Mocs turn focus to summer

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team wrapped up spring practice Wednesday with a fast-paced, instructional session at Scrappy Moore Field.

Mocs coach Russ Huesman said the main purpose of the practice, coming after last Saturday's Blue and Gold game, was to show the players what they could do during voluntary, players-only workouts this summer.

"We're getting ready for summer," Huesman said. "Hopefully they kind of figured out what we want, drill-wise -- they should. Obviously the [skeleton] and team stuff are huge and they've got to organize it."

With the team and "skelly" sessions in mind, Huesman had the players conduct the final couple of periods of practice on their own -- without managers or coaches assisting.

"There's not going to be a coach or a manager for them this summer, so we wanted to see them get the ball spotted and run through everything," Huesman said.

During the past three summers it was quarterback B.J. Coleman that spearheaded the summer workouts. The number of players in town in June and July increased each year -- in part because of more summer school opportunities -- and linebacker Gunner Miller said that shouldn't change.

"All the coaches did a great job [Wednesday] of going through the drills in detail as far as how they wanted us to do them," Miller said. "I think it's probably going to be the most smooth offseason or summer we've had yet."

Huesman said he's counting on his top two quarterbacks, Terrell Robinson and Jacob Huesman, to be the summer leaders that Coleman was. Speaking as Jacob's father and not his coach, Huesman said that his son will be working out regularly.

"I'm a dad and my son is going to be doing this," Huesman said. "He's not missing anything; he'll be everywhere he has to be and I think Terrell will be the same way. I'm not Terrell's dad, so I'm not in charge of him eating and sleeping and everything. But I think it's important to Terrell and Jacob both, as well as Graham [Nichols]."

The bottom line, Huesman said: "How well they do will dictate how well we play next year. I think it's the most important time of the year."

Eager to return

For 14 spring workouts, fullback Taharin Tyson was stuck on the sideline while recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. He was cleared to run around with a helmet on and do non-contact drills just in time to put in some work Wednesday.

"It felt great to be able to come out here and compete a little bit," Tyson said. "I had to sit out the spring of my eighth-grade season, but it doesn't even compare to this."

Several players missed most or all of spring practice: tight end Jarrod Coleman (ankle), offensive linemen Taylor Dodds (knee), Synjen Herren (ankle) and Devin Caldwell (knee) and defensive tackle Josh Freeman (shoulder). Huesman said all of them should be ready to go by the time players report in early August.

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