The race is on.
It has been on all season, and it's going to have to be on even more today.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga defensive linemen will be tasked with putting an extreme amount of pressure on quarterback Devlin Hodges this afternoon, when the third-ranked Mocs (3-0, 1-0) host Samford (2-0, 0-0) at Finley Stadium. The Southern Conference game starts at 2 p.m.
The defensive ends and tackles have eight of UTC's 10 sacks three games into the season. That ranks in a tie for 11th in the country.
The linemen have had a friendly battle going on among the group, with senior defensive end Vantrel McMillan leading the way with four, which ranks seventh in the country. Fellow end Keionta Davis has two, including one last week.
On his sack, both Davis and McMillan converged on Furman quarterback Reese Hannon. McMillan actually got a hand on Hannon first, but Davis cleaned it up. While Davis quickly celebrated with teammates, McMillan sat on his knees, arms in the air.
That close.
"I completely understand it, because we all want sacks," Davis said of McMillan's reaction.
"Don't forget, I played with Davis Tull."
Six linemen have had at least half a sack for the Mocs, proving both their depth and their hunger to get more.
"Everybody is trying to get to the ball," defensive tackle Justin King said. "It's a race, so every time we get our call and we know a pass is coming, it's a race, so whoever gets there first wins. It's not a jealousy factor; it's 'Man, that was mine.'"
Linebacker Nakevion Leslie understands the battle going on in front of his group. The linemen go hard in practice, and that's translated to the games. The team's ability to get pressure with four players has lessened the need to be too exotic with blitz packages, although Leslie did wind up sharing credit for sacks with tackles Taylor Reynolds and Isaiah Mack last week.
"Those guys are sack-hungry," said Leslie, who has nine career sacks. "I told them that it's their job. Me? I'm the cleanup guy and they better not miss, because I'll come out of nowhere and clean it up for them."
The Mocs had more than 30 pressures last week against Furman and will need a similar number this afternoon against the Bulldogs, who have thrown 87 passes in two games. Samford coach Chris Hatcher called Davis and McMillan "probably the best defensive end tandem in the country," and UTC coach Russ Huesman knows all of the linemen - including end D.J. Prather - are going to have to get into the backfield to disrupt Hodges, who has the ability to pick apart opponents if he has the time to throw, evidenced by his 595 yards passing and eight touchdowns in his first two games.
"What I like about our guys is that nobody is selfish," Huesman said. "It's not about 'me, me, I or I.' They're all in this thing together and they're happy for any of the success any of our guys have, whether it's Nakevion, Keionta, Vantrel, Isaiah Mack - it's whatever happens, and that's what makes it a good thing."
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.