Overview
'' NAMES YOU KNOW Arth was able to reaffirm the commitments of Bradley Central quarterback Cole Copeland and Walker Valley receiver Bryce Nunnelly and secure the late commitment of offensive lineman McClendon Curtis. With his 6-foot-7, 310-pound frame and incredible length, Curtis will compete for time immediately. Copeland will probably have the opportunity to compete for the starting job in 2018. Nunnelly will receive opportunities on special teams as well as at receiver as a freshman. '' NAMES YOU WILL KNOW With a dearth of running backs, Chris Broadwater has the size and skill that will remind people of former Mocs running back Keon Williams, who rushed for 2,379 yards and 30 touchdowns. Brandon Dowdell was a highly sought defensive back who turned down a number of FBS programs to attend UTC. '' NAMES YOU WILL MISS The UTC coaching staff felt good about its chances of getting linebacker Tim Frizzell, who had committed to the Mocs over Richmond and former UTC coach Russ Huesman late last week. Then swooped in Appalachian State, who offered the 6-2, 225-pound linebacker a scholarship Tuesday afternoon. Frizzell committed and signed with the program without ever having visited the campus. POSITION BREAKDOWN: Quarterbacks: 2 Running backs: 1 Wide receivers/tight ends: 4 Offensive linemen: 2 Defensive linemen: 1 Linebackers: 3 Defensive backs: 5 Kickers: 1
WEDNESDAY SIGNEES
K Jacob Bailey
- Town: Mt. Juliet, Tenn. (Mt. Juliet)
- Height/Weight: 6-1, 170
- 247Sports.com: n/a
- Bailey was an all-region specialist and new coach Tom Arth's final commitment. He hit a school-record 56-yard field goal in his career, was 11-for-14 on field-goal tries as a senior with five field goals of 45 yards or more and was 25-for-35 for his career. He also averaged 42 yards per punt, played in the Toyota East-West All-Star Game and helped the Golden Bears to a 9-3 record and the district title as a senior.
"I'm very excited about Jacob," Arth said. "He's an outstanding kicker who came to us highly recommended from a number of well-trusted sources in the kicking industry. As a kickoff specialist, he has performed at a high level and showcases great ability to get up and through the ball, giving his kickoffs great depth as well as hang time. Jacob is also a very talented punter and has the ability to perform all three kicking responsibilities."
RB Chris Broadwater
- Town: Tucker, Ga. (Tucker)
- Height/Weight: 6-0, 210
- 247Sports.com: HH
- Broadwater rushed for 1,197 yards and 22 touchdowns as a senior, helping the Tigers to a 14-1 record and a berth in the state championship game. He made the Atlanta Journal-Constitution all-metro team, was honorable mention and was MVP of the Battle of the Borders (Georgia-Florida).
"Chris is an incredible player," Arth said. "When you are out on the road recruiting, all the high school coaches bring him up. They are all impressed an overly excited for us to have him. He is a big, strong and physical back. He runs with great pad level and plays with his shoulders square to the line of scrimmage. He is the type of back that will wear the defense out over the course of the game. He has the speed to make big plays, and we are excited about what he will bring for us in the fourth quarter."
DB Ronnie Collins
- Town: Lake City, Fla. (Columbia)
- Height/Weight: 6-1, 180
- 247Sports.com: n/a
- Collins was an all-area defensive back and earned second-team All-First Coast honors in 2016. He had 50 tackles, five interceptions and two defensive touchdowns as a senior.
"Ronnie is a very exciting player," Arth said. "He comes from one of the top high school programs in the state of Florida and he played for a coach who played for Florida State, then in the NFL. Ronnie has incredible ball skills and excellent range in the deep part of the field. He's long and athletic and gives our defense and our secondary the opportunity to play the way we want to play. He's a versatile athlete that I think can play multiple positions for us in the secondary."
QB Cole Copeland
- Town: Cleveland, Tenn. (Bradley Central)
- Height/Weight: 6-4, 200
- 247Sports.com: HH
- Copeland was a two-time all-state quarterback who threw for more than 6,000 yards, rushed for 2,000 and had 70 touchdowns in his career. He was a two-time Tennessee Mr. Football semifinalist for Class AAA back of the year despite battling injuries his senior season. The UTC staff thinks he could turn into a "225-230-pound" guy.
"He is a local student-athlete that we are incredibly excited about," Arth said. "We feel like he is the best quarterback in the state of Tennessee this year. He has great stature for the position. He has great talent and comes from a very athletic family. We love his leadership and competitiveness. He processes information quickly and has the ability to operate from a tight pocket but can also escape and make plays out on the edge."
OL McClendon Curtis
- Town: Chattanooga (Central)
- Height/Weight: 6-7, 310
- 247Sports.com: HHH
- Curtis, who also excels at basketball, had his recruiting blow up late in the process. He received late offers from Football Bowl Subdivision programs Appalachian State, Georgia Southern, Middle Tennessee State, Ohio, Temple and Western Kentucky but ultimately chose the Mocs over UT-Martin.
"I remember the first day that I was able to get out on the road, I was in Chattanooga Central and had the opportunity to meet McClendon," Arth said. "I saw this guy come walking through the door and instantly fell in love. He's got an incredible personality, he's got a great smile and just an incredible way about him. He's just an incredible athlete for the position, and we feel that McClendon is going to be the type of player that you can build a program around."
OL Dakota Davis
- Town: Knoxville (Bearden)
- Height/Weight: 6-3, 275
- 247Sports.com: HH
- Davis, whose father Antone was an All-American at Tennessee and spent eight seasons in the NFL, was an all-region offensive lineman and a member of the PrepXtra first team in 2016. He graduated from Bearden in December and already has enrolled at UTC.
"The thing that excites me the most about Dakota is how much coming to UTC meant to him," Arth said. "This was a situation where he had offers from a lot of different places and from the moment that we called him, he was all in. He is physical in the run game and has the athletic ability to pass protect."
DB Brandon Dowdell
- Town: Cordele, Ga. (Crisp County)
- Height/Weight: 5-10, 195
- 247Sports.com: HH
- Dowdell was an all-state defensive back who had seven interceptions, eight pass breakups and 39 tackle to go with 631 yards of total offense and seven touchdowns in 2016. He chose the Mocs over FBS offers from Georgia Southern, Georgia State, South Alabama and Western Kentucky.
"Coach (Shelton) Felton has done an incredible job coaching him," Arth said of Dowdell. "The way they play, the type of scheme, the multiplicity in how they play has just prepared him so well to come into our program and contribute immediately. He has the ability to play all four positions in our secondary. He is also an incredibly versatile player on special teams, and he will add a lot of value there."
LB Zach Feaster
- Town: Opelika, Ala. (Beauregard)
- Height/Weight: 6-2, 215
- 247Sports.com: n/a
- Feaster was a two-time all-state defensive back who had 134 tackles and four interceptions as a senior. He also led the Hornets to a 13-1 record and the Class 5A title in his final campaign.
"Zach is a versatile player with a high football intelligence," Arth said. "He plays the game fast and he's an outstanding open-field tackler. We're looking forward to his versatility and everything that he can do for us in our defense, not only as a linebacker but also somebody who can blitz and cover down. He will be a great special teams player for us as well."
WR Jordan Ferguson
- Town: Knoxville (Bearden)
- Height/Weight: 6-3, 200
- 247Sports.com: HH
- Ferguson was an all-region selection at Bearden and voted "most athletic" at the same school that Davis attended. He had 40 catches for 624 yards and nine touchdowns and will help provide depth at receiver.
"Jordan brings great size and athleticism to our team," Arth said. "He was an outstanding safety in high school, so we know he is going to be a physical wide receiver. We will to create one-on-one matchups for Jordan, as he will most likely play our 'X' position and be a difficult matchup for a lot of corners due to his size, length and ability to run."
DB D.J. Jackson
- Town: Fort White, Fla. (Fort White)
- Height/Weight: 6-1, 185
- 247Sports.com: n/a
- Jackson was a two-time all-state athlete who threw for 1,392 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior while also running for 228 yards and eight scores. He also had five interceptions and 48 tackles and lettered also in basketball, baseball and track. His father, Fort White head coach Demetric, played for Steve Spurrier at Florida and on a national championship team.
"D.J. can be that true field general in our secondary," Arth said. "He has great range and great ball skills. I think his arms measured at 33 inches, which was longer than any defensive back at the Senior Bowl. I'm really thrilled about D.J. and what he will be able to bring to our secondary."
TE Parker Mallett
- Town: Tyrone, Ga. (Sandy Creek)
- Height/Weight: 6-3, 220
- 247Sports.com: n/a
- Mallett earned all-state honorable mention as a tight end as a junior and was an all-region baseball player. He's shown the ability to make plays in the passing game, evidenced by a 79-yard catch-and-run against Cairo in the Class AAAA state playoffs.
"Parker comes from a great family," Arth said. "His father is a pastor and Parker is so involved in his community through his church. He is a kid with an engaging personality and will be an incredible leader in our program. We feel he is a versatile player at tight end, and this is really important to the way we play and the way we use that position. Parker is going to be excellent in the run game and will also be a matchup problem in the secondary. He is great with the ball in his hands after the catch."
DB Jabril Malone
- Town: Memphis (Whitehaven)
- Height/Weight: 5-11, 190
- 247Sports.com: HH
' Malone was a big piece of the Whitehaven team that had an unblemished record and a Class 6A state championship in 2016. For his career, he had 19 interceptions, three sacks and five blocked field goals, showing the ability to make plays at all areas on the field.
"Jabril is able to play in the deep part of the field," Arth said. "What is so exciting about him is how well he moves around at safety. He will come out of the top and strike you. He is a very physical, talented player and we are very excited to welcome him to our program."
DL Devonnsha Maxwell
- Town: Valdosta, Ga. (Valdosta)
- Height/Weight: 6-2, 250
- 247Sports.com: n/a
- Maxwell earned all-state honors in 2016 for the Wildcats, helping them to the Class AAAAAA state title. He totaled 69 tackles, 10 for loss, 5.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery and twice won the team's best defensive lineman award.
"Devonnsha is one of the most versatile defensive linemen that we have seen on film, and he can play inside and outside," Arth said. "He plays the run well and can rush the passer. He has a great family and personality, and a lot of people on campus see him and are reminded of Keionta (Davis), and I think that's an incredible compliment and one that we are really excited about."
WR Bryce Nunnelly
- Town: Cleveland, Tenn. (Walker Valley)
- Height/Weight: 6-2, 185
- 247Sports.com: HH
- Nunnelly helped the Mustangs to their first-ever playoff win in 2016 as a senior, when he had 46 catches for 794 yards and eight scores. He also had 70 total tackles, two for loss, an interception and a fumble recovery. He is an all-region basketball player and an all-state decathlete.
"I think what shows up the most when you watch Bryce is his competitiveness," Arth said. "So often you see Bryce is the best player on the field, offensively, defensively and on special teams. He is one of those guys that you know is going to give you everything he has every single day. We could not be more excited to welcome him to our program."
LB Jahsari Patterson
- Town: Cairo, Ga. (Cairo)
- Height/Weight: 6-0, 205
- 247Sports.com: n/a
- Patterson was a first-team all-state selection for the Syrupmakers with 105 tackles (seven for loss), two sacks, nine quarterback pressures and an interception. He also lettered in wrestling and played basketball as a sophomore.
"Jahsari has an incredible personality, one of the most competitive guys I've been around," Arth said. "The moment he stepped on campus for his visit, he brought so much energy. You could just tell there is something different about him and something really special. He runs incredibly well. I think one of his best traits is how well he tackles. He is a very good open-field tackler and violent on contact."
DB Jamal Thomas
- Town: Cairo, Ga. (Cairo)
- Height/Weight: 5-11, 170
- 247Sports.com: n/a
- Thomas was an all-region defensive back who had 46 tackles and six pass breakups in 2016. He also ran track and lettered in wrestling.
"Jamal is one of the fastest guys in the state of Georgia," Arth said. "He is an incredible track athlete and great long jumper. He played both sides of the ball in high school and adds great value on special teams as a returner. He can play all four positions in the secondary and displays great range and ball skills."
QB Nick Tiano
- Town: Chattanooga (Mississippi State)
- Height/Weight: 6-4, 240
- 247Sports.com: HHH
- Tiano transfers to the Mocs with three seasons remaining. He saw action in five games as a redshirt freshman for MSU, competing one pass for 5 yards against Auburn. He was the top quarterback recruit in the state of Tennessee for the class of 2015 at Baylor, throwing for 2,096 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior while adding 723 yards and eight scores on the ground.
"I have been incredibly impressed with Nick Tiano since the day I met him," Arth said. "He brings such great energy and always has a smile on his face. He is one of the hardest workers in our program and brings so much competitiveness each day. We look for him to bring great things to the quarterback room. He is an outstanding player from the pocket but can also be a very dominant player in the run game."
LB C.J. Winston
- Town: Gadsden, Ala. (Gadsden City)
- Height/Weight: 6-5, 195
- 247Sports.com: n/a
- Winston was an all-area linebacker for the Titans and second-team all-county. He brings the type of size and length that the new coaching staff is looking for on the outside.
"C.J. is incredibly long and athletic and has the versatility to play many positions," Arth said. "We see him as more of an outside linebacker in our scheme, but he has the ability to also play behind the ball. I think what is most exciting about C.J. is his upside. There is no telling what could happen once he grows into his body. He has a great frame, a great personality and the desire to be the best he can be. We are excited to see what his future holds.
WR Jeffery Wood II
- Town: Knoxville (Catholic)
- Height/Weight: 5-8, 165
- 247Sports.com: HH
- Wood was called "the fastest man in Tennessee" by Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh at a satellite camp last summer. He helped the Irish to a state championship his junior season and a 10-2 record as a senior.
"We will use Jeffery in a lot of different ways," Arth said. "The type of player that he is fits really well with how we play on offense. We have an incredible role in mind for him where he can line up in the slot, line up in the backfield and get carries, or motion out and really be a matchup problem for defenses. He is one of the most explosive players we have had the chance to watch on film and one of the fastest players in the state of Tennessee. We are excited to game-plan for him and find him ways to get the ball."