SCHEDULE | TICKETS

CHATTANOOGA---The 2023 football season is fast approaching. The Chattanooga Mocs kick it off on Sept. 2, at North Alabama. Get in the know with GoMocs.com's annual position-by-position preview for the campaign.
 
The is the ninth of nine positional installments with a bonus 10th we snuck in at the Southern Conference Media Day festivities. Each Tuesday and Thursday through today provided an in-depth look at a position group.
 
We saved one of our favorites for last. The running back room is rife with talent, complimentary skillsets and just good guys. There is only one place to start, however.
 
Senior Ailym Ford has first team All-SoCon honors aplenty. Multiple national honors and is one of the best to do it in the FCS. His 3,443 rushing yards and 32 rushing TDs (34 total) are eye-catching enough. He is the only Moc to fashion three 1,000-yard seasons in a career and has big goals.
 
Ford needs 659 yards and 12 scores to set new career records in both categories. He is the standard for Mocs running backs past and present. He's easy to focus on, but he's not alone.
 
Fellow senior Gino Appleberry has proven to be a solid "b side" to Ford over their careers. He is a veteran presence in the room with the ability to contribute with his legs, in the passing game both with his hands and excellent blitz pickup. He is a 1A to Fords 1 as the starter.
 
Sophomore Reggie Davis has impressed throughout camp. He has that classic burst and look of a running back the veteran college football watcher in the south knows all too well. He brings an element of excitement with each touch.
 
Not to be forgotten is junior Chris Houston. The former Charlotte transfer is finding his way and has popped as well in camp. This position is one you can never have enough quality in, and he brings yet another talented soul to the group along with fellow junior Lance Jackson.
 
Jackson is one of three Mocs – Ford & Appleberry – with a 100-yard game on his resume. Redshirt freshman Solomon Locke is a hard-nosed runner looking to make his mark. True freshman Malachi Jeffries joins this season from Georgia powerhouse Cartersville. It gives seven good options for a program that prides itself on its run game.
 
The room breakdown…
 
Starters Returning (1): Ailym Ford
 
Starters Lost (0): n/a
 
Other Letter Winners Returning (3): Gino Appleberry, Chris Houston, Lance Jackson
 
Newcomers (2): Solomon Locke (RS), Malachi Jeffries (Fr.)
 
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Committed: This is a group that gets the hard yards as well as the big gains. Always falling forward, always following a strong unit up front to keep the chains moving when not breaking off the highlight reel runs. There's a good reason why the Mocs consistently rank atop the SoCon and among the nation's best in tackles for loss allowed. It's equal parts a physical offensive front moving the line of scrimmage and strong runners making the most out of each play.
 
Class Breakdown
Seniors (2): Gino Appleberry, Ailym Ford
Juniors (2): Chris Houston, Lance Jackson
Sophomores (1): Reggie Davis
Freshmen (2): Malachi Jeffries, Solomon Locke (RS)
 
Notes to Know…

• Ford was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award in 2022 and is on the watch list as a favorite to win the honor this season.
• For his career, Ford averages 107.6 yards and one touchdown per game. He's also the Mocs Campbell Trophy candidate which goes to the top student-athlete in college football.
• Appleberry (109 vs VMI) and Jackson (135 vs Mercer) have 100-yard games in their career. Both see time on the field in special teams as well.
• Davis redshirted in 2021 but jumped out on film in his one appearance at Wofford. He carried the ball three times for 36 yards including a long of 30 yards in the win.
• Houston also saw action on special teams. He recovered the first block punt in last year's win over North Alabama at the far sideline and returned it inside the 10 before momentum carried him out of bounds.
• New coach alert. Former Purdue rusher and coach D.J. Knox is now in charge of the running back coop. Knox was a captain for the Boilermakers and honorable mention All-Big Ten in his career. He had 101 yards in the 2017 Foster Farms Bowl win and accumulated 2,360 yards from scrimmage with 15 TDs in his career.

 
GoMocs.com Position-by-Position
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
Walter Payton Award: Running Back Ailym Ford
Buck Buchanan Award: Kam Brown, Jay Person
Allstate AFCA Good Works Team: Defensive Back Reuben Lowery III
Shrine Bowl 1000: Edge Jay Person and Offensive Lineman Griffin McDowell
Reese's Senior Bowl: Running Back Ailym Ford, Defensive Back Clay Fields III
 
Preseason All-America Teams
Athlon – Jay Person
Bluebloods – Jay Person, Kam Brown
HERO Sports – Kam Brown
Phil Steele – Jay Person, Kam Brown (3rd), Ailym Ford (3rd)
Stats Perform – Jay Person, Kam Brown (2nd), Ailym Ford (2nd)
 
Season Tickets 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.
 
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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