Russ Huesman on Terrance Davis: ““We are excited to have Terrance join our program. He is a talented receiver who will have the opportunity to come in and compete for playing time immediately. He has four years of eligibility here and that is important whenever we look at transfers.”
Wes Dothard – LB – 6-1 – 210 – Fr-HS – Carrollton, Ga. (Carrollton HS)
All-region linebacker from Carrollton High School in Carrollton, Ga...three-year letter winner for former Chattanooga Moc Rayvan Teague who is the head coach of the Trojans...helped guide Carrollton to a 31-6 mark over the last three years...earned second team all-region honors as a sophomore and first team recognition his last two years with the Trojans...recorded 25 tackles and two interceptions as a senior...had 60 rushes for 305 yards on the offensive side of the ball...lettered in basketball his sophomore and junior years...PERSONAL...full name is Weslyan Jay Dothard...born Jan. 13, 1991...son of Brenda and Jimmy Dothard...has an older brother, J.D., who is currently a sophomore on the Mocs' football team...plans to major in Engineering or Criminology.
Russ Huesman on Wes Dothard: “Wes got hurt his junior year and probably didn't play at the weight he wanted to play last year. We are going to put him in at linebacker and expect him to be in that 215-pound range. We think Wes is a steal for us because he is going to be even better now that he is over his injury from his junior year.”
Jake Francis – OL – 6-2 – 270 – Fr-HS – Marietta, Ga. (Walton HS)
Talented lineman from Walton High Sschool in Marietta, Ga...played for head coach Ed Dudley...earned one player of the week honor as a defensive tackle his sophomore season...two-time player of the week as a center during his junior year...helped the Raiders to a 12-2 record in 2007...repeated as a two-time player of the week during his senior campaign...also earned two different all-county nominations last season...guided Walton to a 9-2 record and an appearance in the 5A state playoffs as a senior...four-year letter winner on the wrestling team...second team all-county as a wrestler his senior year...PERSONAL...full name is Jacob Tabor Francis...born July 12, 1991...son of Lesa and Shawn Francis...has one older brother, Kyle...father played football at Northwest Missouri State...plans to major in Business.
Russ Huesman on Jake Francis: “We really wanted an athletic offensive lineman and Jake is very, very athletic. He can run, he can move, has great feet and gets on linebackers in space. He is really excited about UTC and we feel really good about having him join our program.”
Briant Henry – SS – 6-0 - 180 – Fr-HS – Stone Mountain, Ga. (Chamblee HS)
Talented defensive player from Chamblee High School in Chamblee, Ga...three-year letter winner in football...played for head coach Mike Collins...led his team to a 12-2 season as a junior, 6-5 last year...Defensive MVP as a senior...nine interceptions and 150 tackles in his career...led Dekalb County in interceptions with four in his senior season...recorded 93 tackles last year...earned all region honors for the Bulldogs...participated in the Magnet Program for four years...earned the PSAT National Merit award...also lettered in track & field as a sophomore and junior...PERSONAL...full name is Briant Austin Henry...born June 14, 1991...son of Vallery and Anthony Henry...has two older brothers, Brandon and Justin...plans to major in Business Administration.
Russ Huesman on Briant Henry: “When we watched him on film we said 'No Doubt.' He can run, he has great knee-bend and knows how to play with leverage. Me being an Ex-DB, I felt really good about Henry and his abilities to play safety for us.”
Durlandis Hill – DE – 6-2 – 220 – Fr-HS – Newnan, Ga. (Newnan HS)
All-state defensive end from Newnan High School in Newnan, Ga...led Newman to a 13-1 record as a senior and an appearance in the Georgia Class AAAAA semifinal game...recorded 13 sacks as a senior for head coach Robert Herring...two-time all-region selection...earned honorable mention all-state honors...Newnan was 24-3 over the last two seasons...Newnan defensive unit allowed a school record low 31 points in the regular season in 2008...led a defense that posted eight shutouts last season...PERSONAL...born July, 24, 1991...son of son of Christy Head...plans to major in Engineering...has three younger sisters.
Russ Huesman on Durlandis Hill: “Durlandis has a frame that we think will allow him to put on a lot of weight. He plays hard, uses his hands very well and comes from a high school program in Newnan that has won a lot of games. We are excited about getting Durlandis because not only do we think he can run, but we think he can be a big, big person on the defensive line.”
D.J. Key – DB – 6-0 – 180 – Fr-HS – Centerville, Tenn. (Hickman County HS)
Talented defensive back from Centerville, Tenn...played for head coach Nick Patterson at Hickman County High School...a three-sport standout out who was a three-year letter winner on the football team, played basketball all four years and lettered in track & field his junior and senior years...all-state defensive back as a junior...All-Region 6-AA MVP as a senior...also played quarterback for the Bulldogs...led Hickman to a 19-5 record his last two years...threw for 336 yards while rushing for 353 yards, scoring five TDs last season...also recorded 44 tackles and four interceptions...all-region scholar and honor roll student his junior and senior seasons...all-district on the basketball court as a junior...PERSONAL...full name is Davon Jamar Key...born May 28, 1991...son of Hobrina Taylor...plans to major in Athletic Training.
Russ Huesman on D.J. Key: “D.J. did a lot of things in high school – DB, quarterback, slot – and is a very athletic guy with great feet. He has always wanted to come to school here and this was his first choice. We are going to play D.J. at safety. We don't know if it is going to be free or strong but he will be on the defensive side of the ball.”
Gunner Miller – FB/LB – 6-1 – 210 – Fr-HS – Chattanooga, Tenn. (East Ridge HS)
Versatile player who saw time as a fullback, tailback, quarterback and split end on offense in high school...also played linebacker and free safety at East Ridge High School in Chattanooga, Tenn...four-year starter for head coach Mike Martin...recorded 140 tackles and two interceptions on defense in 2008...rushed for 743 yards and seven TDs last season...named to the Chattanooga Times Free Press 'Best of the Preps' defensive team last season...two-time all-district baseball player...involved in the student leadership program at East Ridge and a member of the Beta Club...PERSONAL...full name is Gunner Lee Miller...born Feb. 6, 1991...son of Terry and Brenda Miller...has one older sister, April Raschke...April was a standout softball player for the Mocs from 1994-96 and inducted into the UTC Athletics Hall of Fame in 2004...undecided on a major.
Russ Huesman on Gunner Miller: “We feel really good about Gunner. He wanted to be in school here and wanted UTC. Gunner is going to be a fullback-linebacker for us. He is an excellent football player, can run and has a passion for the game.”
Graham Nichols – QB – 6-3 – 187 – Fr-HS – Franklin, Tenn. (Franklin HS)
Finalist for the Class 5A Mr. Football award as a senior at Franklin High School for head coach Craig Clayton...led Franklin to a 13-2 record and an appearance in the Tennessee 5A State Championship game...threw for 2,204 yards and 20 touchdowns with just two interceptions...completed 61% of his passes...earned team MVP, Region 6 MVP, all-mid-state and all-state honors as a senior...lettered in baseball his freshman year... honor roll student his senior year...PERSONAL...born July 14, 1990...son of Ron and Deana Nichols...has an older brother, Ryan, and an older sister, Kari...brother played football at Tennessee Tech from 2004-07...father played at Vanderbilt...plans to major in Business Management.
Russ Huesman on Graham Nichols: “Graham is an excellent football player with a great release. He can throw the football and has a ton of athletic ability. He is a competitor who comes from a winning program in Franklin High School and we are excited that he is joining our program.”
Corey Shields – DB – 6-3 – 190 – Conyers, Ga. (Western Kentucky)
Talented defensive back with excellent size and speed…sat out last season as a redshirt at Western Kentucky…will have four years of eligibility remaining...started and lettered for three years at Salem High ... Was selected all-region and all-area as well as the area Defensive Player of the Year in 2007 after helping the Seminoles go 9-2 en route to winning the region championship ... Finished with 65 total tackles, two quarterback hurries and a pair of fumble recoveries, one of which he ran back 55 yards for a touchdown ... On offense caught seven passes for 101 yards and a score ... Also earned all-area honors as a sophomore and junior ... Lettered twice in basketball and twice in track as well…teammate of current Moc Terrance Davis...PERSONAL: Born May 9, 1990…son of Randy Shields and Meco Coctrell.
Russ Huesman on Corey Shields: ““We are excited to have Corey join our program. He is a talented defensive player who will have the opportunity to come in and compete for playing time immediately. He has four years of eligibility here and that is important whenever we look at transfers.”
Brian Sutherland – WR – 5-10 – 175 – Fr-TR – Smyrna, Ga. (Miami University)
Talented defensive back who transferred to UTC from Miami University in Ohio prior to the start of the 2009 Spring semester...spent the fall 2008 semester on the Redhawk's roster but redshirtted...will have four years of eligibility remaining at Chattanooga...graduated from Campbell High School in 2008 where he was the Georgia 5A's top returner, averaging 20.3 yards per punt return and 31.7 yards per kickoff return while scoring a touchdown in both roles...earned first team all-state as a returner...compiled 1,050 all-purpose yards for head coach Kyle Hockman...played in Georgia's North-South All-Star game, returning one kickoff for a 96-yard touchdown...high school teammate of current Moc Chris Lewis-Harris...also earned three letters as a sprinter for Campbell's track & field team...named the school's Scholar-Athlete of the Year...member of the national honor society and the Beta Club...PERSONAL...born Dec. 3, 1989...son of Alvin and Shelia Sutherland...has a younger brother, Corey, and a younger sister, Dasani...plans to major in Chemistry.
Russ Huesman on Brian Sutherland: “Brian transferred here from Miami (Ohio) for the spring semester and is going through the offseason conditioning and lifting program with us. He was a great high school kick-returner and can fly. Getting to know him in the last month, he is a great person and we are excited to have him in the program.”
Joshua Williams – DE – 6-3 – 210 – Fr-HS – Griffin, Ga. (Stephenson HS)
All-state defensive lineman from for Stephenson High School in Stone Mountain, Ga...named to the Georgia High School Class AAAAA First Team All-State as a defensive lineman following his senior year...four-year letter winner and three-year starter for the Jaguars...three-time all-region and all-county selection...Stephenson had a 40-6 record in his four seasons, including a 9-1 mark as a senior...recorded 63 tackles and 13 sacks last season..team's defensive line MVP...three-time 'Hi-Five Player Spotlight'...also lettered in track & field in his sophomore and junior seasons...honor roll student throughout his high school career...also earned honors as the top biology student at Stephenson High School...PERSONAL...full name is Joshua Christopher Williams...born June 11, 1991...son of Sonia and Timothy Williams...plans to major in Psychology.
Russ Huesman on Joshua Williams: “We think he has the potential to be a 220-225-pound kid that can fly. We will put him on the edge and let him run. We think he is ultimately going to be the guy who can rush the passer off the edge. He brings something to the table for us as a defensive end that is exciting.”
Kadeem Wise – CB – 5-10 – 170 – Fr-HS – Lawrenceville, Ga. (Berkmar HS)
Two-star product from Lawrenceville, Ga., according to Rivals.com and Scout.com...ranked No. 55 among cornerbacks according to ESPN.com...played for head coach John Thompson at Berkmar High School...team captain and all-county defensive back as a senior...recorded 51 tackles, 12 pass breakups and an interception...had 15 receptions for 310 yards...ran back three kickoffs for TDs...also handled the punt return duties...four-year letter winner in football and track & field...team-high grade-point-average as a senior and nominated by teachers for the Student Leadership committee in Washington, D.C...selected to the People to People student ambassador program...will compete in the 2009 Elite Sports 10th Annual King Kamehameha Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii...also set to participate in the 2009 Youth Friendship Games in Austria...PERSONAL...full name is Kenyan Kadeem Wise...born April 7, 1991...son of Marcus and Kathryn Wise...has an older brother, Marcus, younger brother, Jamaal, and an older sister, Shalayia...Marcus played football at Albany State and the University of West Georgia...plans to major in Sports Medicine.
Russ Huesman on Kadeem Wise: “This is one kid that we just fell in love with. It came down to us and James Madison and we are really thrilled to have him. Anytime you can beat a school like James Madison – one that has been to playoffs and is one of the top FCS programs – it says a lot about what UTC has to offer.”
