Sutherland set to join Mocs, start classes

Russ Huesman received his first commitment Saturday when Brian Sutherland told the new University of Tenenssee at Chattanooga football coach that he was transferring to play for the Mocs.

Sutherland, a freshman from Smyrna, Ga., who wanted to get closer to home, redshirted this season at Miami (Ohio) and will start attending classes at UTC on Monday. He has four years of eligibility.

“It’s a relief for me and my family to have this decision out of the way, and I’m looking forward to coming to Chattanooga,” said Sutherland, who said he plans to major in chemistry.

The 5-foot-10, 170-pound Sutherland was a defensive back at Miami but is hoping to move to wide receiver. He arrived in town Friday and said he was impressed with the campus — especially the new weight room in the Lawson Center — and with Huesman and recruiting coordinator Jason McManus, who was retained from former coach Rodney Allison’s staff.

“It was nice to finally meet those guys in person because it had just been a verbal thing (over the phone) to this point,” he said. “I liked how Coach Huesman kept talking about winning and winning championships. You could tell how excited he was (to be at UTC).”

Sutherland and Mocs sophomore cornerback Chris Lewis-Harris were teammates at Campbell High School, and Sutherland said he’s looking forward to playing with his good friend again.

“It will be a little like going back to high school being on the same team with Chris,” he said.

Sutherland averaged 20.3 yards a punt return and 31.7 yards on kickoff returns and had 1,050 all-purpose yards his senior season at Campbell and was named all-state as a returner.