There was a fair amount of transition for University of Tennessee at Chattanooga linebackers A.J. Hampton and Nakevion Leslie entering the 2015 season.
They started the season off a little slowly, but it’s safe to say they feel fairly comfortable now in their new roles on the team.
Leslie was a 2014 starter at the Sam (outside linebacker), while Hampton had been a career backup despite playing a lot. Leslie moved into the Mike (middle linebacker) position vacated by the graduated Muhasibi Wakeel, with Hampton moving into Leslie’s old slot.
They are the team’s top two tacklers and have done it Ironman style, being the only position group that typically doesn’t have a rotation.
“Since I’ve been here, I’ve been around Key a lot,” Hampton said. “We both hit the weightroom in the offseason, and we train hard and make sure that when we condition, we stay in the front at all times so we make sure our fitness level is good enough to stay out there at all times.
“We’re a good fit to be on the field all the time.”
UTC’s Keionta Davis (93) and A.J. Hampton (42) against WoffordHampton leads the team with 52 tackles, while Leslie has 45, with 2.5 sacks and eight tackles for loss.
“They’ve done a great job,” defensive coordinator Adam Braithwaite said. “Fortunately, they’ve been able to stay healthy. They’re both great kids, they work at it, and they’re talented guys. No one is perfect, but they can do some pretty good things with effort and athleticism, and we’re going to need them to continue to play that way.”
Linebackers coach Rusty Wright said the two settling into their new roles has been important from game one to now.
“Nakevion is kind of out of his element a bit,” Wright said. “Now he’s setting the front, making checks, and it’s new for him. A.J. had never been a starter, so you’ve got two guys that even though they’ve played football, were brand new to the position. They’re getting better, though.”
Wright said Leslie, a converted safety, has the potential to be a special player as he continues to grow into his position.
“You turn the film on and 95 percent of the time he’s in the right spot and doing what he’s supposed to be doing,” Wright said. “It’s my job to get him to another level. He’s a better player and I’ve got to keep pushing him and keep growing him to where he is a great player. We talk all the time in our (meeting) room not to let being good get in the way of being great, and that’s what he’s fighting.
“He’s a good player – don’t get me wrong, he’s a good player – but he needs to go be a great player every Saturday for us.”
Senators compete
Hamilton County state senators Todd Gardenhire and Bo Watson will compete in a punt, pass and kick competition at halftime of Saturday’s UTC homecoming game against Western Carolina.
The loser will make a donation to the Mocs Club.
Sen. Gardenhire and Sen. Watson, the speaker pro tempore, are UTC graduates.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.