Mocs will be thin at defensive tackle against ASU

Nothing is official yet, but University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football coach Russ Huesman said defensive tackle Keyon Reed probably will not play Saturday when the 14th-ranked Mocs visit No. 3 Appalachian State.

Reed was arrested Sunday on a domestic assault charge stemming from a Sept. 6 incident at an ex-girlfriend's off-campus home.

"The university will have some say in it; [athletic director Rick Hart] will have some say in it. He's probably not going to play," Huesman said. "I haven't had, officially, somebody say to me that he can't play. You get his side of the story and you hear what's happening. We're preparing like we won't have him."

Reed participated in Tuesday's practice, working primarily with the scout team. His absence Saturday, combined with senior Nick Davison's knee injury, will leave UTC even shorter on numbers and experience at defensive tackle.

Reed, a redshirt freshman, and true freshman Josh Freeman started at the tackle positions last Saturday at Eastern Kentucky. Another redshirt freshman, Devin Scates, likely would take Reed's spot.

True freshman Toyvian Brand played for the first time last Saturday and will be the third man in the rotation at defensive tackle.

"We've got three good ones. I don't know what's going to happen with Keyon, but we've got three that can run," Huesman said. "They're not the biggest dudes in the world, but they can run. And as long as you keep speed on the field, we'll be fine."

Davison suffered a torn ACL in his left knee against Jacksonville State. There is a small amount of hope that he might be able to play with the injury, but Huesman said he wasn't too optimistic about it.

"He looks halfway decent walking around, but you just never know on those things," the coach said. "We're going to go through this week and see where he is and see what kind of progress he's making."

The senior still has a redshirt year available, so if he sits the rest of this season he could return in 2012.

ASU duo in limbo

Appalachian State coach Jerry Moore suspended two starters -- cornerback Ed Gainey and linebacker/defensive end Lanston Tanyi -- for last week's game against Savannah State for violating team rules.

Moore said during Tuesday's Southern Conference teleconference that he hasn't yet made a decision on whether they will play against the Mocs.

Extra points

Running back Chris Awuah (ankle), left tackle Taylor Dodds (concussion) and backup defensive back Don Cope (knee) did not practice Tuesday. Running back J.J. Jackson (knee) practiced for the first time since getting injured against Nebraska. ... The Mocs' last victory at Appalachian State came in 1984, which was the year of UTC's only playoff appearance and last SoCon championship.

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