Skip To Main Content
A.J. Little enters the end zone for his first collegiate TD in the 2023 win over The Citadel
Ray Soldano

WRs “In A Word”: Hungry

A.J. Little

A.J. Little and the Chattanooga Mocs wide receiver room has a hungry array of receivers looking to impact the 2025 offense.

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 wide receivers. A group that takes pride at impacting the offense at every level. Its word is "hungry" as the current group is a unit with strong potential despite the loss of three starters. The development seen in that past is what drives the present with an eye to building on a strong foundation.
 
Coach Ricky Spradling is entering his seventh season on the offensive staff and fourth specifically in charge of the wideouts. As a former collegiate quarterback, he certainly knows what the wide receivers bring to "stir the drink".
 
First Thought
"What I really like about this group is how eager they are to make an impact. A lot of these guys didn't have the same opportunity as others have had across the country. They have done an incredible job gaining weight and strength with Coach (Gerry) Pacitti in the weight room, and I am excited to see how their hard work pays off for them this season." – wide receivers coach Ricky Spradling
 
Breakdown  
A Quick Peek at the Room
  • Little and Williams are the lead guys as far experience in the Mocs offense. Little is entering his third campaign, while Williams is in year two as he was not a redshirt candidate immediately entering the 2 deep a year ago.
  • Little is special in one key regard…his versatility. He could start at any of the three wide receiver spots from outside to slot.
  • Williams was an All-State performer amassing more than 1300 receiving and 1,700 all-purpose yards in leading Westside High School to the South Carolina 2023 4A State Championship. He was also an all-region pick in hoops.
  • Taylor Crumedy impressed in a big way on scout team in 2024 as he redshirted. He seemed to catch everything thrown in his direction and definitely has the opportunity to impact the room in 2025.
  • Quick was a second team All-MEAC selection in 2024 with 26 catches for 527 yards and five TDs.
  • Jamarri Robinson played one season at Northern Colorado (2023). He had 42 receptions totaling 490 yards with two touchdowns. His juco career saw him record 27 catches for 579 yards and five scores in 15 games at Monrow University in New Rochelle, N.Y. He averaged 21.4 yards per catch.
  • Both Robinson and Quick have experience on special teams as returners.
  • McElmurray started his career at Kennesaw State before a year at Iowa Central Community College. He was a prep QB with nearly 2,000 yards of total offense as a senior at Midland Valley High School with a combined 26 touchdowns (20 rush/6 pass). McElmurray was also a 1,000-point scorer on the hardwood.
  • Bussman, Gray and Smiley also contributed on scout team a year ago. Each displayed toughness and fearlessness as they worked to catch the eye on film.
  • True freshmen Jaden George (Marietta, Ga.) and KaJuan Harris (Goodlettsville, Tenn.) have a chance to make an immediate impact.
  • George was a 3-star prospect from Kell High School with more than 700 yards as a senior. He was a state finalist in the triple jump as well.
  • Harris was highly recruited with five documented P4 offers. He was impactful on both sides of the ball for Beech with more than 1100 receiving yards and 22 career TDs on offense and 100+ tackles and double-digit pass breakups on defense.
  • Spradling developed the seventh, eighth and ninth 2,000-yard receivers in school history in Jamoi Mayes (2,032), Sam Phillips (2,108) and Javin Whatley (2,105) over the last two seasons.
 
Did You Know…
The wide receiver and quarterback rooms have a special connection. While no starters are named, rising junior signal caller Luke Schomburg and Little can recall their first pass play with special memories. Little's first catch was Schomburg's first pass attempt...a 57-yard catch-and-run in the home win over The Citadel in 2023. It came in just Little's fourth career snap from scrimmage.
 
Hear from A.J. Little
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, Little 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
"One of the things I've been most impressed with from this group is the chemistry. They're competing with each other in the right way. It's about making the room better while getting the best mix on the field. It's easy to get selfish when you're trying to win a job, but we haven't seen that at all." – Spradling on the room's dynamics
 
"It's a cliché to say the best three are going to play. Every one of those guys have a chance for meaningful snaps week-in, week-out. I'm excited to see them work, develop and take those opportunities." – Spradling on who projects for the most snaps in 2025
 
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.
 
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.
Print Friendly Version

Related Videos

Now Playing:

Related Stories