SCHEDULE | TICKETS
 
CHATTANOOGA---The Chattanooga Mocs are well represented on the initial Walter Payton Award Watch List for 2024. Quarterback Chase Artopoeus and wide receiver Javin Whatley made the 35-man listing that goes to the FCS Offensive Player of the Year.
 
Artopoeus is coming off an excellent debut season. He threw for 2,672 yards with 20 touchdowns and just seven interceptions in 10 games behind center. His 14.29 yards per completion ranked seventh in the nation. He was also top 15 in yards per attempt (7, 8.97) and pass efficiency (12, 155.5). He completed 62.8 percent of his passes (187-298).
 
Whatley had a breakout season. He saw action in all 13 games with 55 catches for 977 yards and nine touchdowns. Those nine TDs ranked ninth in the country while he was 14th in yards. He set the school record for all-purpose yards with his 353-yard effort in the shootout with Western Carolina. It was a special performance including 11 receptions for 231 yards and four scores.
 
"I think it shows two very capable people," Coach Rusty Wright opened. "Just being mentioned, it's going to put a lot on them. People think they're going to be good players, and they have been and hopefully they will continue to work that way and give themselves the opportunity to continue to be involved in all that.
 
"That's the biggest thing. I think what they've done on the field, Chase last year and Nunu the last couple years getting better, they just have to continue doing that and all those things will take care of themselves."
 
Here's the duo hooking up for one of their numerous splash plays in 2023.
 

Chattanooga takes a 7-3 lead over No. 2 Furman 👀 Javin Whatley explodes for the 67-yard TD
pic.twitter.com/6ZF8wrL1AS

— FCS Football Central (@The__Bluebloods) November 4, 2023

 
Walter Payton is regarded as one of the elite running backs in NFL history. This honor is named after him not only for what he did on the field, but he also attended an FCS institution, Jackson State University. The award has been given since 1987 with seven honorees coming from the Southern Conference.
 
The Mocs have had numerous student-athletes on the Watch List. Quarterback Chris Sanders had the best finish of ninth in 2000 in the final voting. Fellow signal Jacob Huesman was 11th both in 2014 and 2015, while running back Ailym Ford tied for 27th in 2022.
 
The announcement comes from Stats Perform. The full list can be found here. Three are from the SoCon with Artopoeus and Whatley joined by Western Carolina's Cole Gonzales. Student-athletes are not exempt from the award if not on this list. Strong play gets them added midseason.
 
Practice begins Wednesday morning to prepare for a gauntlet to start the season. Tennessee is up first on August 31 followed by a trip to a second FBS opponent, Georgia State. The Mocs return home on Sept. 14 for their SoCon opener against Mercer.
 
2024 PREVIEW SERIES
June 5: QB – Y2Chase | Meet The Mocs Radio Interview
June 12: RB – Uncertain Certainty | Meet The Mocs Radio Interview
June 19: WR – All Growns Up
June 26: TE – One More Year | Meet The Mocs Radio Interview
July 3: OL – Who's Next | Meet The Mocs Radio Interview
July 10: DB – Let's Stay Together | Meet The Mocs Radio Interview
July 17: LB – Stocked Up | Meet The Mocs Radio Interview
July 24: DL – Emerging | Meet The Mocs Radio Interview
 
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
Stats Perform: DT Marlon Taylor (2nd), WR Javin Whatley (2nd)
FCS Football Central: DT Marlon Taylor (1st), WR Javin Whatley (1st), OL Reid Williams (2nd)
 
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