UTC head football coach Russ Huesman is seen during the Mocs’ spring football scrimmage Friday at Finley Stadium.An already thin position for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team was even leaner for Monday’s practice as sophomore Nakevian Leslie was the only experienced linebacker in the rotation.
With Muhasibi Wakeel and A.J. Hampton already sitting out the spring following surgery, the linebacker corps took another hit with T.J. Jenkins missing practice with a hamstring injury and Ale Ashlock attending a late class.
That mean converted tight end Austin Hall, a former Boyd-Buchanan player, and walk-on Gage Frady, who played at Bledsoe County, got action alongside Leslie, who also is slowed by a pulled hamstring.
“It’s tough for me because I’m supposed to be limited at practice myself,” said Leslie, who’s making the switch from outside to inside linebacker. “But unfortunately with everybody else going down I can’t be limited. I have to be able to take the extra reps.
“It was frustrating at first, but the coaches and other players are considerate and they’ve sat me out a couple of times just so I can get some rest. The injuries are slowing us down, but I feel like by the end of spring practice we’ll be in good shape.”