Nobody on the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga defense, and perhaps the whole team, has turned more heads this preseason than defensive end Chris Donald.
Here's strong safety Jordan Tippit following last Friday's scrimmage: "Chris Donald, he's come in and the lights have come on with this cat. He's balling out right now."
In other words, the junior transfer from Tennessee is playing quite well. Mocs coach Russ Huesman said there is "light years difference" between the way the 6-foot-1, 230-pound Donald played during spring practice and what he's doing in the preseason.
Donald agrees. He began spring practice at linebacker before moving to defensive end, where UTC was looking for a replacement for Josh Beard, who led the nation with 12 sacks last season and was the Southern Conference defensive player of the year.
Defensive ends coach Marcus West said Donald has "the potential to just take over a practice, and that's kind of what we saw in Josh Beard at times last year."
Donald's speed made him an effective pass rusher from the outset, but he has worked hard on his technique and physique to become a solid run stopper.
"When I first got here I didn't really know what to do, the technique and all that goes along with playing their form of defensive end," he said. "I think I'm playing at a better level than I was in the spring, but I've got to keep on pushing and keep grinding every day.
"In the spring I was getting bombed and getting driven off the ball. I've put on a little weight and that kind of helped. I'm up to about 230 now and I feel good."
Donald, a former five-star recruit out of Huntingdon (Tenn.) High School, quietly went about his business in the spring. He was the new guy playing a new position and mostly kept his head down and worked.
Now, after a productive summer working out with his teammates, he's become a spirited leader.
"His energy has been better than anybody's on the football team," Huesman said.
Perhaps the best person to judge Donald's improvement is right tackle Adam Miller. Donald typically lines up at left end, so Miller faces the challenge of blocking him on a regular basis.
"What he brings to the position is he's got the speed to come off the edge, but he's got the strength to handle the run," Miller said. "That's one thing I've noticed more in the preseason than I did in the spring. Now he understands the position and now he's playing like he can."
Donald's emergence, coupled with the continued good play of Josh Williams, gives the Mocs two dynamic defensive ends that could be the best tandem in the SoCon - just like they had last season in Williams, who had seven sacks as a true freshman, and Beard.
"It leaves us with another 1-2 punch," West said. "I feel good with what we've got."
Extra points
Freshman running back Keon Williams (ankle) and freshman kicker Nick Pollard (hip) were held out of both practices Tuesday. Both should return in a day or two. ... Linebacker Bo Dyer attended the evening practice. Dyer, who will miss the season after a blood clot was discovered in his lungs, said the clot is now gone and he feels good. He received a warm ovation at the end of practice.