Chattanooga Football Game Notes
No. 2 James Madison Dukes (2-1, 0-0 CAA) at Chattanooga Mocs (1-2, 0-0 SoCon)
Finley Stadium (20,668) – Chattanooga, Tenn.
Saturday – Sept. 21, 2019 – 4:04 p.m. (E.D.T.)
Radio:  Mocs Sports Network (WFLI 1070 AM / 97.7 FM – Flagship) - Jim Reynolds (pxp), Todd Agne (color), Will Poindexter (sideline)
TV: ESPN+ – Chris Goforth (pxp), Scott McMahen (analyst)
Online: Live audio, ESPN+ & live stats links on GoMocs.com

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team returns home to host second-ranked James Madison this weekend.  Kickoff is set for 4:04 p.m. (E.D.T.) at Finley Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 21. 
 
The No. 2 Dukes are the highest ranked non-conference opponent to visit Finley Stadium since the facility opened in 1997.  The last time the Mocs hosted a non-conference for ranked this high was No. 1 Middle Tennessee's visit on Sept. 29, 1990.  UTC lost that one in a nail-biter 24-17.
 
JMU is 2-1 overall, with wins against Saint Francis (Pa.) (44-7) and Morgan State (63-12).  The Dukes' lone loss was a 20-13 setback at West Virginia.  The Mocs bring a 1-2 mark into their final non-conference game of the season.  UTC has the second-toughest schedule in the FCS, but opened the season with a 24-10 win over Eastern Illinois.  Chattanooga has dropped it last two, falling on the road to No. 17 Jacksonville State (41-20) and Tennessee (45-0). 
 
Saturday's game is sponsored by Food City.  The Tennessee Department of Forestry will also be on hand, giving away thundersticks to the first 3,000 fans in attendance.
 
This is Fall Family Weekend at UTC.  Fall Family Weekend is the ideal opportunity for families to spend time with their student, explore Chattanooga and enjoy a weekend of great events that showcase what UTC has to offer. Learn more information about Fall Family Weekend on www.UTC.edu.
 
Saturday is also Youth Sports Day. Youth teams and leagues for all sports are invited out for a fun day with the Mocs! Find out how your team can enjoy special opportunities such as being on the field pre- or postgame by contacting AJ Lewis at (423) 425-5740 or aj-lewis01@mocs.utc.edu.
 
TICKETS
Tickets for the game are available at the UTC Ticket Office by calling (423) 266-MOCS (6627) or on GoMocs.com. In addition to the regular business hours of the UTC Ticket Office (10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. - M-F) at McKenzie Arena, the First Tennessee Pavilion ticket window at Finley Stadium opens at 12:00 p.m. on game day.  All other booths open at 1:00 p.m. on game day. 
 
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.
 
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 Will Poindexter on the sideline.  A link for a free audio broadcast is available on the football schedule page on GoMocs.com.
 
ESPN3
UTC produces all home games for the ESPN family of networks.  This week's contest is carried by ESPN3, with Chris Goforth (pxp) and Scott McMahen (analyst) on the call.  
 
SEASON NO. 112
As a part of the year-long celebration of 150 years of college football, the Mocs are competing in 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 540-534-35 (.503) and have won 13 conference titles.
 
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 14 first-time starters in the first two games, including Ty Boeck (So.-LB), Kameron Brown (Fr.-DB), McClendon Curtis (So.-OL), Ailym Ford (Fr.-RB), Chris James (Sr.-TE), Kam Jones (So.-LB), Telvin Jones (Sr.-DL), Kanore McKinnon (Jr.-WR), Kyle Miskelley (Jr.-OL), Kayne Roberts (So.-LB), Lameric Tucker (Fr.-WR), Cameron Turner (Sr.-DB), Juwan Tyus (So.-WR), 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 three games.
• 293.3 yards of total offense is No. 9 in the SoCon and No. 92 in the FCS. 
• 6th/64th in rushing offense (133.7).
• Seventh in the SoCon and No. 92 in the FCS in passing offense (159.7). 
• Eighth in the SoCon and No. 95 in the FCS in scoring offense (14.7).
• 20/48 (41.7%) on third down ... 6th in the SoCon and 36th 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 is fifth in the SoCon with 5.0 receptions per game and is fifth in the league with 64.7 receiving yards per game. 
• True freshman Ailym Ford leads the Mocs with 72.7 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.
• Sixth in the SoCon and No. 63 in the FCS in scoring defense (32.0).
• No. 4 in the SoCon and No. 56 in the FCS in rushing defense (163.3).
• No. 7 in the SoCon and No. 74 in the FCS in passing yards allowed (249.7).
• No. 5 in the SoCon and No. 58 in the FCS in total defense (413.0).
• Second in the SoCon and No. 18 in the FCS is red zone defense (9/12 - 75.0%). 
• 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 ... seventh in the SoCon with 23 total tackles in three games.
• Sophomore DL Devonnsha Maxwell is tied for eighth the SoCon with 2.5 TFLs.
 
Special Teams
• Victor Ulmo is on the 2019 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 fourth in the SoCon 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 JAMES MADISON GAME
• This is the first meeting with the Dukes.  The Mocs close out the two-game series at JMU on Sept. 12, 2020.
• The Mocs are 8-8 all-time against teams currently in the Colonial Athletic Association, including games against Elon (5-6), New Hampshire (0-1), Richmond (2-0) and William & Mary (1-1).
• The last time the Mocs faced a team from the CAA was a 35-30 loss at No. 1 New Hampshire on Dec. 12, 2014 in the quarterfinals of the FCS Playoffs. 
 
UTC-JAMES MADISON CONNECTIONS
• We are closing in on the 15th anniversary of James Madison's 2004 FCS National Championship.  The Dukes defeated Montana (31-21) at Finley Stadium on Dec. 17, 2004. 
• JMU offensive coordinator Shane Montgomery was an assistant coach for the Mocs from 1993-00.  He coached quarterbacks and receivers on the staffs of Tommy West, Buddy Green and Donnie Kirkpatrick. Montgomery was head coach at Miami (Ohio) from 2005-08 and had UTC head coach Rusty Wright on his staff.
• UTC OL coach Chris Malone was the offensive line coach and run game coordinator at JMU from 2006-12. 
• UTC Director of Athletics Mark Wharton was the Director of the JMU Duke Club from 2000-03.
• UTC Assistant AD for Marketing Taylor Dewey is a JMU graduate and previous served as the Duke's Director of Marketing.  
 
SCOUTING JAMES MADISON
• James Madison head coach Curt Cignetti is in his first year with the Dukes.  A 36-year coaching veteran, he was previously the head coach at Elon, where he was 14-9 in two seasons.  Prior to that, he spent six seasons at Indiana University of Pennsylvania where he was 53-17. He was an original member of Nick Saban's first coaching staff at Alabama, filling the role of recruiting coordinator and wide receivers coach for 2007 through 2010.  He also had a seven-year stint at Pittsburgh (1993-99) under Johnny Majors. 
• JMU was picked to win the CAA with 20 of 24 first place votes in the preseason poll.
• Eight Dukes made the preseason All-CAA team, including JMU's redshirt senior cornerback Rashad Robinson (#1), redshirt senior defensive lineman Ron'Dell Carter (#5), redshirt senior linebacker Dimitri Holloway (#2), senior safety Adam Smith (#21), redshirt junior punt returner D'Angelo Amos (#24), junior offensive lineman Liam Fornadel (#77), senior offensive lineman Mac Patrick (#73) and senior defensive lineman John Daka (#7).
• Robinson, Amos, Fornadel and Carter were named to the STATS FCS Preseason All-America Team.
• Redshirt senior cornerback Rashad Robinson (#1) is on the Buck Buchanan Award Watch list ... currently has eight tackles with a sack and three PBUs. 
• Junior P Harry O'Kelly is on the FCS Punter of the Year Watch list ... averaging 41.5 yards on 10 kicks.
• No. 5 in the FCS in rushing defense ... 64.0 yards allowed per game.
• No. 6 in the FCS in scoring defense ... 13.0 ppg allowed.
• No. 7 in the FCS in total defense ... 268.7 yards allowed per game.
• No. 21 in the FCS in rushing offense ... 225.3 yards per game.
• No. 14 in the FCS in scoring offense ... 40.0 points per game.
• No. 18 in the FCS in total offense ... 456.0 yards per game.
• QB Ben DiNucci is No. 3 in the FCS in completion percentage (73.4%) ... 47-64 for 617 yards, one INT and six TDs ... No. 3 in the FCS in passing efficiency (182.2).
 
MOCS AT HOME VS. TOP-RANKED TEAMS
• The No. 2 Dukes are the highest ranked non-conference opponent to take on the Mocs in Finley Stadium.
• JMU brings the highest non-conference ranking to the Scenic City since No. 1 MTSU visited Chamberlain Field on Sept. 29, 1990.  Chattanooga lost that one in a nail-biter 24-17.
• The previous highest ranked non-conference opponent to take the field against UTC at Finley Stadium was No. 7 Jacksonville State on Sept. 5, 2015.  The Mocs lost that one 23-20 when JSU scored with just under three minutes left in the game.
• UTC's lone win over a top-25 non-conference opponent at Finley Stadium was a 38-17 victory against the Gamecocks on Sept. 20, 2011.
• The last time UTC scored a home win against a team ranked either No. 1 or No. 2 in the nation was the Terrell Owens four touchdown game against top-ranked Marshall on Oct. 2, 1993.  UTC won that Southern Conference showdown 33-31 on Chamberlain Field.  UTC head coach Rusty Wright  caught a 27-yard pass in that game. 
 
Mocs vs. Ranked Non-Conference Regular Season Opponents (3-3)
At Finley Stadium (1-2)
No. 2 James Madison – Sept. 21, 2019
No.7 Jacksonville State – Sept. 5, 2015 – L, 20-23
No. 9 Jacksonville State – Sept. 4, 2014 – L, 23-26 (OT)
No. 10 Jacksonville State – Sept. 10, 2011 – W, 38-17
 
At Chamberlain Field (2-1)
No. 1 MTSU – Sept. 29, 1990 – L, 17-24
No. 17 Western Kentucky – Oct. 7, 1989 – W, 19-7
No. 3 Eastern Kentucky – Sept. 12, 1987 – W, 10-0
 
Mocs vs. Top 10 SoCon Opponents at Home (4-16)
At Finley Stadium (1-12)
No. 6 Wofford – Oct. 6, 2018 – L, 10-21
No. 2 Georgia Southern – Oct. 27, 2012 – L, 31-39 (OT)
No. 3 Appalachian State – Sept. 4, 2010 – L, 41-42
No. 2 Appalachian State – Nov. 8, 2008 – L, 7-49
No. 3 Elon – Oct. 18, 2008 – L, 7-42
No. 2 Appalachian State – Oct. 7, 2006 – L, 21-56
No. 4 Furman – Nov. 19, 2005 – L, 35-56
No. 3 Georgia Southern – Sept. 25, 2004 – L, 20-65
No. 4 Furman – Nov. 17, 2001 – L, 10-42
No. 6 Appalachian State – Oct. 28, 2000 - W, 30-27
No. 9 Furman – Nov. 20, 1999 – L, 35-4
No. 4 Appalachian State – Oct. 31, 1998 – L, 7-28
No. 3 Georgia Southern – Sept. 25, 1998 – L, 25-42
 
At Chamberlain Field (3-4)
No. 3 Marshall – Sept. 30, 1995 – L, 32-35
No. 1 Marshall – Oct. 2, 1993 – W, 33-31 – Terrell Owens Four TD game
No. 1 Furman – Sept. 15, 1990 – L, 21-38 – Mocs were No. 12
No. 5 Marshall – Sept. 23, 1989 – W, 14-0
No. 10 Furman – Nov. 5, 1988 – L, 7-10
No. 1 Georgia Southern – Sept. 13, 1988 – L, 3-13
No. 1 Furman – Sept. 29, 1984 – W, 21-14 – Mocs were No. 20
 
GAME NOTES AT TENNESSEE
• The Mocs dropped a 45-0 game at Tennessee on Sept. 7 … UTC fell to 1-2 overall, while the Vols improved to 1-2.
• UTC is 2-37-2 in the all-time series against Tennessee.
• The Mocs are shut out in a game for the first time since a 49-0 loss at No. 1 Alabama on Nov. 23, 2013.
• Mocs gave up a blocked punt for a touchdown in the first quarter … first blocked punt allowed since last year's Citadel game (9/8/18) … first one returned for a score since The Citadel's Rod Harland (40-yards) in a 28-27 Bulldgo win (10/11/11) … Mocs had a FG and PAT blocked at South Carolina last season.
• Five turnovers (4 INT, 1 FUM) for the Mocs are the most since the same number (3 INT, 2 FUM) in a 68-7 loss at ETSU on Nov. 15, 2003.
• Mocs total 227 yards of offense … 151 rushing and 76 passing … fewest passing yards since 38 in a 26-23 (OT) loss to Jacksonville State on Sept. 6, 2014.
• The offensive line has not allowed a sack in the first three games of the season. 
• Drayton Arnold – Jr.-QB - Entered the game in the third quarter ... first QB to take a snap for the Mocs other than Nick Tiano since Cole Copeland in the final game (ETSU) of the 2017 season ... 5-10 for 36 yards and two INTs.
• Gabe Boring – So.-K/P - Punted for the first time ... 46.5 average on two punts ... long of 50 yards.
• Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks – Sr.-RB - 37-yard carry in the first quarter ... came into the game with three rushing yards on four carries ... 15 yards shy of becoming the first Mocs rusher to top the century mark against an SEC opponent since Bryan Fitzgerald's 123 (14 carries) at Arkansas on Oct. 6, 2007. It's happened six times in school history against SEC opposition.
• Chris James – Sr.-TE - Started his first game at TE ... was backup QB last season and the beginning of fall camp ... team-high two catches for 18 yards.  
• Jordan Jones – Jr.-DB - Tied for game-high with two PBUs ... tied a career-high ... added four tackles.
• Jerrell Lawson – Jr.-DB - Season-high five tackles, including a TFL.
• Andrew Manning – Fr.-WR - First career reception … nine yards.
• Jay Person – Fr.-LB - Career-high and game-high eight tackles ... five solo ... came into the game with five for the season.
• Nick Tiano – Sr.-QB - 4-16 passing for 40 yards ... ran twice for 15 yards ... 13-yard rush for a first down in the first quarter … longest run of the season ... ninth Moc to top 4,000 passing yards for a career (4,026) ... 355-607 (.585) for his career … passes Steve Woods (1978-81) for ninth all-time in passing attempts.
 
NO SACKS LAST THREE GAMES
The Mocs have not allowed a sack in any of the first three games of the 2019 season.  It is the second time in the last two years UTC has had a run of three games without a sack.  The last time it happened four games in a row was late in the 2009 season.  UTC did not allow sacks against Western Carolina (Oct. 31), at No. 8 Appalachian State (Nov. 7), The Citadel (No. 14) and at No. 2 Alabama (Nov. 21) that season. 
 
This continues a 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 much better from 2017 when they were last in the SoCon and 109th in the FCS, allowing over three per game.
 
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 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.  He also had a return of 27 yards at Tennessee negated by a penalty.  So far this season, Dowdell is averaging 19.3 yards on three returns. 
 
TUCKER WITH BIG PLAYS
Freshman Lameric Tucker has five catches for 111 yards in the first three games.  His 22.2 yards per catch average would rank in the top 20 in the FCS if he had enough receptions to qualify.  He caught a 39-yarder against EIU and a 36-yarder against Jacksonville State.
 
FORD RECOGNIZED AMONG TOP FRESHMEN
True freshman Ailym Ford was in the Honorable Mention listings for National Freshman of the Week by STATS following the Jacksonville State game.  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 fifth in the SoCon with 72.7 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.
 
IBITOKUN-HANKS BIG GAME AT TENNESSEE
Senior transfer Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks had a big game at Tennessee last week with 15 carries for 85 yards. He was 15 yards shy of becoming the first Mocs rusher to top the century mark against an SEC team since Bryan Fitzgerald's 123 (14 carries) at Arkansas on Oct. 6, 2007. It's happened six times in school history against SEC opposition.  He is now second on the team with 88 rushing yards on 19 carries in three games. 
 
IBITOKUN-HANKS VS. JAMES MADISON
Senior Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks spent four years at CAA-member Albany, but only played against the Dukes once in his career.  He had 12 carries for 75 yards and a score as a true freshman on Sept. 19, 2015.  Albany lost to No. 12 JMU 42-28 in that contest. 
 
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.
 
ULMO ON MITCHELL AWARD WATCH LIST
Junior kicker Victor Ulmo is on the Fred Mitchell Award Watch List for the second year in a row.  The Mitchell Award recognizes 31 place-kickers for their excellence on the football field for the 2019 season and for continued community service during their off-season. The Mitchell Award goes to the top place-kicker among FCS, NCAA Division II, Division II, NAIA and NJCAA programs from across the nation.  The full list includes representatives from 10 FCS schools, nine NCAA Division II, nine Division III, two NAIA, and one NJCAA.  Ulmo is currently 25-35 (71.4%) for his career, fifth all-time at UTC.  He is 3-4 on field goals this season with a long of 37 yards.  For his career, Ulmo is 23-27 (85.2%) from inside 40 yards.
 
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 SoCon 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 against EIU.  He threw one touchdown and had two interceptions.  With 19 games at UTC under his belt, he is climbing the following lists in UTC's record book:
• 355-607 (.594) career passing.
• 4,026 career passing yards is ninth all-time at UTC ... needs 108 to pass Tim Couch (1984-86) 8th.
• ninth in career attempts ... needs 55 to pass Tim Couch (1984-86) for eighth.
• Eighth in career completions ... needs 31 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.
• 4,427 yards of total offense is ninth all-time at UTC ... needs 290 yards to pass Antonio Miller (2004-07) for eighth.
• 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.
 

	CAREER PASSING YARDS
1.	Jacob Huesman (2012-15)	8,197
2.	Chris Sanders (1999-00)	7,230
3.	B.J. Coleman (2009-11)	6,871
4.	Kenyon Earl (1991-94)	6,400
5.	Brian Hampton (1995-98)	6,200
6.	Mickey Brokas (1970-73)	5,869
7.	Steve Woods (1978-81)	5,026
8.	Tim Couch (1984-86)	4,133
9.	Nick Tiano (2017-Present)	4,026
	CAREER TOTAL OFFENSE
1.	Jacob Huesman (2012-15)	12,248
2.	Chris Sanders (1999-00)	7,247
3.	Kenyon Earl (1991-94)	7,097
4.	Mickey Brokas (1970-73)	5,535
5.	B.J. Coleman (2009-11)	6,791
6.	Brian Hampton (1995-98)	5,999
7.	Steve Woods (1978-81)	5,228
8.	Antonio Miller (2004-07)	4,717
9	Nick Tiano (2017-Present)	4,427

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 UP TO 46
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.
 
REYNOLDS AMONG THE LONGEST TENURED PXP IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL
The "Voice of the Mocs" Jim Reynolds is in his 40th season calling UTC football and basketball games.  Below is a list of the longest tenured in Division I football: 
1. 51 - Bill Hillgrove, Pittsburgh
2. 47 – Don Fischer, Indiana
    47 – Tommy Suggs, South Carolina
4. 46 - Art Challis, Southern Utah
    46 - Dave Nitz, LA Tech
    46 - Joe Starkey, California
7. 42 - John Cox, Southern Miss
    42 – George Blaha, Michigan State
9. 41 - Mike Reis, Southern Illinois
    41 - Gene Deckerhoff, Florida State
    41 - Johnny Holliday, Maryland
12. 40 - Jim Reynolds, Chattanooga
      40 - Bill Baker, Northern Illinois
      40 – Jack Nixon, New Mexico State
 
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.
 
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.

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 ON NFL ROSTERS
With the close of trainging camp, there were six Mocs 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.
 
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