Joel Bradford had a sidekick at wide receiver last season in Brian Sutherland. Now he needs a new one.
If the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga offense is going to be productive throwing the ball -- it was No. 11 in the Football Championship Subdivision in 2010 with 277.2 yards a game -- quarterback B.J. Coleman must have multiple targets. And Bradford needs another wideout to emerge or else the All-American is going to be swarmed by defensive backs.
"We've got to find some receivers that are willing to make a catch," offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield said. "Joel's going to make his catches and we've got to find some other ones, and whoever steps up will be on the plane going to Nebraska [for the opener] and the ones that don't will sit here and eat lunch at the new cafeteria."
Marlon Anthony, a 6-foot-5 sophomore, is expected to be that second weapon. He's had a good preseason for the most part but wasn't a factor for the offense in last Saturday's scrimmage.
Anthony, who had 17 catches for 195 yards in 2010, knows that can't happen during the season.
"I know I definitely need to step it up," he said after Tuesday's practice. "I haven't been making the plays that I know I can make, but come September third, I'm going to make sure I'm as good as I can be."
Throughout the preseason, Anthony has been using his height, long strides and reach to beat UTC's cornerbacks on deep balls. It's the shorter routes where he needs the work, he said.
"I know I've dropped a few balls, but I know I can catch the ball," he said. "It's definitely my route running [that I need to work on] and coming off the ball a little faster and separating."
Cornerback Kadeem Wise said UTC needs those second and third guys to emerge so defenses can't just focus on Bradford, as Wise did last Saturday on a third-and-4 play that resulted in a Wise interception.
"Everybody in the country's going to be sitting on Joel, so we're going to need other people to step up," Wise said.
While one of the true freshmen, Tommy Hudson or Ron Moore, could develop into a deep threat, and quarterback Terrell Robinson's role as a wideout will continue to grow as he recovers from turf toe, it's Anthony who has to do more than show "flashes of being really good," head coach Russ Huesman said.
"We can't talk about it anymore," Huesman said. "He's got to do it."
Extra points
Among the players who joined the Mocs on Tuesday now that school has started was offensive lineman Dustin Tate, who is ineligible this season but will practice with the scout team. Tate has started two games each of the past two seasons. ... UTC is holding its annual "30 Minutes or Less" season-ticket promotion today. UTC staff members must deliver tickets ordered today in a half-hour or less or they're free. For more information call the ticket office at 266-MOCS.