A year away from game action was hard for Isaiah Mack.
But as has been evidenced so far for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga defensive tackle, it’s been very useful.
The former Northwest Whitfield standout had a sack and a half and four total tackles in the 10th-ranked Mocs’ 31-21 win over Samford on Saturday in Birmingham. The 6-foot-2, 280-pound redshirt freshman is tied for third in the Southern Conference with 2.5 sacks and tied for fifth with 3.5 tackles for loss for the 2-1 Mocs, who travel to Presbyterian this week.
“Isaiah is a guy that, during recruiting, we thought he had the chance to be a pretty special player,” defensive coordinator Adam Braithwaite said. “It’s nice to see him get his feet wet; he’s starting to make plays. We have high hopes and expectations for him; we think it’s important to him. He has real talent and is a good worker.
“I think he has a real big upside and the sky’s the limit for him.”
Mack spent his redshirt season learning behind what was a stocked defensive line. In the spring he got repetitions alongside fellow tackles Josh Freeman and Taylor Reynolds and ends Toyvian Brand and Keionta Davis – all of whom he credited with his progression as a player.
UTC quarterback Jacob Huesman warms up before the Mocs’ season-opener football game against Jacksonville State at Finley Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn.“It’s amazing to finally have my defensive line trust me,” Mack said after Saturday’s win. “I’ve wanted to show them what I can do. I’ve wanted to show people I used my redshirt year to get better. Last year was hard, but at the same time it was needed. I improved my pass rush; it was what was needed, and I got to show today that it’s been working.”
Davis said Saturday that it looked as though Mack was starting to get “that rush,” a term used by the defensive line in their pursuit of the quarterback. It was right on time for a team and a defense that had listened to whispers about how the Bulldogs – who entered the game with the league’s top offense – were limited to 313 yards and 14 points offensively, with the other seven coming off a kickoff return.
“Today was a statement win for us, but it was more about showing people we’re still here,” Mack said. “It’s the best feeling to be a part of what is, in my opinion, the best defense in the SoCon and the best defense in the FCS. We work hard all week, and it feels awesome to show people you can doubt us, but we’re still going to come out and play.”
Huesman honored
UTC quarterback Jacob Huesman was named the SoCon offensive player of the week for his performance against Samford. It was the sixth time in his career that he’s received the honor.
The 6-2, 220-pound senior from Baylor School had 331 yards of total offense in the Mocs’ win in Birmingham. He had 23 carries for 150 yards and an 11-yard score, while completing 14 of 23 passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns. His two passing touchdowns gave him 57 for his career, which ties him for fourth all-time in SoCon history.
He became the third player in league history with at least 4,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing in a career, and the first since former Appalachian State standout Armanti Edwards (2006-09).
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.