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CHATTANOOGA---The 2022 football season is fast approaching for the 12th-ranked Chattanooga Mocs. Kickoff is just 11 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 fifth in a position-by-position preview for the upcoming campaign.
 
Vol. 1: Defensive Line
Vol. 2: Offensive Line
Vol. 3: Linebackers
Vol. 4: Quarterbacks
 
No. 5 in this roundabout look at the 2022 roster is the secondary. One starter returns, however, there is a lot of experience back as well as exciting youth. While that may sound like a contradiction, there a lot of snaps played by the group with the four spots without a returning starter bringing back the No. 2 in the 2-deep at the position.
 
CaMiron Smith is the returning starter at cornerback. He has 23 starts in 37 appearances as one of the most tenured players for the Mocs with 16 passes defensed and three interceptions.
 
His opposite number Kam Brown has three openings in 27 total games played. Brown has impressed in fall camp in an effort to replace the graduated Jordan Jones. They're joined in the slot right now by Reuben Lowery who impressed in that role in reserve of Rashun Freeman in 2021 (spring & fall), but he also has the ability to have an impact at safety. Lowery, a sophomore, has played all 16 games since arriving in January 2020 with his first spring practices just a few months ago.
 
Other slot/safety versatile options are redshirts Romeo Wykle and Josh Battle. Wykle transferred a year ago with starting experience at Lafayette in the Patriot League. He is a junior, while Battle made a strong impression sitting out as a freshman in 2021.
 
Junior transfers Hunter Green (Virginia Tech) and Cardavion Myers (Western Kentucky) are pushing on the edges along with J.D. Harris. Redshirt freshmen Demetrius Coleman and Josh Jones are also in the mix.
 
At safety, the loss of Brandon Dowdell and Jerrell Lawson, who had a 5-year partnership as the last line of defense, is the major question mark for the defense. It's not a nervous question as much as a who's next kind of feel.
 
Seniors Telly Plummer and Zay Brown were the key reserves a year ago with redshirt freshmen Battle and Jordan Walker seeing time as well. Walker already has nine games of experience due to COVID exception playing in all five in 2020-21 and the requisite four a season ago to maintain redshirt freshman status.
 
That trio is getting pushed by two high-major transfers. Kenneth Dicks III (Wake Forest) and Jaylen Rivers (Northwestern) came in this summer with an eye on an immediate impact. Those five together have kept Lowery and Battle focused on the slot.
 
Two late additions came in the form of local product Talijah Witt (Brainerd) and west Tennessee's Meshach Jones (Dyersberg).
 
Quick Take with Secondary Coach Jordan Tippit
"What I like about this group is its versatility. Where we may not have strength in numbers, we make up for in the versatility in guys who can play all three safety positions or move from nickel corner to outside and along the back. The talent is there as well."
 
The Breakdown
Starters Returning/Lost: 1/4
Letter Winners Returning/Lost: 6/5
Redshirts Returning: 6 – Romeo Wylke (Jr.), Josh Jones (Fr.), Demetrius Coleman (Fr.) Nasir Howell (Fr.), Josh Battle (Fr.), Jordan Walker (Fr.)
Newcomers (Yr.): 6 – Cardavion Myers (Jr.), Jaylen Rivers (Jr.), Kenneth Dicks III (Jr.), Hunter Green (Jr.), Talijah Witt (Fr.), Meshach Jones (Fr.)
 
A View from the Other Side
Wide receiver Jamoi Mayes on the challenge of going against this secondary room:
"It's their physicality. They're also always in the right spots."
 
Eye Opening: Kam Brown
As mentioned above, Kam Brown has had a stellar camp to date. He's been a menace to say the least with multiple interceptions and pass breakups. He and incumbent starter CaMiron Smith are working hard to hold off competition on the edge. Brown has done it with the customary swagger of a confident corner. His ability to maintain that level of play is crucial to the Mocs hopes this fall.
 
The Final Word with Defensive Coordinator Lorenzo Ward
"We're still a work in progress, but I see them getting better. We've moved a lot of people around to make sure we have everyone in the right positions. We have a lot of talent, but we lost a lot of experience. Overall, we have may have more talent this year, (smiling) but experience goes a long way."
 
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