C.J. Board and the other University of Tennessee at Chattanooga receivers think there may be some opportunities in the passing game Thursday night.
They’re more than ready to find out.
The transition at quarterback from Jacob Huesman to Alejandro Bennifield has meant a little more variety in the Mocs’ passing game, and that could show itself Thursday when the Mocs open the 2016 season against Shorter University at 7 at Finley Stadium.
The NCAA Division II Hawks return two players who have starting experience in the secondary: cornerback Willy Dorcin and strong safety Rodney Jackson, who recorded one of the team’s five interceptions in 2015. The Rome, Ga., school brought in a new defensive coordinator, William Jones, who spent the last 10 seasons in the junior college ranks, with the last three as the head coach at Pearl River Community College.
UTC averaged 173.5 yards a game through the air last season, with 14 touchdowns – six of which came in the two FCS playoff games. The Mocs return their top eight pass catchers, and really their top nine since Bennifield caught four passes a season ago, fourth on the team.