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GREENVILLE, S.C.---The Chattanooga Mocs are the preseason pick to win the 2024 Southern Conference Football Championship in a poll of the league's coaches. That same group tabbed senior defensive tackler Marlon Taylor to continue the program's stranglehold on Defensive Player of the Year.
 
"It means we have good players," Coach Rusty Wright said. "It's always good to see their hard work recognized. Obviously, there's not a trophy for a preseason title so we have to go earn it. But this is about our players, and the respect they have in our league."
 
The Mocs claimed five first-place votes for a total of 61 points. That's five ahead of Furman which took three top votes with Western Carolina in third with the other. Mercer was next followed by Samford, ETSU, VMI, Wofford and The Citadel.
 
Taylor and Catamounts quarterback Cole Gonzales got the defensive and offensive top honors, respectively. If the pick holds true, Taylor joins Devonnsha Maxwell (2021) and Jay Person (2022, 2023) for four straight SoCon Defensive Players of the Year.
 
Four Mocs were among the league's first team picks. Taylor, offensive lineman Reid Williams, wide receiver Javin Whatley and defensive back Jordan Walker took those spots with six more on the second squad.
 
Quarterback Chase Artopoeus is joined by offensive lineman Dave Monnot III, tight end Jay Gibson and wide receiver Sam Phillips representing the offense. Defensive tackle Quay Wiggles and defensive back Josh Battle are the second team defensive selections.
 
Chattanooga is coming off an 8-5 campaign and tie for second in the league at 6-2. The squad won its first FCS Playoffs road game 24-21 at Austin Peay. Fourteen starters return with seven apiece on offense and defense. Twenty-seven members of the 2024 2-deep are back.
 
Fall camp starts on Wednesday, July 31, with opening kick coming Aug. 31 at Tennessee. The first home game is also the SoCon opener with a visit from Mercer on Sept. 14.
 
2024 Preseason Southern Conference Coaches Poll
Team (1st-place votes)
1. Chattanooga 61 (5)
2. Furman 56 (3)
3. Western Carolina 49 (1)
4. Mercer 45
5. Samford 37
6. ETSU 26
7. VMI 23
8. Wofford 19
9. The Citadel 8
 
2024 Preseason All-Southern Conference Football Teams
Defensive Player of the Year: Marlon Taylor, Sr., DL, Chattanooga
Offensive Player of the Year: Cole Gonzales, Jr., QB, Western Carolina
 
First Team Offense
QB: Cole Gonzales, Jr., Western Carolina
RB: Hunter Rice., Sr., RB, VMI
RB: Ryan Ingram, Sr., Wofford
OL: Reid Williams, Jr., Chattanooga
OL: Luke Smith, Gr., ETSU
OL: Luke Petit, R-Jr., Furman
OL: Xavier Jennings, Gr., Mercer
OL: Tyriq Poindexter, Sr., VMI
OL: Blake Whitmore, R-Sr., Western Carolina
TE: Jordan Davis, Sr., Wofford
WR: Javin Whatley, Jr., Chattanooga
WR: AJ Colombo, Jr., Western Carolina
 
First Team Defense
DL: Marlon Taylor, Sr., DL, Chattanooga
DL: Xavier Stephens, Sr., Furman
DL: Dorien Starnes, Sr., VMI
DL: Brandon Maina, Sr., Wofford
LB: Ken Standley, Gr., Mercer
LB: Noah Martin, Sr., Samford
LB: David Powers, Sr., Wofford
DB: Jordan Walker, Jr., Chattanooga
DB: Chris Hope, Sr., DB, ETSU
DB: Myles Redding, Sr., Mercer
DB: Maximus Pulley, Jr., Wofford
 
First Team Specialists
PK: Ian Williams, R-Sr., Furman
P: Nate Brackett, R-Jr., ETSU
LS: Colby Cross, R-Sr., Western Carolina
RS: Colton Hinton, So., Furman
 
Second Team Offense
QB: Chase Artopoeus, Sr., QB, Chattanooga
RB: Grant Robinson, R-Jr., Furman
RB: Branson Adams, Jr., Western Carolina
OL: Dave Monnot III, Sr., Chattanooga
OL: Riley Adcock, Gr., Mercer
OL: Chris Noble, Gr., Samford
OL: Derek Simmons, Sr., Western Carolina
OL: Anthony Garcia, Sr., Wofford
OL: Quincy Hughes, Jr., Wofford
TE: Jay Gibson, Sr., Chattanooga
WR: Sam Phillips, Jr., Chattanooga
WR: Joshua Harris, Jr., Furman
 
Second Team Defense
DL: Quay Wiggles, Sr., Chattanooga
DL: Brayden Manley, So., Mercer
DL: Jordan Swain, Gr., Mercer
DL: Curtis Fann Jr., R-Sr., Western Carolina
LB: Luke Clark, 5th, Furman
LB: Evan DiMaggio, R-Sr., Furman
LB: Eric Rankin, Sr., VMI
DB: Josh Battle, Jr., Sr., Chattanooga
DB: Samaurie Dukes, Jr., Western Carolina
DB: Ed Jones IV, Sr., Western Carolina
DB: CJ Williams, Sr., DB, Western Carolina
 
Second Team Specialists
PK: Bridger Jones, Jr., Wofford
P: James Platte, Jr., The Citadel
LS: Tommy DiLiegro, So., Wofford
RS: Ivan Thorpe, Jr., WR, VMI
 
2024 PREVIEW SERIES
June 5: QB – Y2Chase
June 12: RB – Uncertain Certainty
June 19: WR – All Growns Up
June 26: TE – One More Year
July 3: OL – Who's Next
July 10: DB – Let's Stay Together
July 17: LB – Stocked Up
 
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.
 
STUDENT SEASON TICKETS AVAILABLE
Season tickets for students are FREE. However, students do need to register for their ticket here.
 
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.
 
PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA TEAMS
FCS Football Central: DT Marlon Taylor (1st), WR Javin Whatley (1st), OL Reid Williams (2nd)
 
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