UTC sophomore defensive tackle Derek Mahaffey (15) celebrates a play in the win at East Tennessee State. The junior college transfer has developed into a regular contributor in the Mocs’ rotation.Coming from junior college, Derek Mahaffey had some things to do to be able to contribute to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team.
Over the course of the season, he’s accomplished each of the tasks put ahead of him, and now he’s getting his opportunity.
When he arrived on the UTC campus, he weighed 315 pounds, and while talent obviously was there, that talent was raw and needed to be honed.
Check.
Mahaffey cut his weight to his current 292 pounds, and as a result he has been able to work his way from the scout team to part of an already solid defensive tackle rotation that features senior Justin King, junior Taylor Reynolds and fellow sophomore Isaiah Mack.