Cedric Nettles strong as first-year safety starter for UTC Mocs

UTC defensive back Cedric Nettles (35) tackles Jacksonville State wide receiver Josh Barge during the Mocs' home football game against the Gamecocks.

Cedric Nettles has turned one of the biggest question marks on the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football defense into a team strength. And much as he does when bringing down opposing ball carriers, the redshirt sophomore has done so emphatically.

Nettles got only limited action last year backing up all-conference senior D.J. Key, which meant the strong safety position was one of the most inexperienced spots on an otherwise veteran defense going into the 2014 season.

But since the season opener, the 6-foot, 190-pound Nettles has been consistently atop the leaders in tackles, and his 32 total stops (10.7 per game) rank second in the Southern Conference. Of that tackle total, 22 are solos.

"We were a little concerned coming in. We weren't sure how good he was going to be," Mocs coach Russ Huesman said. "Eventually it's your turn, and when it's your turn you either show up and play or we'll find somebody else. We challenged Ced and he's risen to the challenge.

"It's night and day from last year for him. Ced's done a really good job of working hard at it. He's one of the most dependable guys we've got, and he's been as good as we want there."

Nettles, one of 27 Georgia natives on the roster, played in 11 games last year, mostly on special teams, and finished the season with 13 tackles, including six against UT-Martin. He nearly equaled that total in the season opener at Central Michigan and has been the Mocs' leading tackler each of the last two games, also making two for loss against Austin Peay.

"The biggest difference is actually doing it instead of just watching," Nettles said. "Last year, being behind D.J., I knew I was going to get a lot of mental reps and that was about it. It was really tough to just watch because you come from being 'the guy' in high school to having to sit back and watch. It's a shot to the ego, but you learn from it. You mature more from watching and learning, and now I try to take what I've learned out onto the field."

Samford, this week's opponent, leads the SoCon in scoring with 43 points per game, which ranks sixth nationally. The Mocs are second in scoring defense, allowing 17.3 points per game.

Nettles is athletic enough to cover passing lanes as well as come up on runs to make tackles near the line, and he's becoming known for delivering a blow when he does make a stop.

"Ced's going to try to throw his whole body in there," said Brandon Cooper, who coaches UTC's safeties. "He developed himself in the offseason and really worked at it as far as studying film and doing the things he needed to do to make himself a better player. All that is starting to show now.

"Last year he knew he was a backup, so his study habits weren't as important to him. Now that he's the guy he knows how to get himself prepared for every Saturday. And a lot of it is just his want-to. He's the type kid that wants to get better and wants to make plays for us and is willing to work to get there."

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