SCHEDULE | TICKETS

GREENVILLE, S.C.---The Southern Conference announced its preseason polls and teams Thursday afternoon during media day festivities at the Harkness Hotel. Senior edge Jay Person led the eight Chattanooga Mocs honored as the prognostications flowed.
 
Person was picked by the league's coaches to retain his SoCon Defensive Player of the Year Award. He is one of five Mocs among the first team All-SoCon preseason picks and one of eight overall.
 
First Team Offense: RB Ailym Ford, OL Reid Williams
First Team Defense: DL Ben Brewton, DL Jay Person, DB Kam Brown
Second Team Offense: OL Bryce Goodner
Second Team Defense: DL Marlon Taylor, DB Reuben Lowery III
 
The Mocs are picked to finish fourth by both the coaches and media.
 
"We are going to play our schedule and see where we end up," Coach Rusty Wright said quite matter-of-factly. "We have an opportunity to have a good football team this year, and we have to go find a way to win each week for that to happen."
 
The full polls and teams:
 
2023 Preseason Southern Conference Coaches Poll
Team (1st-place votes): Total
T1. Furman (5): 59
T1. Samford (4): 59
3. Mercer: 49
4. Chattanooga: 47
5. Western Carolina: 35
6. ETSU: 29
7. Wofford: 22
8. The Citadel: 14
9. VMI: 10
 
2023 Preseason All-Southern Conference Football Teams
Offensive Player of the Year: Michael Hiers, Sr., QB, Samford
Defensive Player of the Year: Jay Person, Sr., DL, Chattanooga
 
First team offense
QB       Michael Hiers, Sr., Samford
RB        Dominic Roberto, R-Sr., Furman
RB        Ailym Ford, Sr., Chattanooga
OL        Jacob Johanning, R-Sr., Furman
OL        Pearson Toomey, R-Sr., Furman
OL        John Thomas, Sr., Mercer
OL        Jabari Brooks, Jr., Samford
OL        Reid Williams, Jr., Chattanooga
OL        Tyler Smith, R-Sr., Western Carolina
TE        Ajay Belanger, Sr., Western Carolina
WR       Devron Harper, Sr., Mercer
WR       Ty James, R-Jr., Mercer
WR       Chandler Smith, Sr., Samford
 
First team defense
DL        Solomon Zubairu, Sr., Mercer
DL        Joseph Mera, Sr., Samford
DL        Ben Brewton, Sr., Chattanooga
DL        Jay Person, Sr., Chattanooga
DL        Micah Nelson, Jr., Western Carolina
LB        Braden Gilby, Gr., Furman
LB        Isaac Dowling, Jr., Mercer
LB        Noah Martin, Jr., Samford
DB       Travis Blackshear, Gr., Furman
DB       Hugh Ryan, R-Sr., Furman
DB       Kourtlan Marsh, Jr., Samford
DB        Kameron Brown, Sr., Chattanooga
DB       Alex Oliver, Sr., VMI
DB       Andreas Keaton, Jr., Western Carolina
 
First team specialists
PK        Richard McCollum, R-Sr., Western Carolina
P          Jack Culbreath, Sr., VMI
LS        Julian Ashby, R-Jr., Furman
RS        Devron Harper, Sr., Mercer
 
Second team offense
QB       Tyler Huff, Gr., Furman
RB        Jay Stanton, Sr., Samford
RB        Desmond Reid, So., Western Carolina
OL        Israel Mukwiza, R-Jr., Mercer
OL        Bryce Goodner, R-So., Chattanooga
OL        Tyriq Poindexter, R-So., VMI
OL        Christian Coulter, Sr., Western Carolina
OL        Jason Swann, Sr., Wofford
TE        Noah West, R-Jr., ETSU
WR       Will Huzzie, R-Sr., ETSU
WR       Joshua Harris, Jr., Furman
 
Second team defense
DL        Max Evans, R-Jr., ETSU
DL        Jack Barton, R-Sr., Furman
DL        Sirod Cook, Gr., Furman
DL        Matt Sochovka, Gr., Furman
DL        Savio Frazier, Jr., Mercer
DL        Marlon Taylor, R-Jr., Chattanooga
DL        Chuck Smith, Sr., Wofford
LB        Ken Standley, R-Jr., Mercer
LB        Evan Eller, Sr., VMI
LB        Antoine Williams, R-Jr., Western Carolina
DB       Sheldon Arnold II, Jr., ETSU
DB       Kam Brinson, R-Sr., Furman
DB       Richie Coffey, Sr., Mercer
DB       Myles Redding, Jr., Mercer
DB       Lance Wise, Sr., Mercer
DB        Reuben Lowery III, Jr., Chattanooga
 
Second team specialists
PK        Ian Williams, R-Jr., Furman
P          Trace Kelley, R-So., ETSU
LS        Ryan Phillips, So., ETSU
RS        Wayne Anderson Jr., R-Sr., Furman
NOTE: Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players or team.
 
2023 Preseason Southern Conference Media Poll
Team (1st-place votes): Total
1. Furman (30): 345
2. Samford (8): 316
3. Mercer (2): 263
4. Chattanooga: 250
5. Western Carolina: 218
6. ETSU: 143
7. The Citadel: 103
8. Wofford: 102
9. VMI: 60
 
GoMocs.com Position-By-Position Preview Series
July 25 – Offensive Line
July 27 – SoCon Media Day
August 1 – Defensive Line
August 3 – Defensive Backs
August 8 – Quarterbacks
August 10 – Wide Receivers
August 15 – Linebackers
August 17 – Tight Ends
August 22 – Special Teams
August 24 – Running Backs
 
WATCH LISTS
Shrine Bowl 1000: Edge Jay Person and Offensive Lineman Griffin McDowell
Allstate AFCA Good Works Team: Defensive Back Reuben Lowery III
 
PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA TEAMS
Athlon – Jay Person
Bluebloods – Jay Person, Kam Brown
HERO Sports – Kam Brown
 
SEASON TICKETS ARE ON SALE
The Mocs 2023 schedule is linked above. Five homes games are included with visits from Kennesaw State, The Citadel, Western Carolina, ETSU and Furman. Season tickets start at just $60 for general admission. Click the link above, go to the Go Mocs app or call (423) 266-MOCS (6627) to purchase.
 
ALABAMA SINGLE-GAME DEADLINE APPROACHING
The Nov. 18 trip to Alabama is certainly circled on a lot of calendars in the area. Tickets are on sale in the UTC Box Office for the contest which is the first trip to Bryant-Denny Stadium since 2016. The July 30 deadline is approaching quickly with a limited number of seats available in the Mocs section.
 
Fans must take one of two steps to purchase single-game seats in the Mocs section at Alabama…

• Purchase season tickets for the 5-game home slate at Finley Stadium
• OR join the Mocs Club at the starter level ($100 donation or higher)
• THEN Click here to purchase

 
EVERYTHING IS CASHLESS NOW ON GAMEDAYS
No cash will change hands at Mocs athletics venues in 2023-24. That includes tickets, concessions, merchandising and even parking. Be prepared to pay by credit card when coming to enjoy the hard-working efforts of our student-athletes and coaches.
 
CONCESSION ADDITIONS
Finley Stadium has added some new wrinkles along with old standbys in providing premier service to its visitors. One is the Fort Finley Grab+Go Market with snacks and beverages. The lineup just inside the St. Elmo Gates also includes Windy City Eatz, Chestnut Bakes, The Kettlecorn Man, Miller's Original Lemonade, The Max Grilleworks and Reggie's BBQ & Nachos. Go here for more information.
 
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