QUICK FACTS | SCHEDULE | TICKETS
 
CHATTANOOGA---The 2022 football season is fast approaching for the 12th-ranked Chattanooga Mocs. Kickoff is just 15 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 third in a position-by-position preview for upcoming campaign.
 
Vol. 1: Defensive Line
Vol. 2: Offensive Line
 
No. 3 in our journey around fall camp is the linebacker position. Both starters return as well as a key reserve. The frontline and depth in this room is impressive to say the least.
 

• 1 Preseason All-America (Ty Boeck)
• 2 Preseason All-SoCon (Boeck & Kam Jones)

 
Yep, both starters are drawing preseason honors regionally and nationwide. The senior duo of Boeck & Jones is known, but sophomore Bo Spearman is ready to make his name as well. It harkens back to the 2015 season where established performers Nakevion Leslie and A.J. Hampton were all-conference performers ahead of a potentially dynamic reserve. But we'll save that for later.
 
That's not the only depth in this unit. True freshman Alex Mitchell has flashed throughout camp. Sophomore Alec Boruff has noticeably strengthened in the offseason since his move "up a level" from the DB room last year. True freshman Kendall Jackson is an athletic add, and there's a lot to like about freshman walk on Connor Delashmitt.
 
Quick Take with Defensive Coordinator Lorenzo Ward
"It all starts at linebacker in our defense. Yes, we're good upfront, but the linebackers set the defense. If you have two experienced guys like we do, who you have shown the ability to do that job and impact the game; it gives you a lot of confidence in calling the game as a coordinator."
 
The Breakdown
Starters Returning/Lost: 2/0
Letter Winners Returning/Lost: 4/2
Redshirts Returning: 0
Newcomers (Yr.): 3 – Kendall Jackson (Fr.), Alex Mitchell (Fr.) & Connor Delashmitt (Fr.)
 
Second Generation
Ty Boeck gets his defensive impact honestly. His father Troy Boeck was an outstanding defensive lineman "back in the day" for the Mocs. The younger version is one of the top linebackers in the FCS, the older model has a lot to say about who is the most impactful defender in the family tree.
 
Troy was voted Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year by the league's coaches in 1990. He took first team AP All-America honors with second team notice from the Sports Network (current Stats Perform award). That resume is buoyed back back-to-back first team All-SoCon campaigns (1989-90).
 
Ty will try to match the first team double in 2022 but also boasts two second team honors in 2019 and 2020-21. He's also aiming to snap the program's All-America drought at LB with Leslie being the last in 2016.
 
A View from the Other Side
Tight ends Jay Gibson on the impact of the linebacking corps he battles every day in practice:
"Kam and Ty have obviously played a lot of football here. They're both really talented. Ty's very quick laterally and he's one of the strongest players on our team one of the best linebackers in the conference. You know same with Kam he's a big dude, real athletic, strong. And they fight to the whistle which is makes it difficult to stay on blocks and stuff like that. But overall, very talented."
 
Next: Bo Spearman
As promised above, Bo Spearman reminds the learned observer of Mocs football over the last 15 or so years of a specific Moc…Dale Warren.
 
Warren developed behind Leslie and Hampton before a breakout junior year in 2016 that saw him tie the school record for tackles for loss (19.0). He's played in the CFL and USFL as he continues his dream of suiting up on fall and winter Sundays. It's high praise indeed, but Spearman has many of the same explosive qualities Warren displayed as a reserve before his opportunity came. Warren teased those expectations with exceptional special teams play in 2014 and '15, so look for Spearman similarly between snaps in the base D.
 
The Final Word with Linebackers Coach Mike Yeager
"We're fortunate to have two inside linebackers who have played a lot of football for us. We have high expectations for them, but they both have even higher expectations for themselves. They're always going to fit the run correctly, clear their blocks, make the play and do what they need to do in the pass game as well. They're also great role models for a promising group coming behind them."
 
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