgery for a “fracture-dislocation” of the right ankle.

Tennessee coach Josh Huepel was sympathetic toward McCoy after the injury. He said at his halftime interview that the injury “obviously” didn’t look good and that he hated it for McCoy: “Toughest kid in America.”

Images from the game showed McCoy’s Tennessee teammates looking forlorn at his exit.

McCoy was transferred to the nearby University of Tennessee Medical Center following his injury.

Of note: Tennessee football in 2022 suffered a similarly devastating injury vs. South Carolina, to former quarterback Hendon Hooker. The QB suffered a torn ACL in his knee last year, part of a 63-38 upset by the Gamecocks. Hooker was honored on Saturday for his time as the Vols’ quarterback.

Heupel after the game spoke at greater lengths to McCoy’s injury. His prognosis for the receiver wasn’t good:

“I hate what happened to Bru,” Heupel said. “We will have more of an update tomorrow or Monday. Everybody saw it was a lower-body injury that didn’t look good. There is nobody better than him.”