Local players boost Chattanooga Mocs in playoff run

UTC's Keon Williams, a former Red Bank standout, is one of many local players on the Mocs' roster.

Earning the right to wear a college football uniform is the dream of most every player from pee-wee to the preps level. A large portion of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga roster has the added prideful bonus of wearing the power 'C' on their helmets and representing their hometown program.

A total of 25 UTC players -- including several starters and key contributors -- plus two coaches played prep football within 60-miles of Chattanooga, and many of them admitted helping the hometown program turn things around and make a run in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs is especially satisfying.

"It means more to us local guys, I think," said sophomore defensive end Keionta Davis, a former Red Bank star. "When I grew up I really didn't hear that much about Chattanooga football. Now it feels good to be a part of bringing that name back as one of the best teams in the country. It's pretty special to see people talking about our program in a positive way and seeing that logo and our city's name on those brackets.

"You always think about having your former teachers and neighbors and people I grew up with my whole life being in the stands or watching. There's nothing like seeing people you know around town, or walking down the street or out eating somewhere and they come up to speak to you and tell you how proud they are."

Davis is among the most productive of the Mocs' local players, earning second-team All Southern Conference honors with 10.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He and senior Zach Rayl, who played at McMinn Central, rotate at defensive end. Rayl has been the starter in all 13 games.

Keon Williams, another former Red Bank star, is the Mocs leading rusher, while Baylor grad Jacob Huesman is the league's two-time offensive Player of the Year and another former Baylor player, Henrique Ribeiro, is the team's leading scorer and an all-conference kicker. Freshmen Jacob Revis (Rhea County) and Hunter Townson (Ider) start on an offensive line that has paved the way for nearly 400 yards per game and several other area players help on special teams or as reserves.

Saturday's 35-14 second-round win over Indiana State, which drew a Finley Stadium crowd of 8,419, advances the Mocs to the quarterfinals where they will travel to No. 1 overall seed New Hampshire. That game, Friday at 8 p.m. on ESPN2, is the only Division I college football game being played nationally that night, which will bring even more exposure to Chattanooga. The other three quarterfinal games will be played Saturday.

Receivers coach Will Healy played high school ball at Boyd-Buchanan and tight ends coach Chris Harr at Notre Dame and both assistants use their local ties to help in recruiting.

UTC players, and coach Russ Huesman, center, with son Levi Huesman, sing the alma mater after defeating Indiana State Saturday at Finley Stadium.

More than half of UTC's local players (13) played for a public or private school in Hamilton County, while the others came to the program from Cleveland, Dayton, Englewood, Pikeville as well towns in northwest Georgia -- Calhoun, Dalton, Tunnel Hill (Ga.) and Ider (Ala.).

UTC coach Russ Huesman's philosophy on recruiting local talent differs from some of his peers and is certainly a change from previous Mocs coaches who were often criticized for a lack of area players on the roster.

"Some (coaches) are under the philosophy that if he's not a great local player don't take him because it'll only cause you problems," Coach Huesman said. "I disagree. I say you take them. We've done that and been fortunate with the ones we've taken locally. We won't get them all, but it's a priority.

"There are some we don't go after just because they don't fit our needs at the time, and we won't take a kid because we think it'll put a few more people to the stands. We take them if they can help us win games. It's definitely cool when we have certain team functions, like the selection show, and there are parents there because they live close by."

UTC picks up second commitment

The Mocs got their second commitment for the 2015 signing class when Dobyns-Bennett offensive lineman Taylor Helton verbally pledged over the weekend. The versatile 6-foot-4, 285 pound Helton has played every line position during his career, starting at guard as a junior and tackle this year and could project as a center at the collegiate level.

The Mocs are expected to take at least three and possibly four offensive linemen in this class. Helton, who attended UTC's playoff game Saturday with his parents, had offers from East Tennessee State University, Austin Peay and Campbell University.

"I'll play wherever they need me to," Helton said. "It seemed like a good environment around the campus and town and them being a playoff team definitely helped my decision. You can tell they're going in the right direction and I think they'll be picking up more speed and not slowing down anytime soon."

Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293.