Tavon Lawson used to be one of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team’s biggest defensive backs.
Now he’s one of its smallest linebackers.
In an attempt to get faster on the edges, the UTC coaching staff moved the 6-foot-1, 215-pound Lawson to the Sam position in the offseason, after he had spent the previous three seasons playing in the defensive backfield – primarily at the dime position (sixth defensive back).
He said defensive coordinator Adam Braithwaite used to joke with him often that he would move Lawson “in the box” because of his size.
“I’ve just had to take it head on,” Lawson said Monday. “I want to do whatever to help the team. When Coach B finally said I was moving, I took it as a challenge – head on with a positive attitude.”
Coaches have raved about how smart Lawson is, which should help in the transition. He was named to the All-Southern Conference team in 2014 but hit a sort of sophomore slump last season, playing in only seven games and registering eight tackles. The move allows him a fresh start, as well as the coaching staff – always looking for ways to get the “best 11” on the field – a chance to evaluate him at a new place.
“The biggest thing is, we’re trying to get faster out there, get better,” linebackers coach Rusty Wright said. “We’re getting better because we’re getting faster, moving guys from the back to the front. He’s a smart kid; he’s been in the secondary so he knows the checks and knows how things work, so we’re a little ahead of the game when it comes to putting a freshman in there. We get better doing things like that.”
Wright said Lawson has played about as well as could be expected at this point in the process. It’s new, so there’s definitely a learning curve in terms of how things are supposed to be done in the Mocs’ 4-2-5 defensive scheme. But Lawson’s willingness to do whatever he can do gives the staff hope that he will develop into a vital piece of the rotation.
“I feel like I’m doing good,” Lawson said. “I’m adjusting good. It’s going to take practice and practice, but I feel every day that I progress. I want to make new mistakes every day, I can’t keep making the same mistakes every day.”
UTC head coach Russ Huesman said Lawson “has to figure out when to pull the trigger, when to go.
“He’s a smart kid. He’s always had a good feel for the game of football, so we’re pleased with that,” Huesman said. “It is an adjustment for him, but I think he’s picking it up mentally.”
The Mocs will hold their 10th spring practice this afternoon at Scrappy Moore Field and will have their second spring scrimmage Friday at 3:30 at Finley Stadium.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/ genehenleytfp.