UTC defensive backs C.J. Fritz, left, and Kareem Orr run a drill during the first day of fall practice at Scrappy Moore Field on Monday, July 24, in Chattanooga, Tenn.After Saturday’s practice at Scrappy Moore Field, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga defensive backs gathered around defensive coordinator Tom Kaufman and position coach Jonathan Cooley and started chanting, “Baaad Boys, Baaad Boys,” reminiscent of the Detroit Pistons’ song back in the late 1980s.
The coaching staff believes the UTC secondary could be that intimidating.
The fight for playing time in that group has been one the stories of the first week of preseason camp. The three returning starters – cornerbacks C.J. Fritz and Trevor Wright and three-time first-team all-conference safety Lucas Webb – have done well. And beyond them it’s been a free-for-all trying to be impressive.
Kareem Orr, a former Freshman All-American at Arizona State, transferred to his hometown team and has had most of the first-team repetitions as the safety opposite Webb. Cameron Turner transferred from Nevada after playing in nine games as a freshman and is getting second-team reps at corner, while freshmen Brandon Dowdell and D.J. Jackson are getting on the field in their first preseason with the program.
Redshirt freshman Rashun Freeman is in the rotation as well and made an interception during Saturday’s practice, as did Orr, Wright and Jackson. Junior Tavon Lawson and redshirt freshman Jerrell Lawson have made plays at the safety positions.