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.
 
We finish the series with a group near and dear to the program's heart. The offensive line has been the backbone of every championship season for the Mocs. It's also the group with three current NFL performers in Corey Levin (Tennessee), Cole Strange (New England) and McClendon Curtis (Arizona).
 
Since we saved it for last, we'll take this one a little differently and let offensive line coach Kevin Revis tell us in the first person about his group, and the word that best describes them.
 
First Thought from Revis
If I were to describe our offensive line in one word, it would be "relentless". The way we finish every play, the way we attack every game and how we approach every single block, run, pass or screen is with the attitude of relentlessly finishing the play.
 
We want to be physical. We want to play hard. And that's what relentless means to me. Whatever it takes to get the job done. And they're pushing toward that, especially with how they approach practice every day.
 
There are still days we've got to get better, obviously, but they have the right mindset. We talk about mindset a lot because everyone (around the country) practices. Everybody does a lot of the same things we do. But how do they do them? What's their mindset when they're doing them? A relentless one, for sure.
 
Body Blows
I remember showing our guys a clip; I think it was Ryan Jensen, the center for the Bucs a couple of years ago. He was talking about body blows in a game. You watch a fight or an old boxing match, and you rarely see a knockout from those body blows. But they sure do soften up that opponent for the knockout later on.
 
When we're playing that way — relentlessly — in the run game, finishing the protection in the pass game, those D-linemen and linebackers are getting hit a lot. That's exactly what we're pushing toward.
 
We want to body blow you all game, and by the fourth quarter, we're in position for the knockout. You've got to do that when you're tired, which is hard, but that's our intention. That's what we're going to keep pushing them toward, even when the chips are stacked against them, when they're worn out, when they have to move to a new position.
 
That relentless way of playing and just coming at you all game, that's the biggest thing. The best offensive linemen I've been around, that's how they played the game. I played with Corey Levin, and he played the game that way. McClendon Curtis sure played the game that way. Cole Strange built his game off playing that way.
 
It's not complicated what makes a great offensive line or a great offensive lineman, but it is hard. It takes all-out effort, over and over and over again. That's what our guys are trying to work toward.
 
Brotherhood
I don't know if there's another position in sports where you execute your job so closely together. Everyone's communication and responsibility is based on the other guys' communication and responsibility. There's dialogue every play, and there's a bond between the things that go into playing on the line.
 
It's the same old cliche that we don't get respect or nobody understands. At Chattanooga, Coach Rusty Wright and the entire team stress the importance of the offensive line. So, it's (disrespect) not like that here, but it's inherent in the position.
 
There's not one true stat that measures your performance as an offensive lineman. It's someone else's stat. Sometimes, it's by what you see and how they're playing, not necessarily a thing you can measure. The togetherness comes from the fact that nobody really gets us but us.
 
Because the job is very unique. Your back is to the guy you're trying to protect. Your back is to the ballgame. It's the uniqueness of the position, the fundamental work that goes into the position, the grit of the position. You're in a battle with your brothers every snap.
 
I would say that's the biggest thing. And I've got good guys, too. They all get along and hang out together and enjoy each other's company. Even if they're not all best friends, they get along really well.
 
Versatility
Versatility is a big part of our success because it allows us to fit that puzzle together with who our best five are. And then, who's the next-best guy when we lose one of them? Who's the next man up? It's not always the second-string right guard who comes in for the starting right guard, you know?
 
You've got to move people around sometimes to get the best five on the field. That's just part of it. But we work with our guys and put them in the best position possible. What we're always searching for is the best combination. And that's what we'll always continue to do.
 
As an offensive line, we're in the trenches every play. It's not for the faint of heart, and it's not easy, but if we approach each play with a relentless spirit and attitude, we'll be in a great position to succeed.
 
And that's what we strive for every day.
 
Notes

• Senior BJ Ragland is a first team preseason All-SoCon pick in a vote of the league's coaches.
• Senior Tyrell Ragland started all 12 games a season ago at left guard.
• Sophomores Devin Lively and Nick Paul played significant snaps in a reserve role last season bringing back strong experience to the current group.
• Grad transfer Ryan Merklinger was a 3-year starter at Western Illinois.
• Three former Mocs frontmen are in the NFL: Corey Levin (Tennessee), Cole Strange (New England) & McClendon Curtis (Arizona). Levin's 71 NFL games played ranks 11th on the Mocs all-time list.

 
Hear from Tyrell Ragland
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, senior Tyrell Ragland 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.
 
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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