Overview
The 2026 football season is right around the corner. One of the great harbingers of it occurred today in Greenville, S.C., with the annual Southern Conference Media Day. The Chattanooga Mocs were joined by their nine conference mates as the league put the final bow on what portends to be an exciting present for fans around the league.
 
This year's preseason poll and all-conference prognostications were shared as the Mocs contingent of Coach Rusty Wright, fourth-year linebacker Zion Rutledge and third-year center Devin Lively met with local, regional and national outlets.
 
First Thought
"You know football season is coming up fast when we're able to gather as a conference and share some thoughts about our teams each year here. We're a week away from starting fall camp and less than 40 days from kickoff at West Georgia. We like our group and look forward to competing every week. That's what you can always count on in the SoCon. You've got to be ready to go every Saturday." – Coach Rusty Wright
 
Preseason Poll
1. Mercer (6 1st-place votes): 76 total points
2. Tennessee Tech (3): 70
3. ETSU (1): 61
4. Western Carolina: 58
5. Chattanooga: 48
6. Furman: 46
7. Wofford: 36
8. Samford: 23
9. The Citadel: 22
10. VMI: 10
 
All-Conference Teams
Offensive Player of the Year: Brayden Smith, WR/RS, Mercer
Defensive Player of the Year: Joshua Stoneking, DL, Furman
 
First team offense
QB - Quentin Hayes, The Citadel
RB - Jason Albritton, ETSU
RB - Leo Boehling, VMI
OL - Aidan Donald, Chattanooga
OL - Tyler Heggins-Hill, The Citadel
OL - Will McCraw, ETSU
OL - Brody Balliew, Mercer
OL - Tyler Murray, Mercer
TE - Charlie Browder, ETSU
WR - Brayden Smith, Mercer
WR - Preston Bird, Samford
 
First team defense
DL - Orlando Daniels, Chattanooga
DL - Brenden LeBlanc, ETSU
DL - Joshua Stoneking, Furman
DL - Kobe McInnis, Mercer
LB - Zion Rutledge, Chattanooga
LB - Raleigh Herbert, Furman
LB - Jyarius Carter, Mercer
DB - Kam Baah-Slay, Chattanooga
DB - Mike Jenkins, ETSU
DB - Ken Moore Jr, Western Carolina
DB - Eli Campbell, Wofford
 
First team specialists
PK - Ewan Johnson, ETSU
P - Ben Shrewsbury, VMI
LS - Tommy DiLiegro, The Citadel
RS - Brayden Smith, Mercer
 
Second team offense
QB - Jax Leatherwood, Tennessee Tech
RB - Marcus Harris, Tennessee Tech
RB - Gerald Modest, Wofford
OL - Chris Luna, Furman
OL - Noah Watts, Samford
OL - Eric Nunez, Tennessee Tech
OL - Bryce Burnett, VMI
OL - Zach Watson, Western Carolina
OL - Reggie Houston, Wofford
TE - Gerard Grewe, Tennessee Tech
WR - Josh Williams, Chattanooga
WR - AJ Colombo, Western Carolina
 
Second team defense
DL - Ky Tayo, Chattanooga
DL - Demetrius Baldwin, Furman
DL - Elihu Lipscomb, Furman
DL - Ramon McCollough, Wofford
LB - Dre Delinois, ETSU
LB - Isaiah Grevious, VMI
LB - Wyatt Ward, Wofford
DB - Jivon Oggs, ETSU
DB - AK Burrell, Furman
DB - Josh Tarver, Furman
DB - Jalen Nelson, Samford
 
Second team specialists
PK - Sam Spence, Wofford
P - Heath Jehu, Chattanooga
LS - Brock Winstead, ETSU
LS - Aidan Barr, Samford
RS - Caleb Easterling, Furman
Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players or team
 
Notable

• 50th SoCon season in school history.
• Winningest program in the SoCon over last 15 conference schedules both in wins (73) and win percentage (.640/73-41). Samford (66-50), Furman (65-51) and Wofford (63-52) also have 60+ wins, while Mercer (.585), Samford (.569), Furman (.560) & the Terriers (.548) are also above .500 over that span.
• 13 returning starters in 2026 after just five in 2025. Last season 29 Mocs made their first career starts at UTC covering 23 different positions.
• Rutledge and Baah-Slay were both second team All-SoCon picks in 2025.

 
Tickets on Sale
Season tickets are on sale now. The Mocs are keeping prices consistent with the 2025 offerings. Fans renewing season tickets can do so by signing into their account on GoMocs.com/tickets with new purchases available here on GoMocs.com. Mini-plans are also available.
 
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