A native of South East Washington, Doctorate. C., McCoy attended Saint John"s College High School, 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.
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 Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent. 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 United States. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas.
4 outside linebacker in the nation in 2005. He selected Tennessee over Ohio State, Pittsburgh, and Syracuse.
SUPERLATIVES
• 2009 AllSEC Coaches (2nd) • 2008 All-Securities and Exchange Commission Coaches (2nd) • 2007 All-Securities and Exchange Commission Coaches (2nd) and Associated Press (2nd) • 2006 Freshman All-America Collegefootballnews.com (3rd) • 2006 Freshman All-Securities and Exchange Commission Coaches
After redshirting 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-Securities and Exchange Commission 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 Mississippi In the 2007 Securities and Exchange Commission Championship Game against Louisiana State University, McCoy finished with eight tackles, a forced fumble and a tackle for a loss.
Rico McCoy was signed by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League in June 2010, spending the season on the roster as back-up Middle Linebacker to incumbent starter Joe Lobendahn.
