The practice jersey numbers for some University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football players can vary from day to day – players sometimes change on a whim or because their old one was torn up – which can make it hard to follow who’s doing what on the field.
Running back Chris Awuah is easy to spot thanks to his small stature and smooth running style. The 5-foot-9, 200-pound sophomore is wearing No. 5 in practice this season to honor a friend, Rajaan Bennett, the Vanderbilt signee who was killed in an Atlanta-area murder-suicide in February.
Awuah will continue to wear No. 9 in games, but he said he felt compelled to do something to carry on the memory of Bennett.
“I’m going to dedicate this season for him and just give him everything I got,” Awuah said following Sunday’s practice at Scrappy Moore Field. “He wore No. 5 and I felt like that was something I could do, ask for No. 5, to keep his legacy going.”
Awuah played at South Cobb High School and competed against Bennett, a fellow running back, who attended nearby McEachern High. They went at it in football and track, and Awuah said he has one more tribute in mind this season.
“I told myself if I score the first thing I’m going to do is throw five (fingers) up for him,” he said.
Back and forth
Mocs coach Russ Huesman walked off the field with a smile at the end of practice Sunday morning. During the 28-period session the offense and defense had a lot of bright spots, which is how it should be, he said.
“The offense made some good plays, the defense made some good plays – that’s kind of the way it needs to be, back and forth,” he said. “The offense has to win some things and the defense has to win, and I think that’s a sign of you’re a real bad team or you’re a real good team. And I hope it’s a sign we’re a real good team.”
Donald delivering
One player that has stood out to Huesman lately is defensive end Chris Donald, the University of Tennessee transfer who has raised his game a few notches in the past couple of practices.
“He’s playing really well; we’ve been really pleased,” Huesman said. “He is physical, he is running, he’s athletic – he looks like a ball player right now. And he’s having some fun out here, too, and trying to show great leadership.”
Extra points
The Mocs will practice at 7:45 a.m. again this morning before going through their first two-a-day on Tuesday. The players will be in full pads for the first time today. … Junior defensive tackle Nick Craig is still out with plantar fasciitis.