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 offensive line lite position…tight end. This week, we go big. This is a program that believes games are won or lost in the trenches so what's the key to the Mocs offensive hopes in 2024? The offensive line.
 
Keep Chase Artopoeus clean and watch the receivers and tight end numbers soar. Check out the running back numbers with that deep group chomping at the bit to see the holes this room is capable of creating the chaos on opposing defenses throughout the campaign.
 
"First and foremost, we've had good players for sure but good people as well, that's part of it," Coach Rusty Wright began. "I think the biggest thing is they've seen guys grow and leave here and do things professionally. I think that motivates some guys."
 
Three (or four) starters return. Center Reid Williams is the unquestioned anchor. The junior from nearby Ringgold, Ga., is an elite pivot on the FCS level. Tackle Dave Monnot III returns to his bookend spot while guard Almarion Crim is likely to shift outside to his natural tackle position. Bryce Goodner, a 2022 freshman All-America pick, is back after a year away looking to cement one guard spot.
 
So, in essence, one guard position is available. The versatility of Williams and Crim, who both have guard experience making options plentiful. There's also a lot of potential in the room to continue to live up to the high standards.
 
Who's next is today's theme. Why?

• 2021: Cole Strange, G, 2022 NFL 1st Round Draft Pick, New England
• 2022: McClendon Curtis, G/T, 2023 NFL UDFA, Las Vegas/Seattle
• 2023: Griffin McDowell, T, 2024 NFL UDFA, Kansas City

 
Add in Corey Levin '16 who over those three seasons was still plying his trade with the Tennessee Titans. This is a room that has caught the scout's eye over the years.
 
"You can't be a physical football team if you're not good up front (on both sides of the ball)," Wright added. "We do put an emphasis on it, put a lot of work into those guys. They put a lot of work into it, which is a big part of it too.
 
"I think our guys know they're important. We've recruited some really good players there, good people, and I think they've seen what the opportunities to keep playing, and the standard set by the ones who came before them."
 
Monnot (pronounced mah-noh) is the lone senior. Juniors Williams, Crim, Goodner and Will Buchanan bring multiple years of experience while fellow juniors B.J. Ragland (Charlotte), Tyrell Ragland (redshirt/Carson-Newman) and Christian Va'a (East L.A. Coll.) look to make an impact in leadership and opportunity coming in as junior college and 4-year transfers.
 
Redshirt freshman Aidan Donald impressed in year 1, while true freshman Devin Lively did the same as an early enrollee in spring drills. Transfers Bubba Jeffries (Indiana), Jules Nay (Georgia State) and Tre Thompson (Union, Ky.) enter along with freshman signees Watts Alexander, Tracy Jackson and Nick Paul. Returnees Parker Hollinsworth, Jacob Klein and Keaton Warren will continue the fight for playing time, while there are still a couple of walk-ons expect by fall camp with as many as 21 expected to fill out the vital area.
 
We sat down with "Big Dave" for a quick Q&A on a multitude of things. You're not going down a simple road talking with Dave, too many facets to that larger the life personality.
 
What is it about this offensive line room that continually puts itself in position for professional opportunities?
Monnot: "This program values the offensive line. It's special seeing guys getting that opportunity. I mean, especially from an FCS program. You expect this kind of stuff from 'Power 4' schools, but to kind of have a pipeline of offense linemen to the league at our level speaks volumes not only to the players, but to the coaching staff too. They've seen talent like this before, they've seen where that talent started, and they know the way to get you from point A to point B."
 
What was it about Chattanooga, that that kind of drew you here to start with?
Monnot: "Well, not to get too personal, obviously I left Purdue for life getting in the way, you know, things happen. I was kind of set on not playing football working a dead-end job at a warehouse for about $18.50 an hour. But Coach (Kevin) Revis you know, kept calling. You know, it was probably every two, three days, I got a call. Nothing about football, nothing. No pressure, not pushing me to come down here. It was just, 'hey man, how you doing?' Checking in on me. That's how I knew that above all, this program cares about you more than just as a player. Not only succeeding on the football field, but for you to succeed as a person."
 
What is it about this offensive line group that so many different personalities and people come together so well as a unit year-in, year-out?
Monnot: "Honestly, I don't think it's a 1-year change. This is something that's built into the culture of UTC. It stems from people, like Cole Strange, kind of setting how we should be doing things. He learned from a teammate who learned from a teammate dating back to Coach Revis when he played here. Then, obviously, the best way to bond with people is through those conditioning sessions, workouts and practices. Then the off-the-field traditions we have like Thursday night. We all go off for dinner and make sure we have time to hang out and cement those bonds."
 
What are your personal goals for 2024?
Monnot: "Obviously, it's not quantifiable, but I want to play better than I did last year. We have some big games coming up. Obviously, UTK is first on the schedule. That's one where I want to go out there and perform like I have in the past and show that I can contend with (Power 4) players. I want to continue to develop and continue to get better. I know it's my last year here in college, but Lord willing, I'd like to see my career go further and be that next guy."
 
On the o-line room as a group?
Monnot: "Just as a whole, I feel like we have some depth here. Young guys who are hungry to play. Transfers who are looking for that opportunity. A guy like Will Buchanan coming back looking at his chance to claim his spot. We like putting in hard work, and that is what we get to instill in these young guys and kind of get to help grow to their potential."
 
2024 Offensive Line Room
Starters Returning/Lost (4/2): Monnot III, Crim, Williams, Goodner | McDowell, Jeremiah Katt
Letter Winners Returning/Lost (6/6): Buchanan, Klein | JD Broussard, Nick Cerimele, Luke Lane, Malone VanGorder
Redshirts/Newcomers (4/9): Donald, Hollinsworth, T. Ragland, Warren | Alexander, Jackson, Jeffries, Lively, Nay, Paul, B.J. Ragland, Thompson, Va'a
 
Notes to Know…

• Williams (22) has the third most career starts on the team behind DT Marlon Taylor (25) and WR Sam Phillips (24).
• Crim, Monnot III & Williams started all but one game together in 2023. Williams and Monnot III are two of 10 Mocs who started all 13 games a year ago…two of five returning.
• Three of the last four Jacobs Blocking Award winners in the SoCon came from Chattanooga: 2020-21 (Strange), 2021 (Strange) & 2022 (Curtis).
• The 2023 o-line ranked second in the nation in pass blocking per PFF College. The 88.9 grade was second only to Oregon. That grade was buoyed by ZERO sacks and just 2.0 TFLs at Alabama in the regular season finale.
• Unit was key to offense leading the SoCon and ranking 10th nationally in time of possession (32:27).
• Unit allowed a mere 3.85 tackles for loss per contest (9th in the country) and just 1.31 sacks (20th).
• O-line has major responsibility in the offense amassing 8.835 rushing yards since Rusty Wright's arrival in 2019…a shade under 170 yards per game.

 
2024 PREVIEW SERIES
June 5: QB – Y2Chase
June 12: RB – Uncertain Certainty
June 19: WR – All Growns Up
June 26: TE – One More Year
 
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 "Big Dave" 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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