The third day of spring practice has offensive line coach Adam Ross working with his men.
Over the course of a University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football practice, Adam Ross does a lot of running.
The Mocs’ new offensive line coach expects his players to do the same.
Ross joined the UTC staff after two seasons as an assistant at West Alabama, helping the NCAA Division II team lead the Gulf South Conference in rushing in 2014 with an average of almost 230 yards per game. Throughout his time with the Tigers, they ranked in the top 16 in the nation in fewest sacks allowed.
He spent 11 seasons at Jacksonville State – coaching offensive linemen, tight ends and special teams and also working as the recruiting coordinator – and brings a style of constant hustle to Chattanooga.
It’s a style that lineman Corey Levin, a two-time Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner as the best offensive lineman in the Southern Conference, admitted “hit us like a brick wall” at Monday’s first practice. Ross’s style is distinct from predecessor Chris Malone, who took a job at Old Dominion in the offseason.
“He wants us to be more physical instead of mental,” Levin said Wednesday of Ross. “He’s about hustling around, always moving, always going from one place to the other as quick as possible and giving as much effort as possible. It’s definitely been a tough adjustment, but even from the first practice on Monday, I think we’ve got a little better at it.
“I don’t think we were ready for his style of always running around, chasing the ball, getting from point A to point B at 110 miles per hour, but we’re going to get good at it. We’re going to do our best.”
It’s not like Ross was unfamiliar with the Mocs, having been a part of some pretty intense games between the two Football Championship Subdivision programs over the years. But now he’s on the opposite side of the rivalry – and happy about the position he’s in.
“I’m blessed to be here,” Ross said. “I’m excited about the opportunity.”
He said his style is based on great effort, and that the players are starting to learn what he’s asking for two practices into the spring, with 13 more to go. Most of his linemen have been available at practice, though Ross has had the opportunity to work three different centers into the rotation with junior and two-year starter Jacob Revis out because of illness.
“When we’re around the football, good things happen,” Ross said. “Today we chased the football a whole lot better than we did yesterday. Each day, if we go out and get a little better each day, good things will happen.”
One thing for sure: Ross will be sprinting around and yelling at his linemen until they do.
News and notes
* UTC head coach Russ Huesman said Wednesday that tight end Steve Pickren has decided not to play his final season of football. The 6-foot-5, 260-pounder played in all 13 games in 2015 – starting eight – in his only season with the Mocs after transferring from the University of Alabama at Birmingham after that program was disbanded following the 2014 season.
* Junior defensive back Trevor Wright will miss the spring as he recovers from a lingering ankle injury suffered last fall. He recently had bone spurs taken out of his left ankle and has been seen around practice with a supportive “boot” on. Huesman said the 6-foot-1, 180-pound junior from Greeneville, who has 19 career starts at cornerback, should be ready to go by June and will be ready for fall camp.
* Sophomore receiver Thomas Richard has missed the first couple of practices as he recovers from having pins taken out of his ankle after a previous surgery. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound sophomore transfer from Missouri could practice before spring practices are over, Huesman said, and he is expected to be ready by fall either way.
“We’ll see how he progresses,” Huesman said. “Hopefully it’s progressing that way, but I would say at some point in the spring we’ll probably have him ready to go.”
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenleytfp.