First Look
The Chattanooga Mocs started the summer months with a new storyline for the football program. Out is the weekly preview series and in is a new version focused on a single word. Each position coach shares his outlook for his crew in a single word.
This week we look at the running backs. This is a historically pivotal part of the offense for the program. Names like
Ailym Ford, Gwain Durden, Derrick Craine, Eldra Buckley and James Roberts span decades of impact to the Mocs offensive fortunes. The current group is one that oozes the term, "versatility" which bodes well for the 2025 campaign.
Coach
D.J. Knox knows the ins and outs of the position.
First Thought
"I think that's the best way to describe this room. Given the body types that we have, and the strong suits of the guys that are in here. I would definitely say that we're very well-rounded. I have a lot of guys that can do a lot of different things, and to be honest, I'm training them all to do everything. They need to be able to do it all because you never know when you need to pull that Swiss army knife out. We train them all like they're going to start." –
Knox on "versatility"
Breakdown
A Quick Peek at the Room
- Senior Justus Durant is the leading returning rusher with 272 yards and five scores while leading the squad at 4.5 yards per rush. He was limited to seven games in 2024 due to injury, he is certainly lightning to the room's new thunder.
- Grad transfer Ryan Ingram stayed inside the Southern Conference for his final year of eligibility transferring from Wofford. He accumulated 2,020 yards and 19 TDs over his career in the upstate. His bruising style complements the speed game Durant possesses as they have a combined 3,661 yards and 37 scores for their respective careers.
- In case you thought this room is more dynamic duo, you better expand your thinking. Sophomore Journey Wyche made a strong first impression as a true freshman a year ago. He had one of the biggest plays of the season in the fourth quarter at ETSU converting a vital third down on a 22-yard catch and run continuing the game-winning drive over the Bucs.
- Wyche and junior Solomon Locke are credited by Knox at having that stormy thunder and lightning mix. Locke is local product from Christian Heritage in Dalton and has worked his way into contribution opportunities on special teams while continuing to compete for carries in the backfield.
- Malachi Jeffries is a maturing player out of the Georgia talent hotbed of Cartersville. His development over last season and more specifically strong strides in the spring give him ample looks at the position.
- True freshmen T.J. Worthy (Gadsden, Ala.) rounds a deep and challenging room. He has impressed since joining to start the summer break in workouts. He'll get every opportunity to play immediately.
RB Stands for Reaction Based
Knox shared this little gem. Does RB stand for running back (traditional stance) or reaction based (modern analytics)? Little play on generations, but there is something to it.
One of the key points we took from our session with Knox is how important the eyes are in the room. Yes, the legs churn and the motor drives it. Any good running back had to have those two parts. Great ones had the eyes to see and wisdom to understand. That wisdom comes from extensive film and study. The eyes are the treasure though. It triggers the reaction to hit the right hole. While a play may be designed for one outcome, it shifts in reaction to what the defense offers since its goal of course is to stop/limit that runner's ability to, well run.
The next time you see a big rushing play, a huge part is the choreography between offensive line and running back, and the reaction-based work that makes it all come together. You might also want to pat the backs of the tight ends or wide receivers who got key blocks at the second and third levels, but we digress.
Hear from Ryan Ingram
The annual "Meet the Mocs" cavalcade of stars kicked off in June with the start of this web series. Sport Talk on WGOW 102.3 FM welcomes a Mocs student-athlete each week that pairs with the position group featured on GoMocs.com. This week, Ingram joins Quake, David Paschall and Cowboy Joe live and in studio. Tune in at 4:35 p.m., for the interview either on your radio dial or
online here.
Final Thoughts
"You have a guy like Justus who's quick on the outside. He can make guys miss. He can run past you. Then you have a guy like
Ryan Ingram who's on the complete opposite side of the spectrum. He's more of the bruiser type that has been proven to be successful in this league. Plus, you have a guy like Journey who's almost a mix between the two right. He can run, he's elusive, but he also plays with low center of gravity." –
Knox on the three top producers in current mix
"It's just been a maturation period for Solomon since the day that I got here. He just had to understand certain things about the game because he's been plenty enough talented as far as physically. The biggest thing about TJ (so far) is you can tell the passion that he has. He loves the game, especially when we get in here on the board. The coin started to turn for Malachi when he started to understand the urgency of college football. He really developed in the spring, and now I just have to keep him locked in and glued to it." –
Knox on the depth in the room and their growth
"I've tried to give a lot of ownership to our seniors. When I say we're getting on the board, I'll always start and show them the basics. Then I try to make sure that they all get on the board. Everybody's good in the formation? All right, what does he have in this concept? What are we doing here? Okay, good. Then it's focused on what our job is in that scheme. They're taking themselves through the process." –
Knox expanding on the "board room" work this summer
"It's hard because you got a guy with running start from 10 yards away. He's 245 pounds. He's probably got a couple inches on you in height; his arms are a little longer. Technique has to be perfect in order to make some of those things obsolete. I'm not asking these guys to be a left tackle, but there is a high importance on not letting your guy beat you." –
Knox on the challenge of pass protection in his room
Tickets on Sale
The 2025 season kicks off August 30 at Memphis. It begins on the road with intrastate matchups at the Tigers followed by the short trip to Cookeville to visit Tennessee Tech. The home opener is Sept. 13 with the first-ever meeting with Stetson.
Season tickets are on sale beginning at $60. Purchases can be made
here on GoMocs.com.
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