signing day helmet
UTC Mocs logoUTC 2015 SIGNEES
Position breakdown
Running backs: 3
Receivers/Tight ends: 3
Offensive linemen: 3
Defensive linemen: 2
Linebackers: 1
Defensive backs: 4
OFFENSE WR Drae Bowles
Tennessee transfer
6-0, 206
Rivals.com: 4-star
UTC recruited him heavily when he was in high school in Jackson, Tenn., and that relationship paid off when the former U.S. Army All American decided to transfer from UT. He cited the comfort level with the Mocs staff as being the reason he chose UTC. “He’s very talented on the field, and off the field he’s the most impressive kid I’ve ever seen,” UTC recruiting coordinator Will Healey said. “Just as a great person who will fit in well here and be a big-time player.”
ATH Ke’Von Hall
5-9, 170 Memphis Melrose
247sports: 3-star
The biggest debate among the UTC staff was whether Hall would project as a cornerback or a slot receiver. The consensus is that the speedster, who’s been timed at 10.6 seconds in the 100 meters, will begin his career on offense and could become a special teams weapon as well. He chose the Mocs over offers from Southern Miss, Middle Tennessee State, Marshall and Southeast Missouri.
OL Taylor Helton
6-5, 285 Dobyns-Bennett
Rivals.com, 247sports: N/A
The most versatile of all the linemen signees, he played center, guard and tackle in high school but projects as a guard for the Mocs. He chose the Mocs over offers from Appalachian State, The Citadel and VMI. “He is a very, very athletic lineman,” UTC coach Russ Huesman said. “He can really help us continue to be good up front.”
OL Hunter Kennedy
6-4, 285 Alabama-Birmingham transfer
Rivals.com, 247sports: N/A
UAB coaches told the Mocs staff that they had been excited about his future with the Blazers, before that program was dropped, because of how hard he had worked in his one season there. He projects to play guard and chose UTC over offers from Eastern Michigan, Eastern Illinois, Buffalo and Troy.
RB Kyle Nalls
6-1, 202 Fayette Co. (Ala.)
Rivals.com: 2-star
A power runner with a good burst of speed, he rushed for more than 2,200 yards last season, averaging better than 9 yards per carry. He is expected to fill the role of the recently graduated Keon Williams and according to Mocs coaches, is considered one of the biggest “steals” of the class, picking the Mocs over Temple, Appalachian State, Arkansas State and Jacksonville State. “If he played in Atlanta or a bigger city, he would’ve had a lot of big-time programs after him,” said Marcus West, who recruited Nalls.
TE Steve Pickren
6-5, 260 Alabama-Birmingham transfer
247sports: 2-star
The Mocs needed a physical presence at tight end, and Pickren will fill that role with a nasty attitude. He saw action as an offensive tackle at UAB but will be counted on to become an edge-setting blocker who is also athletic enough to catch passes across the middle for UTC. “He has to be an immediate impact player for us,” Coach Huesman said.
RB Alex Trotter*
5-9, 175 McCallie
Rivals.com: 2-star
A track star who runs bigger than his size, Trotter gained more than 2,200 yards last season in the state’s toughest league. He chose UTC over offers from Army, Navy and Wofford and is expected to play an immediate role in the backfield. “Getting Alex was huge for us,” Coach Huesman said. “He is a very dynamic guy with tremendous speed. There are so many things we can do with him because he is also a great pass catcher.”
FB Jaquez Tyson
5-10, 210 Alcoa
247sports: 2-star
A Mr. Football finalist, he set the record for most carries in a state championship game with 49, gaining nearly 300 yards. He projects to play fullback, like his cousin and former Mocs player Taharin Tyson, and also lettered in wrestling and baseball at Alcoa. “He is a winner and comes from a winning program,” Coach Huesman said. “You can never have enough of those guys in the program.”
OL Malcolm White
6-7, 280 Science Hill
247sports: 2-star
An all-state lineman last season, he helped Science Hill win 29 games in his three years as a starter and was named the Big 7 Conference Lineman of the Year. Also a starter in basketball, Mocs coaches love his athleticism and believe he has a huge upside as a future left tackle. “He is extremely athletic, tall with a big frame,” Coach Huesman said. “The sky is the limit for him. He could be an All American someday.”
DEFENSE LB Michael Bean
6-2, 225 Cherokee (Canton, Ga.)
Rivals.com: 2-star
He set a school record with 140 total tackles and was named all-state and his team’s defensive MVP last season. He also broke his school’s career record with 370 tackles and has lettered in track & field, wrestling and baseball. “Love him,” Coach Huesman said. “He is just a tough, hard-nosed football player. We think he is going to be really good at one of our inside linebacker positions.”
DE Khayyan Edwards
6-3, 220 Westside (Macon, Ga.)
Rivals.com, 247sports: N/A
He had 13 sacks and 43 total tackles last year and also recorded two safeties. He fits the mold of a speed rusher coming off the edge and chose UTC over Furman and Georgia State. “He is a very dynamic player,” Coach Huesman said. “We knew right away he was a guy who could fit in to our defense. He is the type of player we feel like we need to have. I think he’s going to be another in the long line of great defensive ends that we have signed here.”
DL Telvin Jones
6-3, 280 Alma Bryant (Irvington, Ala.)
Rivals.com, 247sports: N/A
He already brings the necessary size to play defensive tackle and has shown good quickness for a player his size to become very difficult to block up front. He chose UTC over offers from Troy and South Alabama. “He can play the three-technique or shade and is athletic enough to play a lot of different sports up front,” Coach Huesman said. “He is just a great addition to what we are trying to do defensively.”
DB Adrian King
5-10, 186 Robert E. Lee (Montgomery, Ala.)
Rivals.com, 247sports: N/A
A two-time team MVP he was named to the all-metro team and also ran track and played baseball and basketball. He chose UTC over offers from South Alabama and Alabama State. “As a defensive staff, we watched him and felt like there was no question that he could play here,” Coach Huesman said. “He’s got great speed, unbelievable athletic ability, all the things we are looking for in a cover-corner.”
DB Levonte Larry
5-9, 175 Wayne Co. (Jessup, Ga.)
Rivals.com, 247sports: N/A
A four-year letterman, three-time all-region and all-state defensive back, he had 67 tackles and five interceptions last season. Proof of his speed and athleticism, he also blocked seven field goals and returned two kickoffs and a punt for touchdowns. He chose UTC over offers from Arkansas St, Kennesaw St. and Georgia St.
DB K.J. Roper
6-2, 205 Knoxville Fulton
247sports: 2-star
An all-state defensive back from a program that won three straight Class 4A state championships and finished 30-0 the last two seasons. He had four interceptions and six pass breakups last year, projects to play safety for the Mocs and is another multi-sport star who lettered in track & field and basketball. He chose UTC over Appalachian State, Arkansas State, MTSU and Western Carolina. “We are so impressed with him,” Coach Huesman said. “He’s a big-body guy who is very athletic with great ball skills.”
DB D.J. Williams
5-10, 170 Smyrna (Tenn.)
Rivals.com: 2-star
He has 16 career interceptions, was named team’s overall MVP last season and was the team’s defensive MVP as a junior. He also lettered in track and basketball and chose UTC over offers from Toledo, Army, Austin Peay, Furman, Samford, Tennessee Tech and Tennessee State. “He has all the things we are looking for in a DB prospect,” Coach Huesman said. “He has a lot of ability as far as change of direction, tremendous feet and can run.”