As a redshirt freshman, Isaiah Mack never once thought he would be the most experienced defensive tackle on this year’s seventh-ranked University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team.
But as of right now, that shoe fits.
Due to injuries at the position, Mack has become the senior member of the position group as the Mocs prepare to battle Jacksonville State, the top-ranked team in the Football Championship Subdivision and the top-seeded team in the FCS playoffs. They play Saturday at 2 p.m. EST in Jacksonville, Ala.
UTC’s starting defensive tackles at the beginning of the season, senior Josh Freeman and sophomore Taylor Reynolds, have both missed extended time with injuries. Reynolds has been out since a knee injury on Oct. 10 against Furman, but coach Russ Huesman said Tuesday he could return this week. Freeman suffered a knee injury against The Citadel on Nov. 14 and probably will miss this week’s game.
Sophomores Brandon Bourk and Trevor Jachimowicz will provide backup, along with Reynolds, who is being monitored at practice.
“This year took me by surprise, but with the help of Free and Taylor teaching me as much as they could while they were on the field, I’ve just been trying to do as much as I can to get us a win,” said Mack, a former Northwest Whitfield High School standout.
He and junior Justin King, who transferred to UTC from Tennessee in the spring, have moved into the starting positions in the meantime. King had no prior experience at DT, having played wildcat quarterback, fullback and linebacker for the Vols. He’s continued to show his versatility since arriving at UTC, having played a little fullback.
“Isaiah’s had a great year, and when Taylor Reynolds went down, he started playing,” Coach Huesman said. “He’s been really good for us and has made a lot of plays, so we’re pleased. We knew coming in that he could play, and even before Taylor went down, he was playing and rolling in there.
“Obviously when Freeman went down, Justin moved in there and he’s been very solid.”
Mack has played in all 12 games and made the Southern Conference all-freshman team, with 49 tackles – nine for loss – and 3.5 sacks. Defensive coordinator Adam Braithwaite said King, who has played only eight games at defensive tackle, has shown marked improvement from the beginning until now.
“Justin didn’t play in many games during the course of the year, but because of the situation he was forced into action and has done a nice job,” Braithwaite said. “We’ve won two ballgames with him in there (starting), and you can see him getting better day by day, which is a credit to him. When you play a position where you have to put your hand down as a tackle when you’re used to being on your feet, that’s a credit to him.”
The Gamecocks gashed the Mocs for 298 yards on the ground in the season opener, mainly on five big rushing plays up the middle that gained 215 yards. Running back Troymaine Pope had a season-high 173 yards on only 15 carries in that Sept. 5 game, won 23-20 by JSU.
If the Mocs can limit the explosive yardage, they’ll have a chance to win the rematch.
“I feel like I have to approach this game the same way as I did week one,” King said. “I’ll be prepared to play. Since I’m playing now, I’ll get prepared, watch film, and the plays we missed out on, I’ll make sure when I’m out there I make those plays.
“I feel the last couple of games I’ve been doing that. Now I just have to try to help our team win and go on in the playoffs.”
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/ genehenleytfp.