Rico McCoy
Encyclopedia
Rico McCoy is an American football
linebacker
for the Edmonton Eskimos
. He played collegiate football with the Tennessee Volunteers
and was considered one of the best linebacker prospects available for the 2010 NFL Draft
, drawing comparisons to Derrick Brooks
. Not selected by any team, McCoy was picked up after the draft by the Buccanneers as an undrafted free agent.
, where he was a three-year starter, playing tailback as sophomore and linebacker final two seasons. As junior, McCoy finished with 120 tackles and five sacks. In his senior year, he tallied 118 tackles, eight tackles for loss, seven sacks, three forced fumbles and two interceptions while adding eight rushing touchdowns.
McCoy captained the East Squad at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl
in San Antonio, Texas
. Considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com
, McCoy was listed as the No. 4 outside linebacker in the nation in 2005. He selected Tennessee over Ohio State
, Pittsburgh
, and Syracuse.
his initial year at Tennessee, McCoy played in all 13 games in 2006, while starting in two of them, including the 2007 Outback Bowl
in which he recorded two tackles. He finished the season with 38 tackles and was named to the Coaches′ Freshman All-SEC team.
As a sophomore, McCoy started all 13 Tennessee games, and led or tied the team for most tackles in six of those games. He ranked second on team (behind Jerod Mayo
) and sixth among Southeastern Conference
leaders with 106 tackles. He also recorded his first career interception against Southern Miss. In the 2007 SEC Championship Game
against LSU
, McCoy finished with eight tackles, a forced fumble and a tackle for a loss.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for the Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
. He played collegiate football with the Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
and was considered one of the best linebacker prospects available for the 2010 NFL Draft
2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
, drawing comparisons to Derrick Brooks
Derrick Brooks
Derrick Dewan Brooks is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Buccaneers 28th overall in the 1995 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State....
. Not selected by any team, McCoy was picked up after the draft by the Buccanneers as an undrafted free agent.
High school career
A native of South East Washington, D. C., McCoy attended St. John's College High SchoolSt. John's College High School
St. John's College High School in Washington, D.C., established in 1851, is the second oldest Catholic Christian Brother's school in the United States, and the oldest JROTC school. It was founded by Brother John of Mary, F.S.C., and two other Christian Brothers in St. Matthew's parish, 15th and G...
, where he was a three-year starter, playing tailback as sophomore and linebacker final two seasons. As junior, McCoy finished with 120 tackles and five sacks. In his senior year, he tallied 118 tackles, eight tackles for loss, seven sacks, three forced fumbles and two interceptions while adding eight rushing touchdowns.
McCoy captained the East Squad at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl
U.S. Army All-American Bowl
The U.S. Army All-American Bowl is a high school football all-star game held in early January in San Antonio, Texas. Currently played in the Alamodome, the game brings 90 of the nation's top high school football players in an East versus West matchup. In addition to the Bowl game, there is the U.S...
in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
. Considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
, McCoy was listed as the No. 4 outside linebacker in the nation in 2005. He selected Tennessee over Ohio State
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
, Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
, and Syracuse.
College career
After redshirtingRedshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
his initial year at Tennessee, McCoy played in all 13 games in 2006, while starting in two of them, including the 2007 Outback Bowl
2007 Outback Bowl
The 2007 Outback Bowl Game was a college football bowl game sponsored by Outback Steakhouse. It was part of the 2006–2007 bowl game season that concluded the 2006 NCAA Division I-BS football season. The Outback Bowl has been played annually since 1986...
in which he recorded two tackles. He finished the season with 38 tackles and was named to the Coaches′ Freshman All-SEC team.
As a sophomore, McCoy started all 13 Tennessee games, and led or tied the team for most tackles in six of those games. He ranked second on team (behind Jerod Mayo
Jerod Mayo
-2008 season:Mayo was drafted by the New England Patriots with the tenth overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. He was signed on July 24, 2008, to a five-year contract worth $18.9 million, including $13.8 million in bonuses and guarantees...
) and sixth among Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
leaders with 106 tackles. He also recorded his first career interception against Southern Miss. In the 2007 SEC Championship Game
2007 SEC Championship Game
The 2007 SEC Championship Game was played on December 1, 2007 in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. The game determined the 2007 football champion of the Southeastern Conference. The LSU Tigers, winners of the Western division of the SEC, defeated the Tennessee Volunteers, who won the Eastern...
against LSU
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
, McCoy finished with eight tackles, a forced fumble and a tackle for a loss.