Ask Russ Huesman about the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's freshman football players, and the third-year Mocs coach will smile. And for good reason.
Of the 18 scholarship freshmen practicing with the Mocs, more than half are playing well enough to have a shot at playing this season, he said.
"We didn't miss," he said. "There's not a freshman in this group, not one, that we're going, 'Uh-oh, we may have missed on that one.'"
Huesman said the coaches have identified several who definitely will redshirt because they're not quite ready to play, "but there's probably still 10 or 11 that are playing good enough that right now, if they keep getting better, they're in the mix and they can play and help us."
Fullback Taharin Tyson has known since he signed with UTC that he would be expected to contribute as a freshman. A three-time all-state player at Alcoa High School, Tyson said he's prepared for the challenge.
Freshman fiveHere are five of UTC's freshmen who likely will play this season:Shaun Hill, C -- Enrolled in January; has strength and smartsTaharin Tyson, FB -- Could also be UTC's third-down backT.J. Thompson, CB -- Not big but quick, with a nose for the ballRon Moore, WR -- Has good hands and the quickness to get openBrandon Morgan, OL -- Strong, wide and thick; coaches love him
"I knew that I would have to come in and respond and not play like a freshman," Tyson said. "It's time to mature and start playing now."
The Mocs held their seventh preseason practice Wednesday morning, and cornerback T.J. Thompson had another good day. With starting cornerback Chaz Moore out with a shoulder injury and backup Robert Harrison (neck) held out of contact, Thompson is taking advantage of his time with the first-team defense.
Tuesday he picked off a B.J. Coleman pass and returned it for a touchdown, and he intercepted a Terrell Robinson pass Wednesday.
"He's shown some quickness, picks things up and he hasn't played DB since he was a sophomore in high school," defensive coordinator Adam Fuller said. "There's a little bit of technique stuff [to work on], but the kid's a ballplayer."
Thompson played quarterback during his junior and senior seasons at Seminole (Fla.) High School. He said the transition back to defense hasn't been too difficult.
"I'm starting to get the system down," he said. "The speed and how physical the receivers are have been the biggest adjustments. They're physical, they run great routes and I've just got to get used to that."
Thompson's Seminole teammate, wide receiver Ron Moore, is another of the many freshmen who have opportunities to play. At receiver, the Mocs are looking for some consistent targets to play alongside Joel Bradford and Marlon Anthony.
Playing a lot of freshmen is OK, Huesman said, "as long as they're good ones."
Extra points
Linebacker Shane Heatherly did not practice Wednesday after suffering a sprained ankle late in Tuesday's practice. Also out were Moore (shoulder), tight end Jarrod Coleman (shoulder) and defensive lineman Toyvian Brand (concussion). ... The Mocs will practice twice today, at 7:45 a.m. and at 6:30 p.m.