Staff Photo by Robin Rudd
UTC's Tyler Cross (58) stops Tennessee Tech's Luke Ward in the backfield during the Mocs' season opener Aug. 30 at Finley Stadium.The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football staff's defensive coaches continually preach versatility at all positions. Last week they had to put into practice what they've preached.
That trend may have to continue.
Injuries took their toll on the Mocs' defense - primarily in the front seven - during a 29-28 overtime victory at The Citadel. Defensive end Devonnsha Maxwell, defensive tackle Telvin Jones and inside linebacker Tavon Lawson were unable to finish the game as a result.
The player losses for UTC (2-0) led to a reshuffling on the defensive line as well as among the linebackers. Outside linebacker Khayyan Edwards - who came to the Mocs as a defensive end - was moved up front in the 3-4 scheme, while Michael Bean, who starts at outside linebacker opposite Edwards, was moved inside after Lawson left the game in the second half.
In addition, Tyler Cross and Tristan Mann played on the defensive line.
Jones, Lawson and Maxwell didn't practice Wednesday, and their statuses for Saturday's nonconference matchup at UT-Martin (0-2) are unclear, but that hasn't changed coordinator Matt Feeney's desire to strengthen his defense.
"We're not looking at it as regrouping. We're looking at it as re-evaluating," Feeney said. "I think it's all got to be positive, in a sense where we need to get more guys ready to play.
"We talk about the next-man-up mentality, and you look at Khay and Michael Bean, two guys that hadn't even played the positions they ended up playing at the end of the game. It shows how attentive they are in meetings and how focused and how locked they are into game plans that they were able to step into those positions and play at a really high level and close out a game playing a completely different position than what they've worked at all week."
In some ways, not much is changing from how the Mocs approach things on defense.
"We're going to work those guys and get the right players on the field we want to get the best guys that are going to run to the football and tackle," Feeney said.
The moves weren't foreign for Bean and Edwards. With the Mocs already dealing with limited depth on the defensive line, Edwards had worked at one of the end spots during preseason camp and played there some in the opener against Tennessee Tech. Early in the 2017 season, Bean spent some time at inside linebacker before moving back outside.
"It's important for us to be knowledgeable just in case anybody goes down like they did in the last game," Bean said. "It's good to have somebody that's been there before. We have people just ready to step up and fill roles when they're asked to, so it's real good."
If both are moved, that could lead to Ian Hayes playing more at outside linebacker, with fellow junior Tyler Cross and freshman Tavi McLean getting more time on the line.
"We need to continue to rep all of our players who will be traveling and make sure everybody in the program is prepared," Mocs coach Tom Arth said. "We'll have to have a plan if those guys aren't able to go."
Another honor
In a week filled with honors for UTC wide receiver Bryce Nunnelly, the sophomore from Walker Valley High School and Cleveland added another Wednesday when he was named the Southern Conference's student-athlete of the week.
Nunnelly, who is majoring in mechanical engineering, has a 3.84 GPA.
His standout game at The Citadel, where he threw the game-winning 2-point conversion pass, has been followed by his second straight SoCon offensive player of the week award and the STATS Football Championship Subdivision national offensive player of the week honor.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3.