CHATTANOOGA---It's been a big week for the Chattanooga Mocs. The early period for National Signing Day saw the football program add 22 to the 2024 roster. Today, we look back on 2023 again with announcements of All-America and Academic All-District squads which were overshadowed in the din of recruiting.
 
Seven is the magic number. Seven Mocs earned CSC (formerly CoSIDA) Academic All-District awards while another standout claimed his seventh career first All-America honor.
 
The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) announced their squad on Wednesday. Edge Jay Person is on the first team after another top campaign. The Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year with a career-high 9.5 sacks registering 17.0 tackles for loss totals.
 
His seven total first team honors over the last two seasons ranks tied for second in program history. The top three all come along the defensive line with a best of nine by defensive end Davis Tull '14 and matched by defensive tackle Isaiah Mack '18.
 
The seven theme rolls along with the Mocs celebrating that number on the CSC squad. The requirement is a 3.5 grade point average while being a starter or key contributor to their squad. There is also a playing component of competing in at least 90 percent of total games played starting at least two-thirds.
 
The Mocs list includes three offensive linemen, quarterback, linebacker and two specialists. It ties the program record set in 2021 that included NFL Draft First Round pick Cole Strange along with Ailym Ford, Rashun Freeman, Jerrell Lawson, Aaron Sears, CaMiron Smith and Christian Snyder.
 
This year's group:
 
Quarterback: Chase Artopoeus
Linebacker: Alex Mitchell
Specialists: P/K Clayton Crile, LS Jake Hall
Offensive Line: Jeremiah Katt, Griffin McDowell, Reid Williams
 
It's Williams second Academic All-District award. He's the 11th Moc with two or more with former defensive backs Rashun Freeman '21 and Jerrell Lawson '21 and Tull posting the record of three.
 
Keeping with the trio thinking, the offensive line triad matches and special threesome. The secondary put three on the 2021 team with Freeman, Lawson and CaMiron Smith also turning the trick.
 
Quotable
Coach Rusty Wright on All-America selections: "Each of those guys earned those honors throughout the week," Coach Rusty Wright shared. "These are guys who put in the work, day-in, day-out to be good players. I'm glad to see them recognized for their efforts for our football team."
 
Coach Rusty Wright on Academic All-District selections: "They're here to get degrees first. It's important. Those guys are good players, good students and that's why they're being recognized. That's what we strive for…to get to a point where all of them are like that, all of them have the opportunity to be those type of guys both in the classroom and on the field."
 
CSC Academic All-District
Chase Artopoeus (QB), Clayton Crile (P/K), Jake Hall (LS), Jeremiah Katt (OL), Griffin McDowell (OL), Alex Mitchell (LB) & Reid Williams (OL)
 
AP All-America
First Team
DE – Jay Person
 
Previously on GoMocs.com…
 
Stats Perform All-America | Story
First Team
DE – Jay Person
 
Third Team
DB – Kam Brown
 
AP All-America
First Team
DE – Jay Person
 
Phil Steele All-America
Second Team
DE – Jay Person
 
FCS Football Central All-America | Story
First Team
DB – Kam Brown
 
Second Team
DE – Jay Person
WR – Javin Whatley
 
Third Team
OL – Reid Williams
 
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