Led by left tackle Chris Harr and cornerback Buster Skrine, six University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football players were voted preseason all-conference by the Southern Conference coaches.
The two seniors were named to the first team, while four other Mocs made the second team. The SoCon announced the all-conference teams Monday and released the coaches’ and media’s preseason polls.
The Mocs were picked to finish fourth in the league by the media and fifth by the coaches. Last season, the first under coach Russ Huesman, UTC went 4-4 in league play and tied for fourth.
“It’s great that these guys are getting recognized, and I think that’s the most important thing,” Huesman said. “Where they picked us in the league, I think anywhere from three to nine you could throw them in a hat and pick them out and probably be close.”
Junior quarterback B.J. Coleman was picked second-team All-SoCon along with sophomore defensive end Josh Williams, junior linebacker Ryan Consiglio and junior punter Mike Hammons. The Mocs’ six preseason selections were tied for third most in the SoCon.
“It’s a credit to (former UTC coach) Rodney Allison and his staff,” Huesman said. “They recruited most of these guys (everyone but Coleman and Williams), and they recruited some good players.”
One notable player left off the coaches’ list was junior safety Jordan Tippit, who was voted first-team all-conference by the media after last season and is a first-team pick in Phil Steele’s preseason magazine.
“There’s not many players in this league that are better than him,” Huesman said.
The media and the coaches picked Appalachian State to win the league, with Elon finishing second in both polls. The coaches voted Elon quarterback Scott Riddle as the offensive player of the year, and Samford linebacker Bryce Smith was projected as the top defensive player.
The Mocs open their season against ASU’s five-time defending SoCon champion Mountaineers at Finley Stadium on Sept. 4.
Extra points
The Mocs report to preseason camp on Aug. 4 and will begin practice at 3:30 p.m. at Scrappy Moore Field. ... Huesman said he expects everyone to report except redshirt freshman offensive lineman David Clemons, who has decided to give up football and plans to transfer to another school.
John Frierson is in his fifth year at the Times Free Press and fifth year covering University of Tennessee at Chattanooga athletics. The bulk of his time is spent covering Mocs football, but he also writes about women’s basketball and the big-picture issues and news involving the athletic department. A native of Athens, Ga., John grew up a few hundred yards from the University of Georgia campus. Instead of becoming a Bulldog he attended Ole ...
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