QUICK FACTS | SCHEDULE | TICKETS
 
CHATTANOOGA---The 2022 football season is fast approaching for the 12th-ranked Chattanooga Mocs. Kickoff is just 13 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 fourth in a position-by-position preview for the upcoming campaign.
 
Vol. 1: Defensive Line
Vol. 2: Offensive Line
Vol. 3: Linebackers
 
The fourth installment in this roundabout look at the 2022 roster is the quarterback room. The starter is back battling a FBS transfer and several young prospects for snaps to lead the Mocs into a promising campaign.
 
Cole Copeland started nine games a year ago and has 15 under his belt in 17 appearances over his Chattanooga career with nearly 3,000 passing yards with 14 touchdowns and 21 interceptions. Preston Hutchinson made nine starts in 22 games at Eastern Michigan throwing for 2,286 yards with 11 touchdowns and eight picks.
 
The veteran duo has support from two redshirt freshmen and one true one. Ty Gossett is in his third year at Chattanooga, while former Illinois All-State performer Parker Brown went through the spring as a transfer from Indiana Wesleyan. Luke Schomberg was added to the room this year.
 
Quick Take with Offensive Coordinator Joe Pizzo
"No.1, we have experience. This is the first time we've had this kind of experience since I've been here in this offense or that's played a lot of college football. No. 2, our younger guys are talented guys. This is really the first time I've had a quarterback room. We've got five of them in there. They all work hard and want to be good."
 
The Breakdown
Starters Returning/Lost: 1/0
Letter Winners Returning/Lost: 2/1
Redshirts Returning: 0
Newcomers (Yr.): 3 – Preston Hutchinson (Sr.), Parker Brown (Fr.) & Luke Schomberg (Fr.)
 
A View from the Other Side
Defensive back CaMiron Smith on the quarterback room:
"I think those guys are very competitive. Cole is a guy who's been here and knows the system. And he's just a football guy. And I feel like you know, practice is one thing, but he's a competitor in that game. Also Preston, he's just all-around great player. You know, haven't seen him in the game yet, but definitely a fierce competitor. You can tell he loves the game, studies the game and is getting to know the system. The other three guys, you know, they're getting it, they're learning it. But again, you know, the one thing that comes to my mind is competitiveness, they got some edge on that side, especially in the quarterback room. They're very confident. Whoever gets the starting job, you know, I'm confident in all of them."
 
Newest Addition: Luke Schomberg
The Chattanooga Mocs got one for the future in the past signing class. Huntsville native Luke Schomberg sat at the Sparkman High School signing day and penned his future with the program. He's impressed since walking on campus and competing for snaps with the staring battle between Copeland and Hutchinson and sharing those extra opportunities with Gossett and Brown. The seniors will likely take all the 2022 snaps, but Schomberg along with the duo of Gossett and Brown are the building blocks of future offenses.
 
The Final Word with Coach Rusty Wright
"They've been competing against each other. You know, it's not like one guy's head and shoulders above another, I don't think, it's just a competition that is gonna keep going, and we just have to figure out who's gonna give us the best opportunity to go win. You know, I think all of them have gotten better progressively since January, and they're still trying to figure out what each one can do to help us out to maximize their skill set to help us as the biggest thing."
 
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