With just over two weeks until the kick-off of the 2009 University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football season, GoMocs.com is breaking down each position on the team. The outlook started last week with a rundown of the team, the quarterbacks and the running backs.
Today we take a look at the offensive line where the Mocs are expected to be much improved from 2008.
UTC's home-opener is against Glenville State on Thursday, Sept. 3, at 7 p.m. (E.D.T.) at Finley Stadium. Season tickets begin at $22 for youth, alumni, faculty and staff and can be purchased at the UTC Ticket Office - (423) 266-MOCS (6627) - or online at GoMocs.com.
Season Outlook Part 1 - Season Overview (Aug. 10)
Season Outlook Part 2 - Quarterbacks (Aug. 11)
Season Outlook Part 3 - Running Backs
Season Outlook Part 4 - Offensive Line
After a strong offseason of hard work in the weight room and on the practice field, the offensive line is expected to be one of the Mocs' most improved areas. With four starters returning, this is also among the deepest group of letter winners on the team entering the 2009 season.
Senior Bryce Garcia and juniors Justin Galyon, Chris Harr and T.J. Hurless are all back after lining up in 2008. Galyon, Harr and Hurless started all 12 games for the Mocs in 2008, while Garcia was with the first group seven times.
The only first-teamer lost from last year is guard William Giles who started 11 of 12 games. Other lettermen lost from last year include Robbie Elliott, who played in six games with one start, and Brian Heflin, who started the four games he played.
Galyon will anchor the line at center where he started every game last year. The 6-4, 290-pound Powell, Tenn., native spent his first two years in the program as a defensive lineman before making the move to center in 2008. Redshirt freshman Austin Wilson (6-3, 260) has moved over from tight end to back up Galyon.
Garcia and redshirt freshman Will Hewitt are battling for the starting spot at left guard with Hewitt currently taking the snaps with the first team. Garcia played in every game last season after transferring to UTC from Feather River College in Quincy, Calif. The 6-4, 320-pounder, started his career at UNLV. Hewitt (6-4, 290) was a first team all-state selection for Sevier County High School in Sevier, Tenn., before sitting out last year as a redshirt with the Mocs. Irvin Hernandez, a 5-10, 275-pound freshman, is also competing at left guard.
At 6-6 and 260 pounds, Harr is holding down the left tackle spot and is considered one of the best players at any position on the Mocs. He has earned praise from his coaches and teammates throughout the offseason, including winning the Bob Davis Winter Warrior Award for his hard work during winter conditioning. Redshirt freshman Adam Miller (6-4, 260) is Harr's backup for the 2009 season.
Hurless (6-4, 310) holds down the right guard position again in 2009. He started his career as a tackle where he played in six games a true freshman in 2007, but moved to guard prior to his sophomore season. He is being pushed by talented, 6-2, 270-pound, freshman David Clemons. Clemons was an all-state honoree at Calhoun High School Calhoun, Ga., last year. Redshirt freshmen Tucker Cathey (6-2, 315) and freshman Steven Nease (6-0, 250) are also competing at the same position. Cathey was a high school teammate of current Moc quarterback Graham Nichols at Franklin High School in Franklin, Tenn. Nease's father Michael was a teammate of head coach Russ Huesman and offensive line coach Russ Ehrenfeld during their playing days.
Redshirt freshman Dustin Tate (6-5, 280) is currently working with the first group at right tackle. Freshmen Hunter Dockery (6-4, 300) and Darien Brewer (6-5 ½, 255) are also battling for the position. Both walked-on the team in the fall and could contribute in 2009.
"We have a lot more experience than we did last year," stated Harr. "Even though we have two redshirt freshmen in the first group, we have more experience. They have been coming along since the summer and we are going to continue to get better before the first game."
The Mocs are without a pair of linemen who are currently out with injuries. Sophomore Nick Gipson would be competing for playing time at one of the guard spots, but he suffered a knee injury during winter conditioning. He played in four games as a true freshman last year with one start, but is redshirting the 2009 season. Freshman Jake Francis has been out all of fall camp after having back surgery over the summer. He is also a candidate to redshirt the upcoming season.
"I like this group we have up front" stated Huesman before the start of fall camp. "We are young, athletic and have great workers. Chris Harr can be an all-conference type of player. He can run, move and is a great leader, but I am expecting good things from the entire group."
One final note on the Mocs offensive line focuses on their prowess in the classroom as well as the playing field. Of the nine returning student-athletes, five earned academic honors last season. Miller currently holds a 4.0 grade-point average while Tate and Wilson made the Dean's List both semesters. Galyon and Hurless were both on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll in the 2009 spring semester. Of the six newcomers, Brewer, Clemons and Dockery were all honor roll students in high school and Clemons was a member of the academic quiz team.
Check out the full video interviews on the offensive line with coach Huesman, coach Ehrenfeld and Harr at the top of the page. Be sure to check back to GoMocs.com for our next look at the receivers.
