Chattanooga Football Game Notes
Chattanooga Mocs (1-1, 0-0 SoCon) at Tennessee Volunteers (0-2, 0-0 SEC)
Neyland Stadium (102,455) – Knoxville, Tenn.
Saturday – Sept. 14, 2019 – 12:03 p.m. (E.D.T.)
Radio:  Mocs Sports Network (WFLI 1070 AM / 97.7 FM – Flagship) - Jim Reynolds (pxp), Todd Agne (color), Craig Cecil (sideline)
TV: SEC Network – Taylor Zarzour (pxp), Matt Stinchcomb (analyst) and Alyssa Long (sideline)
Online: Live audio, SEC Network+ & live stats links on GoMocs.com
 
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team is back on the road in Week 3 to take on the Tennessee Volunteers.  A Noon (E.D.T.) kickoff is set at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 14. 
 
UTC owns the second-toughest schedule in the FCS and follows Saturday's game with a visit from No. 2 James Madison to Chattanooga on Sept. 21.   
 
The Mocs are 1-1 after last week's 41-20 loss at No. 17/18 Jacksonville State. Chattanooga opened the season with a 24-10 win over Eastern Illinois at home on Aug. 29 and is receiving votes in both the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll and the STATS FCS Top 25. 
 
Tennessee is looking for its first win after dropping its first two games of the season.  The Vols lost to Georgia State 38-30 on Aug. 31.  BYU then scored a 29-26 overtime win in Knoxville last week. 
 
This is the 41st meeting in the series that dates back to 1904.  The Mocs are 2-36-2 all-time, including wins in 1905 (5-0) and 1958 (14-6).  The ties came in 1909 (0-0) and 1910 (6-6).  This is just the second meeting since 1969.  UTC dropped a 45-10 matchup on Oct. 11, 2014.
 
The Mocs are facing an opponent from the Southeastern Conference for the seventh time in the last 11 seasons. UTC also faced South Carolina last season, LSU in 2017, Auburn in 2010 and Alabama in 2016, 2013 and 2009. 
 
MOCS SPORTS NETWORK
The Mocs Sports Network broadcasts the game on the radio on WFLI 1070 AM / 97.7 FM in Chattanooga.  Jim Reynolds has the play-by-play for his 40th season, with Todd Agne giving the color commentary and Craig Cecil on the sideline.  A link for a free audio broadcast is available on the football schedule page on GoMocs.com.
 
SEC NETWORK
The Mocs-Tennessee game airs on the SEC Network. Taylor Zarzour (pxp), Matt Stinchcomb (analyst) and Alyssa Long (sideline) have the call.  A list of providers with specific channel numbers is below.
EPB - 332
AT&T U-verse - 1607
Comcast - 400 or 740
DirecTV - 611
Dish - 408 or Hopper 404    
Verizon FiOS - 575
 
SEASON NO. 112
As a part of the year-long celebration of 150 years of college football, the Mocs are preparing for their 112th season.  The University of Chattanooga was founded in 1886 and football officially began play in 1904.  No teams were fielded in 1917 and 1918 due to World War I.  There was also a two-year hiatus from football action during World War II in 1943 and 1944.  The Mocs have an all-time record of 540-533-35 (.503) and have won 13 conference titles.
 
IT'S ALL IN THE NAME
On first reference, it is acceptable to refer to us as the "University of Tennessee at Chattanooga." After that, we prefer to be called "Chattanooga" or "UTC."  Our nickname is "Mocs," not Moccasins.  Chattanooga is pronounced chat-uh-NEW-guh, commonly mistaken as CHATT-nooga.
 
QUICK NOTES TO KNOW ABOUT THE MOCS
General
• Former Moc and former UTC assistant coach Rusty Wright was hired on Dec. 19 as head coach.
• Mocs are 62-58 all-time at Finley Stadium ... 41-45 in SoCon home games.
• UTC drew 8,254 fans for the home opener, 15th-best home crowd that weekend in the FCS.
• UTC is coming off its seventh winning season since 2009 ... 54th in the 111 years of football.
• Picked to finish fourth in the Southern Conference by the league's coaches and fifth by the media.
• 2019 strength of schedule is ranked No. 2 in the FCS, according to HeroSports.
• UTC has used 11 first-time starters in the first two games, including Ty Boeck (So.-LB), McClendon Curtis (So.-OL), Kanore McKinnon (Jr.-WR), Kyle Miskelley (Jr.-OL), Lameric Tucker (Fr.-WR), Juwan Tyus (So.-WR), Kam Jones (So.-LB), Telvin Jones (Sr.-DL), Kayne Roberts (So.-LB), Cameron Turner (Sr.-DB), C.J. Winston (So.-LB).
 
Offense
• 24 letter winners and nine starters back ... all five starters return to the offensive line.
• Not allowed a sack in the first two games.
• 326.5 yards of total offense is No. 6 in the SoCon and No. 73 in the FCS. 
• 7th/77th in rushing offense (125.0).
• Seventh in the SoCon and No. 57 in the FCS in passing offense (201.5). 
• Seventh in the SoCon and No. 73 in the FCS in scoring offense (22.0).
• 14/31 (45.2%) on third down ... 6th in the SoCon and 25th in the FCS.
• Junior receiver Bryce Nunnelly is a preseason All-American, All-SoCon and on the Walter Payton Award Watch list.  He was second in the conference and No. 6 in the FCS with 112.5 receiving yards per game in 2018.  He was also third in the league and No. 8 in the FCS with 7.2 receptions per game.  He leads the SoCon with 7.0 receptions per game and is fourth in the league with 93.5 receiving yards per game. 
• True freshman Ailym Ford leads the Mocs with 88.5 yards per game and two TDs.
• Junior OL Cole Strange is a preseason second team All-SoCon selection ...  started all 11 games at left guard in 2018.
 
Defense
• 17 letter winners and six starters back.
• Second in the SoCon and No. 40 in the FCS in scoring defense (25.5).
• No. 3 in the SoCon and No. 42 in the FCS in rushing defense (147.5).
• No. 7 in the SoCon and No. 88 in the FCS in passing yards allowed (292.0).
• No. 4 in the SoCon and No. 66 in the FCS in total defense (439.5).
• Second in the SoCon and No. 12 in the FCS is red zone defense (5/8 - 62.5%). 
• Senior linebacker Marshall Cooper and junior defensive backs Brandon Dowdell and Jerrell Lawson made the preseason All-SoCon first team defense.
• Cooper was the SoCon Defensive Player of the Week after posting 10 tackles and two PBUs in the win over Eastern Illinois ... leads the SoCon with 20 total tackles.
• Sophomore DL Devonnsha Maxwell is tied for the SoCon lead with 2.5 TFLs.  
 
Special Teams
• Victor Ulmo was on the 2018 Fred Mitchell Award Watch List ... 3-4 (.750) in 2019 ... 13-19 (68.4%) in 2018 and 25-35 (71.4%) for his career ... fifth-best career average at UTC ... 1-2 vs. EIU with a make from 37 and a miss from 36 ... made from 36 and 33 at Jacksonville State
• Senior Colin Brewer is No. 22 in the FCS with a 42.6 punting average. 
• Fourth in the SoCon and No. 16 in the FCS in net punting (41.2). 
• Junior Brandon Dowdell had punt returns of 18 and 38 yards at JSU.
 
NOTES TO KNOW ABOUT THE TENNESSEE GAME
• The Mocs are 4-118-3 all-time against teams currently in the SEC ... UTC has a win over Ole Miss (31-6 on Nov. 29, 1945) and Vanderbilt (13-6 on Nov. 10, 1945) and two over Tennessee (5-0 on Dec. 2, 1905 and 14-6 on Nov. 8, 1958).
• UTC head coach Rusty Wright was an assistant coach at Georgia State the last two seasons. He coached the Panther's inside linebackers, special teams and served as the recruiting coordinator.  TE coach Jacob Huesman was an offensive line GA last season at Georgia State. 
 
UTC-TENNESSEE CONNECTIONS
• Tennessee Fr.-DB Tyrik Stewart is from Chattanooga's McCallie School.
• Mocs safeties coach David Bibee is a 1977 graduate of Tennessee, where he earned a bachelor's degree in health education.  He played football for the Volunteers from 1973 to 1976 and was a member of the 1973 Gator Bowl team and the 1974 Liberty Bowl squad.
• Chattanooga's Director of Athletic Performance Ethan Reeve was a two-time NCAA All-American and four-time SEC champion wrestler at the University of Tennessee from 1974-77.
• UTC Deputy AD Scott Altizer, who is in his sixth season with the Mocs, spent the previous 20 years in the football office at Tennessee. He last position was Director of Football Relations (recruiting) for the Vols and served on the staffs for Butch Jones, Derek Dooley and Phillip Fulmer.
• Tennessee's Quality Control assistant Jeremiah Wilson was the Mocs defensive backs coach in 2018. 
• Thomas Burks (UTC - Fr.-K) and Jauan Jennings (Tennessee - Sr.-WR) are both from Blackman High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
• Kam Jones (UTC - So.-LB), Baylen Buchanan (Tennessee - Sr.-DB) and Nigel Warrior (Tennessee - Sr.-DB) are all from Peachtree Ridge High School in Suwanee, Ga.
• Cole Strange (UTC - Jr.-OL), Jacob Warren (Tennessee - Fr.-TE), Braden Collins (Tennessee - So.-WR) and Joe Doyle (Tennessee - Jr.-P) are all from Knoxville's Farragut Academy. 
• Cameron West (UTC - So.-DL) and Alonte Taylor (Tennessee - So.-DB) are both from Coffee County Central High School in Manchester, Tenn.
• Jacob Webster (UTC - JR.-TE) and Chip Olmer (Tennessee - Jr.-RB) are both from Nashville's Christ Presbyterian Academy. 
• UTC and Tennessee were both in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association from 1913-20. 
• Tennessee was a member of the Southern Conference from 1921-1933 ... Mocs played in the Dixie Conference during this time.
 
SCOUTING TENNESSEE
• Tennessee stands 467-133-17 at Neyland Stadium, possessing the second-most wins of any program at a current stadium.
• The Vols are 0-2 for the first time in 31 years. 
• No. 9 in the SEC and 74th in the FBS in scoring (28.0).
• No. 8 in the SEC and 56th in the FBS in rushing yards per game (167.5).
• No. 7 in the SEC and 59th in the FBS in passing yards per game (243.5).
• No. 9 in the SEC and 67th in the FBS in total offense (411.0).
• QB Jarrett Guarantano is 43-68 (63.2%) for 487 yards, four TDs and two INTs in two games.
• Ty Chandler leads the team in rushing with 101 yards per game ... 5th in the SEC and No. 28 in the FBS.
• WR Jauan Jennings is No. 3 in the SEC and No. 20 in the nation with 98.0 yards per game.
• Henry To'o To'o leads the team with 15 tackles in two games.
• No. 13 in the SEC and 112th in the FBS in scoring defense (33.5).
• No. 12 in the SEC and 89th in the FBS in rushing defense (160.0).
• No. 6 in the SEC and 46th in the FBS in passing yards allowed (185.5).
• No. 8 in the SEC and 57th in the FBS in total defense (345.5).
 
GAME NOTES AT JACKSONVILLE STATE
• The Mocs dropped a 41-20 game at No. 17/18 Jacksonville State last week.
• 42nd meeting in the regional matchup ... UTC leads 26-16 ... series dates back to 1904 and is one of UTC's oldest rivalries.  Following a 13-6 UTC win in Chattanooga in 1983, the series was suspended for 21 seasons until it restarted in 2004...UTC is just 2-11 since then … at least one of these two teams has been ranked in each of the last eight meetings … Mocs and JSU have played in the first two games of the season nine times since 2004 ... UTC is just 1-7 in the series since 2010.
• 156 yards rushing for the Mocs is the most since 236 in the narrow loss at Sam Houston State on Dec. 3 of the 2016 FCS Playoffs. It's the most in a regular season non-conference road contest since 165 yards on Nov. 21, 2015...at Florida State.
• Mocs allowed 509 yards to JSU … 165 rushing and 344 passing … most since giving up 511 against Wofford last season.
• JSU was 4-5 on fourth down in the game … ties for the most conversions allowed in a game on record … last time was against Wofford (4-5) on Nov. 10, 2007.
• JSU held the ball for 12:06 in the fourth quarter … 31:31 for the game.
• UTC's 96-yard scoring drive in the third quarter is the fourth longest for the Mocs in the last 10 seasons.  14 plays … 5:35 … capped by a Nick Tiano 2-yard run.
• First time the Mocs allowed over 30 points to an FCS opponent since a 41-17 loss at Furman on Oct. 7, 2017.
• Mocs did not allow a sack for the second game in a row.  First time since a three-game stretch early last season.
• Marshall Cooper – Sr.-LB - Game-high 10 tackles ... fifth career game with 10+ … second in a row.
• Brandon Dowdell – Jr.-DB - Had punt returns of 18 and 38 yards ... longest punt return by a Moc since C.J. Board had a 72-yarder against Western Carolina on Oct. 28, 2016.
• Ailym Ford – Fr.-RB - 127 rushing yards on 22 carries ... one TD and 5.8 yards per carry ... first true freshman to rush for 100 yards in a game since Erroll Wynn had 131 against Jacksonville State on Nov. 4, 2006.
• Bryce Nunnelly – Jr.-WR - Game-high eight catches for 87 yards ... 5+ catches in last 13 games.
• CaMiron Smith – So.-DB - First career INT.
• Nick Tiano – Jr.-QB - 14-28 passing for 147 yards ... third career rushing TD … second this season ... ran six times for 19 yards.
• Victor Ulmo – Jr.-K - 36-yard FG to cap the opening drive ... 33-yard FG at the end of the first half ... 3-4 on the year … 25-35 (71.4) career … 23-27 (85.2%) inside 40 yards.  
 
LAST TIME AT TENNESSEE - L, 10-45 - KNOXVILLE, TENN. - OCT. 11, 2014
• Chattanooga posted a season-high five sacks for minus-35 yards…Josh Freeman (2), Keionta Davis, Derrick Lott, Davis Tull … most sacks in a game since posting six against Furman last season (10/12/13) … most sacks in the Huesman era (since 2009) is six against Furman and Eastern Kentucky (9/28/10).
• The 45 points allowed were a season-high for Chattanooga … UTC came into the game leading the SoCon and No. 13 in the FCS in scoring defense (16.6 ppg).
• UTC played without starting RB Keon Williams (wrist) and WR Tommy Hudson (toe).
• Mocs came into the game second in the SoCon and No. 33 in the FCS in rushing defense (133.0 ypg) … gave up 123 to Tennessee today.
• Mocs came into the game leading the SoCon and No. 21 in the FCS in net punting (37.8) … 39.1 on seven kicks tonight, despite allowing a season-long 42-yard return in the first quarter.
• Mocs came into the game No. 1 in the SoCon and No. 22 in the FCS with 8.2 TFLs per game … had nine today.
• Richardre Bagley – Fr.-RB - Four carries for 22 yards and one TD ... first career score.
• Keionta Davis – So.-DE (Current New England Patriot) - Three tackles, two for loss, one sack ... Forced a fumble and added a breakup ... strip sack in the second quarter ... three sacks and five TFLs last three games.
• Josh Freeman – Jr.-DL - Four tackles, including two sacks ... two sacks ties a career high set at Samford last season (11/16/13) ... also recovered a fumble.
• Jacob Huesman – Jr.-QB (Currernt UTC tight ends coach) - 9-16 passing with one INT ... first INT since the season-opener at Central Michigan ... No INTs against FCS competition this season ... ran 12 times for 45 yards ... topped 2,100 career rushing yards … 2,101 is ninth all-time at UTC.
• Derrick Lott – Sr.-DL - Recorded his fourth sack of the season … third in the SoCon ... 7.5 TFLs is third in the SoCon.
• Nick Pollard – Sr.-P - Seven punts for season-high 45.4 yards per kick ... 58-yard rolling punt in the first quarter ... two 50+ yard kicks … one inside 20 ... second in the SoCon with a 42.2 season average.
• Henrique Ribeiro – So.-K - 27-yard FG in the second quarter ... 5-5 on FGs this season.
• Faysal Shafaat – Sr.-TE (Contestant on Big Brother 20) - Three catches for 45 yards…both team-highs ... Seven catches for 94 yards last two games combined.
• Davis Tull – Sr.-DE (Knoxville native and 5th round pick by the Saints in 2015 NFL Draft) - Season-high seven tackles ... 2.0 TFLs … second among active players in the FCS with 53.0 career TFLs … 11.0 this season leads the SoCon ... 1.0 sacks … leads the SoCon with 6.0 sacks … 32.5 in his career is tied for third (James Russell – ETSU – 1993-96) on the SoCon all-time list … SoCon record is 36.5 by Appalachian State's Josh Jeffries (1999-02).
 
CHATTANOOGA WINS VS. FBS TEAMS
UTC picked up its third win in program history over an FBS opponent on Sept. 7, 2013, with a 42-14 victory at Georgia State. Prior to that, the last time the Mocs defeated an FBS team was a 9-7 win over Southwestern Louisiana (Louisiana-Lafayette) on Sept. 1, 1984, in Chattanooga. The other win since the divisional split in 1978 was also over the Ragin' Cajuns, 38-14 on Sept. 17, 1983, in Lafayette, La.
 
BIG CROWDS
Two of the biggest crowds the Mocs have played in front of in school history have come against an SEC opponent. UTC faced No. 1 Alabama in 2016 in front of 101,821, the most ever to see the Mocs play.  There were also 100,170 in attendance at the 2013 game at Alabama and 97,289 in 2017 at LSU.
 
MOCS AGAINST BIG-TIME OPPONENTS
Like most FCS teams, Chattanooga takes on at least one FBS squad each year. However, the Mocs have faced some of the best in recent years. Here is a rundown of Chattanooga's notable FBS opponentes since 2008:
South Carolina - Lost 45-10 on Nov. 17, 2018
LSU - Lost 45-10 on Sept. 9, 2017 - Led 3-0
No. 1 Alabama - Lost 31-3 on Nov. 17, 2016
No. 14 Florida State - Lost 52-13 on Nov. 21, 2015
Tennessee - Lost 45-10 on Oct. 11, 2014
No. 1 Alabama - Lost 49-0 on Nov. 23, 2013
No. 10 Nebraska - Lost 40-7 on Sept. 2, 2011
No. 2 Auburn - Lost 62-24 on Nov. 6, 2010 - eventual BCS Champion
No. 2 Alabama - Lost 45-0 on Nov. 21, 2009 - eventual BCS Champion
Florida State - Lost 46-7 on Sept. 13, 2008
No. 4 Oklahoma - Lost 57-2 on Aug. 30, 2008
 
UTC has also played South Florida (L, 34-13 on 9/1/12), Georgia State (W, 42-14 on 9/14/13) and Central Michigan (L, 16-20 on 8/28/14) in recent FBS action.
 
MOCS HELD LEAD IN THREE OF LAST FOUR FBS GAMES
The Mocs have held leads in three of the last four meetings with an FBS opponent.  It would be 4-4, but Victor Ulmo's 42-yard field goal attempt on the opening drive at South Carolina last season was blocked.  Ulmo hit a 22-yarder for a 3-0 lead at LSU in 2017.  The Mocs led 3-0 after the first quarter at Alabam in 2016 thanks to a 47-yard field goal by Henrique Ribeiro.  UTC only trailed 14-3 at halftime in that game, drawing praise/ire from head coach Nick Saban during his interview on ESPN going into the locker room.  Ribeiro also had a 29-yard FG for a 3-0 lead at Florida State on Nov. 21, 2015.
 
NUNNELLY AND TIANO PUT UP BIG NUMBERS AT SOUTH CAROLINA LAST SEASON
Bryce Nunnelly and Nick Tiano both put up some impressive numbers at South Carolina last season.  Nunnelly finished with five catches for 141 yards, including a 45-yard pass on the first play of the game.  He also had a 57-yard connection with Tiano in the fourth quarter.  That was the most receiving yards by a Moc against an FBS opponent since Cos DeMatteo had 207 at Louisville on Sept. 11, 1999.  It was also the most receiving yards by a Moc against an SEC opponent since Rocky Turner had 198 at Ole Miss on Nov. 13, 1971.
 
Tiano was 17-36 for 254 passing yards.  It was the most passing yards by a Moc against an FBS opponent since Chris Sanders had 367 at Louisville on Sept. 11, 1999 and the most passing yards by a Moc against an SEC opponent since Steve Woods had 286 at Vanderbilt on Nov. 22, 1980.
 
Ironically, it was Nunnelly who threw UTC's only touchdown pass to Tiano, a two-yard connection in the fourth quarter. 
 
TIANO'S BIG PLAYS VS. LSU AND SOUTH CAROLINA
In addition to the 45 and 57-yard passes Nick Tiano served up to Bryce Nunnelly against South Carolina last season, he also had two other big plays against the SEC the last two years.  In last year's game at USC, he hit Wil Young for a 33-yard connection.  At LSU in 2017, he and Joseph Parker connected for a 67-yard pass play. 
 
DOWDELL BACK RETURNING PUNTS
Junior DB Brandon Dowdell was No. 6 in the FCS with a 12.6 punt return average on 13 attempts as a freshman in 2017.  He did not return any punts on 2018, but returned to the job last week at Jacksonville State.  He quickly made an impact with returns of 18 and 38 yards.  The second was a career-long and set up the Mocs' second field goal. 
 
TUCKER WITH BIG PLAYS
Freshman Lameric Tucker has four catches for 96 yards in the first two games.  His 24.0 yards per catch average is 16th in the FCS.  He caught a 39-yarder against EIU and a 36-yarder last week.
 
FORD RECOGNIZED AMONG TOP FRESHMEN
True freshman Ailym Ford was in the Honorable Mention listings for National Freshman of the Week by STATS this week.  He posted 127 rushing yards on 22 carries and a score at Jacksonville State, becoming the Mocs' first true freshman to rush for 100 yards in a game since Erroll Wynn had 131 against Jacksonville State on Nov. 4, 2006.  Ford is fourth in the SoCon with 88.5 rushing yards per game.  He led the Mocs with 50 rushing yards and a TD on 12 carries in the season opener against Eastern Illinois, the first true freshman to score in a debut since Chris Awuah in 2009.  All of his action has come in the last six quarters. 
 
NUNNELLY ON THE WALTER PAYTON AWARD WATCH LIST
Junior receiver Bryce Nunnelly is on the 2019 Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List. He is also on the preseason All-SoCon first team and a consensus preseason All-American.  He posted 100 receiving yards and a TD on six catches against Eastern Illinois and is now tied for third all-time at UTC with seven 100-yard receiving games.
 
NUNNELLY'S 2018 HIGHLIGHTS
• Recipient of the Parks McCall Memorial Athletic Scholarship.
• 2018 Academic All-SoCon team and the CoSIDA Google Cloud Academic All-District squad with a 3.80 GPA as a Mechanical Engineering major.
• First Team All-Southern Conference selection as a sophomore in 2018 when he was second in the league and No. 6 in the FCS with 112.5 receiving yards per game. 
• Third in the SoCon and No. 8 in the FCS with 7.2 receptions per game.
• School-record with four straight 100-yard receiving games and tied the UTC single-season mark with six 100-yard receiving games overall.
• Burst on to the scene in 2018, putting up 429 receiving yards in the first two games ... UTC school-record for yards in consecutive outings.
• Opened the season by earning SoCon Offensive Player of the Week honors with seven catches for 161 yards against Tennessee Tech ... 89-yard connection with quarterback Nick Tiano was the fifth-longest pass play in school history.
• The next week he was named STATS FCS National Offensive Player of the Week, SoCon Student-Athlete of the Week and repeated as SoCon Offensive Player of the Week after posting 10 catches for 268 yards and two TDs at The Citadel ... those were the most receiving yards in a game since Joel Bradford's school-record 274 (15) in a 36-28 win at No. 25 Furman on Oct. 23, 2010 ... also the third-most yards in a league game in SoCon history.
• Another marquee showing included five catches for 141 yards at South Carolina ... most receiving yards by a Moc against an SEC opponent since Rocky Turner had 198 at Ole Miss on Nov. 13, 1971.
• Posted 11 catches of 40+ yards in 2018 ... Mocs only had five such plays as a team the year before.
 
O-LINE GETTING BETTER
The Mocs have not allowed a sack in either of the first two games of the 2019 season.  That continues the Mocs streak of improvement up front.  UTC's offensive line gave up 17 sacks in 2018, which was third in the SoCon and 33rd in the FCS.  That was a big improvement from 2017 when they were last in the SoCon and 109th in the FCS, allowing over three per game.
 
COOPER NAMED SOCON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior LB Marshall Cooper was a second team All-SoCon pick last season and is on the preseason first team heading into 2019. He was named the Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Week, presented by GEICO, after posting 10 tackles to lead the Mocs to a 24-10 season-opening win over Eastern Illinois on Aug. 29.  It was the third career weekly honor from the SoCon for Cooper, a native of Hixson, Tenn.  He was Defensive Player of the Week after last year's win over Samford and Special Teams Player of the Week after blocking a punt in a win over ETSU in 2017. Seven of his 10 tackles against the Panthers were solo stops.  He also broke up two passes in the win.  The Mocs' defense only allowed 10 points in the Thursday night home opener, the fewest given up by a SoCon team in Week 1.
 
TIANO CLIMBING UTC'S RECORD BOOKS
Senior QB Nick Tiano opened the season with 256 passing yards on 17-27 attempts.  He threw one touchdown and had two interceptions.  With 18 games at UTC under his belt, he is climbing the following lists in UTC's record book:
• 351-591 (.594) career passing.
• 3,986 career passing yards is ninth all-time at UTC ... needs 148 to pass Tim Couch (1984-86) 8th.
• 10th in career attempts ... needs 12 to pass Steve Woods (1978-81) for ninth.
• Eighth in career completions ... needs 35 to pass Antonio Miller (2004-07) for seventh.
• Seventh in career completion percentage.
• 22 career TD passes is 10th all-time at UTC ... needs seven to pass Tony Merendino (1975-78) and Brian Hampton for eighth.
• 10 200-yard passing games is 7th all-time at UTC ... needs three more to pass Kenyon Earl for 6th.
• 4,372 yards of total offense is ninth all-time at UTC ... needs 345 yards to pass Antonio Miller (2004-07) for eighth.
 
TIANO HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2018
• Graduated with a degree in Business Management in the spring of 2019 ... currently pursuing a Master's of Business Administration in UTC's Rollins College of Business.
• 233-378 passing for 2,710 yards and 15 touchdowns against only six interceptions in 2018.
• Passing yards were fifth on the Mocs single-season list, and he had the third-most completions in a season at UTC. 
• Fewest INTs among those who have completed over 200 passes in a season at UTC.
• 61.6 completion percentage was fourth among those at UTC with 2,000 passing yards in a season. 
• 23rd in the FCS and third in the SoCon in total offense (268.1).
• Third in the league and No. 20 in the FCS in passing yards (246.4).
• Other SoCon/FCS rankings include 4th/53rd with 15 passing TDs, 3rd/16th in completions per game (21.2) and 3rd/19th in completion percentage (61.6%). 
• First Moc to throw back-to-back 300-yard games (TTU & The Citadel) since B.J. Coleman against Furman (432) and Elon (386) in 2010.
• 347 yards against The Citadel were the most in a game since Jacob Huesman had 359 against Mercer in a 38-31 win on Oct. 25, 2014. 
• In the season finale at South Carolina, Tiano was 17-36 for 254 yards ... most passing yards by a Moc against an FBS opponent since Chris Sanders had 367 at Louisville on Sept. 11, 1999 ... most passing yards by a Moc against an SEC opponent since Steve Woods had 286 at Vanderbilt on Nov. 22, 1980.
 
MOCS SET NEW GPA MARK IN SPRING OF 2019
Football's 2.79 GPA in the spring of 2019 is a program record.  The Mocs football program had 26 on the Dean's List, 40 on the A.D. Honor Roll and five 4.0s.
 
ROYSTER AND REYNOLDS AT 40+
Two members of the Mocs football crew are two of the most experienced in their respective professions.  UTC Assistant Athletic Director for Equipment and Facilities Mike Royster is in his 46th season with the Mocs.  In addition, the Voice of the Mocs, Jim Reynolds is in his 40 year as the play-by-play announcer for Mocs football and basketball. 
 
LETTERMEN/STARTERS RETURNING/LOST
UTC returns a total of 45 lettermen from the 2018 campaign.  There are 24 on the offensive side of the ball, 17 on defense and four specialists.  There are 17 starters back, including nine on offense, six on defense, along with the punter and kicker.
 
SIX MOCS ON PRESEASON ALL-SOCON TEAMS
UTC placed six individuals on the 2019 Preseason Southern Conference Football Team.  The coaches selected all-conference first and second teams and were not allowed to vote for their own student-athletes or teams in the voting process. 
 
Junior receiver Bryce Nunnelly earned a spot on the first team offense.  He was a first team All-SoCon pick last season after finishing second in the conference and No. 6 in the FCS with 112.5 receiving yards per game.  He was also third in the league and No. 8 in the FCS with 7.2 receptions per game.
 
Senior linebacker Marshall Cooper, and junior defensive backs Brandon Dowdell and Jerrell Lawson made the first team defense.  Cooper was a second-team All-SoCon selection last season when he led the team and was third in the league with 8.9 tackles per game.
 
Dowdell was a first team pick by the league's coaches in 2018, posting three interceptions and six pass breakups.  Lawson started the season as a defensive back, but moved up to linebacker the last eight games.  He was fourth on the team with 53 tackles, including 2.5 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss.
 
Senior running back Tyrell Price and junior OL Cole Strange were both second team offense selections on the preseason squad.  Price was a second team All-SoCon choice by the league's media last season when he led the team with 63.4 rushing yards per game.  Strange started all 11 games at left guard and was also a second team All-SoCon pick by the league's coaches.
 
DEVONNSHA MAXWELL COMING OFF A FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICAN CAMPAIGN
Sophomore defensive lineman Devonnsha Maxwell had an outstanding freshman season in 2018.  He earned a spot on Phil Steele's Freshman All-American First Team and grabbed honorable mention  Freshman All-American honors from HeroSports.com.  Maxwell played in nine games with five starts, including each of the last three.  He posted 32 tackles and was second on the team with 6.5 for loss and 5.5 sacks.  His sack total was second on UTC's all-time freshman list, trailing Joshua Williams 7.0 in 2009.
 
MOCS PICKED FOURTH BY THE COACHES, FIFTH IN MEDIA POLL
The Mocs were picked to finish fourth in the Southern Conference by the league's coaches and fifth by the media.  The coaches were not allowed to vote for their teams in their preseason poll. Wofford, Furman and ETSU were the top three picks in both the coaches and media preseason polls.  Mercer, Samford and The Citadel followed the Mocs in the coaches poll, with Western Carolina and VMI filling in the last two spots in both listings.  Mercer is fourth in the media poll, followed by UTC, Samford and The Citadel. 
 
TWO THURSDAY NIGHT GAMES IN 2019
Coach Wright announced UTC's season-opener against Eastern Illinois has moved from Saturday, Aug. 31, to Thursday, Aug. 29, at Finley Stadium.  The Mocs also host in-state Southern Conference rival ETSU on Thursday, Oct. 17. 
 
MOCS IN THE PRESEASON TOP 25
UTC is receiving votes in both of the official preseason top 25 polls. The Mocs would be No. 30 in the AFCA Coaches Poll and No. 39 in the STATS FCS Top 25 if the rankings were extended. UTC was also listed in the HEROSports.com  Top 25.  The Mocs checked in at No. 19 in its predictions for the upcoming year.
 
MOCS ON NFL ROSTERS
With the close of trainging camp, there are six Mocs currently on an NFL roster or practice squad.  Those on the 53-man roster include Buster Skrine ('10) – Chicago Bears, Tae Davis ('17) – New York Giants, Isaiah Mack ('18) – Tennessee Titans, C.J. Board ('16) – Jacksonville Jaguars and Corey Levin ('16) – Tennessee Titans.  Kareem Orr ('18) is on the Tennessee Titans' practice squad while Keionta Davis ('16) is on injured reserve with the New England Patriots.  Davis Tull ('14) was recently granted an injury settlement from the Jacksonville Jaguars. Joseph Parker ('18) participated in training camp with the Tennessee Titans, while Derek Mahaffey ('18) took part in the a spring rookie camp with the L.A. Rams.
 
C.J. Board, Tae Davis, Keionta Davis and Davis Tull all played in the 2014 game at Tennessee. 
 
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE NO. 2 in the FCS
UTC's 2019 strength of schedule is ranked No. 2 in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), according to HeroSports.com.  Written by Senior FCS Analyst Sam Herder (@SamHerderFCS), the listing is based on the number of Top 25 opponents in the HERO Sports' Preseason Poll, FBS opponents, games against 2018 playoff teams, non-counter games and the strength of the conference schedule.
 
The Mocs have one FBS game at Tennessee on Sept. 14 and no non-Division I games.  UTC checks in at No. 19 in the Hero Sports preseason top 25.  The slate includes games against No. 1 James Madison, No. 6 Jacksonville State, No. 8 Wofford, No. 15 Furman and No. 25 The Citadel.
 
JMU, Jacksonville State, Wofford and ETSU were all FCS playoff teams in 2019.  Three of the teams mentioned are part of the upcoming home schedule, including the Dukes on Sept. 21, the Paladins on Nov. 2 and the Bulldogs on Nov. 16.
 
Other Southern Conference teams on the list of toughest schedules include The Citadel at No. 5, VMI (10), Western Carolina (11) and Furman (26).  The Citadel and UTC are two of only three teams set to face five top 25 squads.  The other, North Dakota, has the No. 1 overall strength of schedule with six top 25 teams on tap for 2019.
 
GRADUATED MOCS STILL PLAYING
The Mocs have nine individuals on the roster who have already earned an undergraduate degree, including five who finished theirs at UTC. See below for the full list:
 
Name (Undergrad Degree Location) - Current Degree Sought at UTC
Drayton Arnold (Old Dominion) - Master's in Public Administration
Colin Brewer (UTC) - Master's of Business Administration
Khayyan Edwards (UTC) - Post-Bac in Physical Education
Aaron Floyd (Louisville) - Master's in Secondary Education – Licensure
Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks (Albany) - Master's in Criminal Justice
Jerrell Lawson (UTC) - Master's of Business Administration
Jonathan Stovall (UTC) - Post-Bac in Physical Education
Tyrin Summers (Cincinnati) - Master's in Criminal Justice
Nick Tiano (UTC) - Master's of Business Administration