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CHATTANOOGA---The 2022 football season is fast approaching for the 12th-ranked Chattanooga Mocs. Kickoff is just 17 days away at the time of this publication. Tickets are available at the link above with more information later to see the preseason Southern Conference favorites.
This is the second in a position-by-position preview for upcoming campaign.
Vol. 1:
Defensive Line
Round two features the guys who make the offense go. You can't run it, pass it or control a game without a strong group up front. Everything the Mocs look forward to doing offensively hinges on the work of this unit specifically.
Two of five starters return in senior
McClendon Curtis and junior
Colin Truett. The duo has spent the last few years side-by-side at right guard and tackle, respectively. That partnership could fade away depending on how the rest of the line shakes out.
There are three guys pushing hard for time at center/guard who could shift someone to tackle except for the two in an early battle on the left side there. The aforementioned trio all have starting experience beginning with sophomore
Reid Williams.
Williams held the center job for three games in spring 2021 and acquitted himself well filling in for an injured
Kyle Miskelley. Miskelley and
Blake Mitchell made a majority of the snaps in 2021, but Williams finds himself in good position to snap or take over at left guard in the absence of NFL First Round Draft pick
Cole Strange.
Junior
Nick Cerimele started at center at Elon before his transfer this summer.
Malone VanGorder made 12 starts at FBS Bowling Green as a freshman last season. Those two and Williams will vie for center and guard snaps with all three possibly moving Curtis to tackle. However…
Senior
Lucas Lavin and sophomore
Dave Monnot III are working at tackle as well transferring from Northern Colorado and Purdue, respectively. Both have shown the ability to perform at this level which means there are a lot of bodies for five spots.
That's not even counting returners like
Jeremiah Katt,
Cameron Cilurzo,
Haze Solomon and
Cameron Perry. Transfers
Luke Lane (Indiana),
Bryce Goodner (Virginia Tech) and
JD Broussard (Austin Peay) are in the mix along with freshmen
Adorian Favors,
Jacob Klein,
Will Collier,
Cooper Rumfelt and
Cameron Thomason.
It's still early in camp so with three positions open, the competition is fierce. Everyone has a chance to make an impression and vie for time.
Quick Take with Offensive Coordinator Joe Pizzo
"(In our scheme) Everything starts with the offensive line. We're a run-first team. Those guys get the run game going which opens up the passing game. They're the heart and soul of the offense."
The Breakdown
Starters Returning/Lost: 2/3
Letter Winners Returning/Lost: 4/6
Redshirts Returning: 3 (
Cameron Cilurzo,
Cameron Perry &
Haze Solomon)
Newcomers (Yr.): 12 –
Luke Lane (So.-Indiana),
Malone VanGorder (So.-Bowling Green),
Nick Cerimele (Jr.-Elon),
Adorian Favors (Fr.),
Bryce Goodner (Fr.-Virginia Tech),
Lucas Lavin (Sr.-Northern Colorado),
Jacob Klein (Fr.),
Will Collier (Fr.),
Cooper Rumfelt (Fr.),
JD Broussard (Fr.-Austin Peay),
Cameron Thomason (Fr.) & Dave Monnott III (So.-Purdue)
Six Years: McClendon Curtis
McClendon Curtis is one of two Mocs in their sixth year in the program. He and defensive tackle
Devonnsha Maxwell are looking to use the COVID eligibility exception in the same manner
Cole Strange did a year. That's building a resume from solid NFL prospect to spectacular. "Big Curt" is nearly a unanimous preseason first team All-American and is under the watchful eye of NFL evaluators.
A View from the Other Side
Defensive line coach Anthony Shakir who has the unique perspective of game-planning against the Mocs o-line at ETSU in 2021 and seeing them up close and personal in 2022:
"The first thing you notice is they're well coached and work in unison so well together. They make you beat them with great technique. You have to be on point with your hand placement, your keys & be in the right spot. What stood out the most to me is how they finish and play to the whistle every snap."
Under the Radar: Reid Williams
Reid is in his third year at Chattanooga. He started a few games during the COVID spring slate in 2021 and was a reserve in fall 2021. Now a sophomore, he looks ready to take a regular role in the Mocs fortunes up front. The question is where? He can slot in at center or either guard giving Coaches Pizzo and
Kevin Revis lots of possibilities when figuring out what combination best leads the offense in 2022.
The Final Word with Offensive Line Coach Kevin Revis
"We added a lot, but I didn't worry about the culture of the room because of who we had back. The unbelievable character and leadership of the guys we have back, who are bought into the program, gets the new guys on the same page. They're starting to gel, and we need to continue to come together over the next couple of weeks. There's no replacement for game experience, but I think we have a good mix in the room."
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