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 already on campus working out and readying for an exciting 2024 campaign.
 
Last week, we looked at the wide receiver position. This week, we go to the hybrid of all hybrid positions…tight end. Are they pass catchers? Are they offensive linemen? We have a great person to answer this eternal question. Coach Rusty Wright was a starting tight end for the Mocs in the 90s.
 
"Well, I actually played both," Coach Rusty Wright admitted with a majority of his career at tight end other than the season he filled in at center. "It's a position we value because of the impact it can have in so many ways. The running and passing games are obvious, but tight ends are usually heavily involved in special teams as well.
 
"These guys are all good athletes and there's a good mix of experience and potential."
 
The Mocs ball coach is well versed in the role. He was the Scenic City's tight end during his career here. That's something not lost on the current room.
 
When we call Jay Gibson the senior member of the room, it's with a chuckle and a wink. There will be more than one new teammate who will think he's entering the coaching ranks rather than playing. It is his seventh year of collegiate competition after an injury cut his 2023 short.
 
His willingness to be an active weapon in the running (blocking) and passing game (receiving) is a welcome example and leader for what is essentially a new room. Redshirt freshman Dalton Restelli returns, however, there are four imports that look to make an impact this fall.
 
Grad transfer Nathaniel Eberly-Rodriguez comes from Wayne State (Mich.) with two years of eligibility remaining. Fellow DII transfer Eli Davis (Carson-Newman) is in summer workouts as is true freshman John McIntyre (Athens, Ala.). Jackson Christian's Daniel Green is expected to make his way to campus soon as well with the possibility for a preferred walk on as well.
 
We sat down with Jay for a quick Q&A on all things receiving, er, blocking, well:
 
7th year...thoughts on your journey to this point.
Gibson: "It's, it's definitely been a grind, I think. You know, we've had a few 7-year guys in the past. I'm the only one this year, and it definitely takes a toll on the body. But you know, I really enjoy Chattanooga and enjoy being around the guys around the coaches. I'm fortunate that Coach Wright allowed me to be here this long. It's just a blessing to still be at Chattanooga, being able to represent for the city."
 
What have you seen in the growth of this group since your arrival in 2019 and the foundation for its success?
Gibson: "I think it was Coach Wright. He walked in here, and it was kind of a rough situation. They didn't have the best couple of years before, and it's kind of been cool to watch how he's kind of changed the narrative around Chattanooga football the last five years and a good culture where you know it's a brotherhood guys want to come to Chatt. (The players) like it here. We don't have a lot of guys leaving. We had some guys that probably could have left gone and played somewhere else, but they decided to stay. I think that kind of speaks to Coach Wright and what kind of system he has."
 
What makes this group stay so close & together?
Gibson: "When you look at guys over the years like Cole Strange, Devonnsha Maxwell, McClendon Curtis and Jay Person to name a few. They could have gone just about anywhere. We all want to play at the next level, and you know you can do that here. Guys like Cole, McClendon, Jay, D Max, Griffin McDowell and Clay Fields prove that. In the FCS, you know you can make it to the NFL here. Chattanooga is one of the premier spots. That's why a lot of guys leave this level and go up because they just want to get more exposure, but you know, you get exposure at Chattanooga."
 
Being that kind of "old school" tight end in a "new school" setting. How much fun is this offense for you?
Gibson: "I enjoy it a lot. I get my hands dirty in the trenches blocking with the o-line. When you got guys, like Sam (Phillips), Nunu (Whatley) Reggie (Davis), I mean, I'd rather have football in their hands than my hands. They're better playmakers than me. It is what it is. For me in the pass game, I know my number's not going to be called as much but when it is, I got to make sure I'm there and ready to step up and make the play. I'm going to try to block my butt off to make sure that we're successful in that area."
 
What have you seen so far with your room having a lot of new additions?
Gibson: "For me, it's just trying to lead by example for these guys. We're going to count on more than just one guy that's for sure. It's just making sure that we're doing things now that so when August rolls around into September that we're ready to go."
 
Is there any extra pressure on that room considering your head coach was a tight end?
Gibson: "I don't think so. Coach Wright does like watching us in practice, though, but I don't think there's any added pressure, you know, I think everybody's got a lot of pressure on them. You know, it's college football. So, I think everybody feels that pressure."
 
Favorite play?
Gibson: "I think it depends. Making a catch over a defender. That's pretty fun. But then it's really fun when you get two hands on a defensive end, and you shove his face into the ground. That's fun to do too. I think it could go either way. But it is hard to beat the feeling of catching a touchdown."
 
2024 Tight Ends Room
Starters Returning/Lost (1/0): Gibson
Letter Winners Returning/Lost (2/2): Gibson, Restelli | Camden Overton, Cameron Huckabey
Redshirts/Newcomers (4): Nathaniel Eberly-Rodriguez (Jr.-Wayne St.), Eli Davis (So.-Carson-Newman), Daniel Green (Fr.-Jackson, Tenn.), John McIntyre (Fr.-Athens, Ala.)
 
Notes to Know…

• Tale of the Tape for the room (average size): 6-3, 240
• Gibson has played 29 career games for the Mocs dating back to his transfer from Western Kentucky prior to the 2019 season.
• Restelli redshirted in 2023 but saw action in two games, both in the state of Alabama. His two games played were at Samford and Alabama.
• Eberly-Rodriguez played in 16 games with six starts at Wayne State recording 12 catches for 214 yards and a TD.
• McIntyre registered nearly 1200 all-purpose yards at Athens High School in 2023 with 667 rushing, 503 receiving and 23 returning. He had 19 touchdowns (14 rush/5 receiving).
• Green posted 11 TD receptions at Jackson Christian helping lead the Eagles to a 37-11 mark during his career.
• Davis transferred from Carson-Newman after spring ball. He played in six games as a freshman listed as a linebacker.

 
2024 PREVIEW SERIES
June 5: QB – Y2Chase
June 12: RB – Uncertain Certainty
June 19: WR – All Growns Up
 
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 Jay Gibson 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.
 
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