Here are three things to watch for today:
› 1. The progression of the quarterbacks. Alejandro Bennifield, heir apparent to three-time SoCon offensive player of the year Jacob Huesman, has improved this spring, and he completed 65 percent of his 20 passes with no turnovers in the second scrimmage. His arm strength and athletic ability can’t be questioned; to see how well he has progressed from the first practice to today is the primary objective. Equally important will be the development of backup Tyler Roberson, who is now getting a lot more snaps in the jump from third-string to second. He is more of a scrambler, and the coaching staff has been trying to improve his pocket presence.› 2. What’s happening at tight end. Bailey Lenoir has been one of the most surprising players of the spring. Practices began with excitement around the possibility of former basketball player and athletic freak Duke Ethridge coming out to exercise the year of football eligibility he had remaining, but that lasted all of four practices. Steve Pickren, who started seven games last year, chose not to play his final season. That has opened the door for the 6-foot-4, 245-pound Lenoir, who has proven to be a solid blocker and an above-average receiver, to move into a battle with junior Malcolm Colvin at the position. After the tight ends combined to catch one pass last year, Lenoir provides an intriguing option.› 3. Depth at cornerback. Coaches have played with the option of moving Trevor Wright, who has started 19 games in his two-year career at cornerback, to dimeback (sixth defensive back). For that to be possible, they were going to have to feel comfortable about the other players competing for time at cornerback. They got just that with sophomore C.J. Fritz — who has great length and speed — being one of the standout players in the spring and redshirt freshman D.J. Williams emerging as a backup. Their improvements from winter workouts and through the spring have given the staff confidence they’ll have two capable bodies opposite 2015 all-conference honoree Dee Virgin.
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football coach Russ Huesman has seen the ups and downs of spring practices.
Some players have taken a step forward. Others have flatlined where they are. Some have taken a step back.
The good thing for all of the Mocs is they'll have one final chance to show what they're capable of before spring turns to summer.
This afternoon's Blue and White Game, which begins at 2 at Finley Stadium, ends a four-week, 15-practice grind for the Mocs. The team has gone through heat, rain and seemingly all of the elements this spring, but they'll finish by playing an intrasquad scrimmage in front of fans.
"I want to see guys compete and play with a lot of energy in this game," Huesman said. "I want them to play assignment-sound and there not be too many mental busts by some of the young guys. You hope by the time you get to 15 (practices), you wouldn't have busts.
"We're trying to not play some of our guys that have played a lot of football, but at some positions it's impossible not to. We just want to keep developing the young guys and make sure our quarterbacks take care of the football."
The Blue team will be primarily made up of first-team offensive players and second-team defensive players and be guest-coached by Robert Dooley, dean of the UTC College of Business. The White team will feature the first-team defense and second-team offense and be guest-coached by Gary McDonald, head of the mechanical engineering department.
Huesman said versatile back Richardre Bagley and defensive back Trevor Wright, who are nursing injuries, will not play.
In conjunction with the game, a free kids' football clinic will be held at noon at the stadium (registration begins at 11:45 a.m.), and that will be followed by the inaugural wings cook-off contest among 20 teams. The day will also include a celebration of last year's Southern Conference title, the program's third straight, as players receive their championship rings at halftime.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenleytfp.