SCHEDULE | TICKETS
 
CHATTANOOGA---The Chattanooga Mocs are well underway in preparation for August's fall camp in the Scenic City. A majority of the roster is on campus working out and readying for an exciting 2024 campaign.
 
Last week, we looked at the running back position. This week we go in motion to the edges with the wide receivers room. This is a group that has been really young over the past couple of campaigns but now, they're full of seasoned veterans.
 
That begins with returning starters Javin Whatley and Sam Phillips. The duo are entering their junior years, but to say what they've accomplished to date is impressive is a bit of an understatement. But these two have gotten used to being sold short.
 
Over the last two seasons, Whatley and Phillips combined for:

• 188 catches | Phillips: 104/Whatley: 84
• 2,713 yards | Whatley: 1,428/Phillips: 1,285
• 18 Touchdowns | Whatley 12/Phillips 6
• 3,415 all-purpose yards | Whatley: 2,083/Phillips: 1,332

 
That's over a grand total of 24 games. Phillips has started all 24, while Whatley had an injury in 2022 that puts him at 22 games played with 17 starts.
 
They're fixtures in the Mocs passing game. They're also not alone.
 
Zaire Thornton returns after a year in the rotation and Stonehill transfer Chris Domercant enters with two seasons of eligibility remaining. The latter arrived in time for spring practice giving him a prime opportunity to compete for snaps in 2024.
 
Redshirt freshman A.J. Little looks to make an immediate impact as well. He saw action in three games in 2023 with his first reception being a 57-yard catch-and-run touchdown against The Citadel. Senior Chris Houston made the shift from running back into the slot during the spring, while junior Brody Swafford, sophomore Jaden Jude and redshirt freshman Matt Rozier are in the mix as are true freshman Taylor Crumedy and Josh Williams when they arrive on campus.
 
"They've grown up over the last couple of years and given themselves an opportunity to be good players by their work ethic and 'want to'," Coach Rusty Wright noted. "It's important to them to be good. Sam played his way into being a guy. Nunu (Whatley) played his way into being a guy.
 
"We'll see what kind of depth we've created. Somebody's got to constantly step up. I think AJ (Little) had a good spring Zaire (Thornton) has been a lot better this spring and so far up until this point. It's just going to be a matter of who takes that next spot."
 
We sat down with Javin for a quick Q&A on all things receiving:
 
When you look back on the last two years, what have you learned most?
Whatley: "You gotta grind. You can't waste time because it goes by fast. You know what I'm saying? Come in, work hard, you gotta like, maintain your body and learn how to play as a team come together as a team."
 
How hard is the transition from high school quarterback to college wide receiver?
Whatley: "Going from behind the line and making all the calls and getting others situated to just reading the defense for my routes. But you could be a leader anywhere on the field. How to run routes reading it a different way."
 
Better thrill, catching a TD pass or throwing one?
Whatley: "Man, they're both fun. I mean, it feels good to catch one on somebody, but also throwing one in a big moment...I'll say catching one." Follow up (catch and run TD or catch and step into end zone): "I say catch and step. Yeah, you already did the hard part and then just catch the ball."
 
If they did a movie on this WR room, who would play you & Sam?
Whatley (went for the home run answer): "Jamarr Chase and Justin Jefferson." (joking answer): "Sam? Kevin Hart or Katt Williams."
 
Who do you try to emulate from the high-level receivers you've watched to this point?
Whatley: "I try to watch players my size. I'm a smaller guy so trying to be like DK Metcalf? That's not me. I'm not that big. I don't have that ability. I like to watch players my size like Tank Dell and Tutu Atwell."
 
2024 Wide Receivers Room
Starters Returning/Lost (2/1): Phillips & Whatley | Jamoi Mayes
Letter Winners Returning/Lost (5/2): Phillips, Whatley, Jaden Jude, Brody Swafford, Zaire Thornton | Mayes & Javon Burke
Redshirts/Newcomers (5): Taylor Crumedy (Fr.), Chris Domercant (Tr., Stonehill), A.J. Little (RS Fr.), Matt Rozier (RS Fr.) & Josh Williams (Fr.)
 
Notes to Know…

• The 2023 receivers room ranked 16th in the country with an 84.5 grade per PFF College. That ranked between LSU (15) and Texas (17) and was fourth among FCS programs behind North Dakota State (3), South Dakota State (5) and South Dakota (T13).
• Mayes (62-1037), Whatley (55-977) & Phillips (60-624) are first trio since 2004 with 600+ yards each in the same season: Alonzo Nix (819), current assistant Tyrus Ward (660) & Emanuel Hassell (647). It's the most productive since 2000: Richmond Flowers (86-1035), Cos DeMatteo (75-971) & Ronnie Strickland (51-767).
• That's also the last time a trio collected 50 or more each.
• Whatley is No. 4 on the HERO Sports' list of top returning FCS wideouts.
• Whatley's 11-catch, 231-yard, 4-touchdown performance against Western Carolina ranked tied for second in TD receptions (Terrell Owens vs Marshall, 1994) and fifth in yards. His 353 all-purpose yards (including six rushing and 116 returning) was a new school record.
• Phillips became the 13th Moc with 60 receptions in a season. He's 30 shy of reaching the career top 10 with new McCallie head coach Joel Bradford (2008-11) in 10th with 134. Sam needs 65 to match the career record of 169 set by Emanuel Hassell (2004-06).
• Whatley's 54-yard catch-and-run at Alabama last November was the longest pass play allowed by the Tide in more than a year dating back to Tennessee's Hendon Hooker's 78-yard TD pass to Jalin Hyatt on Oct. 15, 2022.
• Thornton (OVC) and Domercant (NEC) were all-conference receivers at Tennessee State and Stonehill, respectively.
• Domercant had 85 catches in 24 career games at Stonehill with 16 touchdowns averaging nearly 18 yards per catch.
• Crumedy helped lead Leroy High School to a 47-5 record over his four seasons including winning the 2022 and 2023 Alabama 1A State Championships.
• Williams was all-region in both football (all-state as well) and basketball at Westside High School in Anderson, S.C.

 
2024 PREVIEW SERIES
June 5: QB – Y2Chase
June 12: RB – Uncertain Certainty
 
MEET THE MOCS
Sports Talk on WGOW 102.3 FM is running it back again this year. Their weekly "Meet the Mocs" position segments interviewing key student-athletes over the summer months follow along with GoMocs.com's position previews. Check out Javin Whatley with the Sports Talk gurus Scott McMahen, David Paschall and Joe Varner at 4:35 p.m. Click the listen live link here on WGOW.com.
 
SEASON TICKETS ON SALE
Season tickets are now available to the general public. The deadline to renew last year's seats is May 31. Prices start at $60 for general admission. Mocs Club members have the option for reserved seats beginning at the $250 donation level which includes a season parking pass to go with the season ticket. The purchase of season tickets is the lowest per game price for fans.
 
MOCS TOP 10 IN 1ST PRESEASON POLL
The Mocs are No. 10 in the HERO Sports FCS Preseason Top 25 released Thursday morning. The top 10 is led by South Dakota State followed by North Dakota State, Montana, Montana State, South Dakota, Villanova, Idaho, Sacramento State and Southern Illinois. Furman is 14th and Western Carolina comes in at 16.
 
STUDENT SEASON TICKETS AVAILABLE
Season tickets for students are FREE. However, students do need to register for their ticket here.
 
GoMocs.com is the official website of the Chattanooga Mocs. Buy officially licensed gear in our online store. The Mocs can also be followed on their official Facebook page or on Twitter. Find out how to join the Mocs Club and support more than 300 student-athletes by clicking here. NIL opportunities can be found here in the Opendorse NIL Marketplace.