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CHATTANOOGA---The 18th-ranked Chattanooga Mocs continue fall camp in preparation for the 2021 campaign. GoMocs.com moves to the final installment in its 9-point season preview series. Could we be saving the best for last? Time to talk about the running back room.
 
Starters Returning (1): Ailym Ford
Starters Lost (0): N/A
Returnees with career starts (2): Tyrell Price, Lance Jackson
 
The Chattanooga running backs room has the ability to live up to the Scenic City's famous landmark. That Choo Choo engine oozes the potential to be the driving force for the 2021 offense. Of course, that's in concert with the first mention in this preview series, the offensive line.
 
"We have a very experienced o-line," sophomore Ailym Ford explained in that initial piece. "I feel like they are the foundation of the team, the offense…they set the tone. The running backs are the guys that follow the offensive line, so essentially they're the leaders."
 
There's a lot of truth to that position. It also spotlights Ford's humble nature. However, the deep, talented running group needs to take advantage of what the line provides. It's a group with a history of doing just that. Ford is joined by Tyrell Price, Gino Appleberry and Lance Jackson as a core that have all had solid-to-great performances in the backfield. The trio of Reggie Davis, D'Ante Tidwell and Bradley Goodwin add to the competition that makes this crew special.
 
'We keep each other motivated, we keep each other up," added Price. "It's just the work ethic we bring to the table setting the tone for the whole group. It sets the standard for the speed and physicality from practice into games."
 
That's been noticed on the sidelines as well whether it's the mentions below from offensive line and linebackers, but the coach charged with their development notes what makes them most impactful.
 
"First thing, when we're evaluating the running backs, it's how hard they play," running backs coach Ricky Spradling shared. We want to be the hardest playing group in the country so right off the bat, we want to lead with effort.
 
"I tell them, we can help with technique, where their eyes are…all that stuff, I can help them with. But it's their natural, God-given talent that takes over in games. We pride ourselves on playing hard which this group does really well."
 
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
"That's one room we've got depth in, and it's a good room. Each one of those guys bring a different dynamic to the game. It allows us to do a lot of different things with those guys in our offense." – Head Coach Rusty Wright
 
"One thing about our running back room. They all run hard, work hard and I believe they have their own culture being some of the toughest guys on our team." – Junior OL McClendon Curtis
 
"It's clear, the amount of depth is phenomenal. They are all extremely talented. Going against that kind of talent every day just makes us (linebackers) better and prepares us for what's to come." – LB Christian Snyder
 
NOTES

• Three in the room – Ailym Ford, Tyrell Price & Lance Jackson – have 100-yard games for the Mocs in the last two seasons.
• Ford burst on the scene with a 1,000-yard campaign in 2019. His career average in 11 games to date? 106.6 yards per contest.
• Gino Appleberry proved to be an asset in the backfield during the 2020-21 odyssey. He was second to Price in yards with 194 averaging 4.1 yards per carry with two scores.

 
GoMocs.com continues its annual position-by-position preview Sunday with the running backs. The preview series starts with an article on the home of all things Mocs, GoMocs.com, followed throughout the day on various social media channels @GoMocsFB.
 
The schedule:
 

Date	Position Group
8/11	Offensive Line
8/13	Defensive Line
8/16	Quarterback
8/18	Linebackers
8/20	Wide Receivers
8/23	Secondary
8/25	Tight Ends
8/27	Specialists
8/29	Running Backs

 
 
Season tickets are available by calling (423) 266-MOCS (6627) or online here at GoMocs.com. Fans also can go through the GoMocs app available on Android and Apple IOS devices in their respective app stores. Home games await hosting the Governors, Western Carolina, ETSU, Furman and The Citadel.
 
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