SCHEDULE | TICKETS
 
CHATTANOOGA---The Chattanooga Mocs are closing in on fall camp with August fast approaching. A majority of the roster is already on campus working out and readying for an exciting 2024 campaign.
 
Last week, we took a look at a well-stocked linebacker room.  This week, we move into the trenches to eye the defensive tackles and defensive ends.
 
So what is there to look for from the front four? Two starters return in tackles Marlon Taylor and Quay Wiggles while the SoCon Sack Exchange has new partners with the graduation of Ben Brewton and Jay Person.
 
Let's focus on the interior for now. It's an embarrassment of riches at tackle when you look at the experience and potential of that room. Taylor and Wiggles are pushed by a strong contingent of talented players. Senior EJ Thomas was slowed early last year by injury but looks to make an impact in his final collegiate season.
 
Sophomores Jamarr Jones and Montrell Henderson have certainly flashed with plenty of snaps between them early in their careers. Add in junior Kelvin Morris and sophomore Ky Tayo battling for playing time along with the true freshman trio of C.J. Smith, Isaiah Harvey and Gabe Flores.
 
"It's a group that's important to us," Coach Rusty Wright began. "It's important to play well up there. I think you have to give yourself a chance to be good up front to have a chance in anything.
 
"Marlon's one we targeted my first recruiting class here. He was probably a 'group of five' player coming out of high school. For whatever reason, he slipped through the cracks. He stepped into a role a couple of years ago and has grown in it and kept getting better. I think him and Quay and Montrell Henderson how he's changed, and Jamarr Jones and EJ Thomas and all those guys inside. They give us an opportunity to have a good football team up there."
 
The ends have experience reserves like Marquise Freeman, Chris Victor and Jestin Gilmore looking to take center stage after supporting Person and Brewton. Transfers Joseph Bakhole (ULM), David Stewart (UT Martin), Noah Livingston (Virginia Union) and Jaden Gaines (Eastern Michigan) are eyeing an immediate impact along with true freshman Leroy Harris III.
 
There's no easy answer when replacing two of the top six pass rushers in school history, but there's no need for just one answer to the equation.
 
"It'll be interesting to see how that dynamic kind of shifts a little bit when it's all said and done," Wright added. "I think the one thing we've done, is be pretty good in all four spots up front. Somebody has stepped up and been a guy for us.
 
"We feel good about the guys getting their opportunity. I think Chris Victor's got a chance to have a really good year. I think Joseph Bakhole, Jestin Gilmore, all those guys. It may be by committee. It may be situational type stuff. That's just something we have to figure out as a staff.
 
"Who does what well and let them maximize their skill sets. We feel like we have good players there, but we may have it be like a little 'Moneyball' deal."
 
Taylor was pegged to continue a Mocs tradition yesterday at SoCon Media Days. A Mocs defensive lineman as the preeminent defender with the senior named Southern Conference Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. That would be four in a row should he complete it for the program joining linemates
Devonnsha Maxwell (2021) and Jay Person (2022, 2023).
 
We sat down with Taylor for a quick Q&A on the road ahead.
 
When you think about the defensive line room as a whole in the history of this program, what you've seen, what you've come through, what does it mean to you to have your name mentioned with the names above?
Taylor: "It means that I'm really being accepted as like one of them. I see them as teammates, friends, brothers, mentors from when I came here as a freshman learning so much from D-Max, and just playing beside him, beside Jay, just learning what being a part of a team really is. Before college, I always thought it's all depended on me. I always thought that if a play went bad, it was my fault or I just wasn't going hard enough. But when I got here, they taught me to depend on my teammates and actually learn what a team is. Once I got here, I learned that there're people who are just as good as me or even better to where I can actually depend on them and learn from them. To see my name next to them makes me think that well dang, I must be like on that type of level which makes me happy."
 
Now that you're entering year six and taking up even more of a leadership role on this defense, what would you tell freshman Marlon about the journey he's about to go on?
Taylor: "It's gonna be okay. You're going to get stronger. Even though you think you may not be able to play at this level of college...you will. Even though you are going through a surgery; it's gonna be okay. Don't panic. Don't worry. Don't stress. Just keep working on yourself and listen to people. Don't be afraid to connect with people. You can grow and it's gonna be fine."
 
Your position (nose tackle) is often one that controls play upfront to allow others to make plays. You're really good at exceeding that basic job description. What is it about that position that allows you to make such an impact on our defense?
Taylor: "I love supporting everyone. They want to make a play or want to be in the spotlight, I love supporting that guy. If I'm in my right gap, the linebacker can be free. If I push pass protect back into the quarterback, it can mess up a throw or open a lane for our ends. If I'm just taking up a triple team where someone else can at least get free, I enjoy that. Don't get me wrong. If I'm gonna be able to make a play, I'll make it, but at my position, I mean, I'm not gonna be able to make a play every time. I want to focus on the times when I'm not making a play, I'm still making an impact."
 
Talk about the competition for playing time and how you guys make each other better in the tackle room...
"We work together at it. When it comes to anything, like watching film, we try to correct each other. I encourage them to even with me. We communicate. We work on it in practice then discuss it in the film room. What are you seeing there? This is what I read. We have to rely on each other. Or like when we're working out in the weight room and never letting ourselves do less than we did yesterday. We keep pushing each other."
 
What's the future like in this room?
Taylor: "I don't have to worry about when I leave. I definitely see the promise in CJ (Smith) and the new freshmen this year. I know Trell and Jamarr, all of them are gonna step up. I can see them growing and helping me be better. I don't want them to compare themselves to me. When we're at practice or watching film or something and they go well, that's Marlin. No, this can be you too. I thought the same thing when I got here with Pee Wee (Christian Smith) and D-Max. Oh, that's Peewee. Oh, that's D-Max. I had to learn to get out of that. I don't want them to think because of all these accolades and stuff that they can't beat that, They can. So that's why I try to just do my job and when they need help, we just really just help each other and depend on each other."
 
What is the impact this front four has on the defense as a whole?
Taylor: "Jay and Ben were really good players. This year is really just finding first, who's going to be there and then what they're good at. We all have something we do well. They'll show it. Chris is good at getting off the ball really fast. Marquise has good technique and so on. It's really just figuring out what we're going to be. I'm still learning with them. Okay, how do you play? What is it you need? How do we play off each other? When you connect all the dots and put all the pieces together, that's when you figure it out. So, this year, I really think we do have a good base to work from."
 
2024 Defensive Line Rooms
Starters Returning/Lost (2/2): Marlon Taylor, Quay Wiggles | Ben Brewton, Jay Person
Letter Winners Returning/Lost (10/6): Taylor, Wiggles, Marquise Freeman, Jestin Gilmore, Chris Victor, Montrell Henderson, Jamarr Jones, Kelvin Morris, Ky Tayo, E.J. Thomas | Brewton, Person, O'Shea Jackson, Shamar Jones, DeAndre Jones, Nick Charles
Redshirts/Newcomers (0/8): Joseph Bakhole (Sr.-ULM), Jaden Gaines (Jr.-Eastern Michigan), Leroy Harris III (Fr.), Noah Livingston (Jr.-Virginia Union), David Stewart (So.-UT Martin), Gabe Flores (Fr.), Isaiah Harvey (Fr.), C.J. Smith (Fr.)
 
Notes to Know…

• The last three SoCon Defensive Players of the Year came out of these rooms: Devonnsha Maxwell (2021), Jay Person (2022 & '23). There have been nine since 2009: DE Josh Beard (2009), DE Davis Tull (2012, 2013, 2014), DE Keionta Davis (2016), DT Isaiah Mack (2018), Maxwell (DT) and Person (DE).
• Marlon Taylor is predicted to make it 10 in 16 seasons as the preseason Defensive Player of the Year in the league.
• Almost a quarter of Taylor's tackles a year ago were for loss: 7.0 (5.0 sacks) from the nose.
• Last time a Moc didn't lead the SoCon in sacks in a full season? 2018 (Isaiah Mack 2nd, 8.5). 2019: Maxwell (7.0-tied), 2021: Maxwell (12.0), 2022: Maxwell/Person (8.0 - Brewton T3 with 7.5) & 2023: Person (9.5).
• 36 sacks in 2023 ranks second all-time (2016: 38).
• The Mocs recorded 103 over the last three seasons (32-35-36).
• Taylor was selected as the top returning FCS defensive lineman by HERO Sports.

 
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
 
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 Marlon Taylor 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.
 
STUDENT SEASON TICKETS AVAILABLE
Season tickets for students are FREE. However, students do need to register for their ticket here.
 
MOCS PICKED TO WIN SOCON TITLE
The Mocs claimed five first-place votes for a total of 61 points in a preseason poll of Southern Conference head coaches. A maximum of 80 was available as the Mocs were either one or two on every ballot. Furman was second including three top votes with Western Carolina in third with the other. Mercer was next followed by Samford, ETSU, VMI, Wofford and The Citadel. Ten student-athletes made the preseason all-league squad with four on the first team: DT Marlon Taylor (Preseason DPOTY), OL Reid Williams, DB Jordan Walker and WR Javin Whatley.
 
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)
 
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.