UTC quarterback Nick Tiano passes under pressure from teammate Eli Shepherd during the 2019 spring showcase at Finley Stadium.QUARTERBACKS
Nick Tiano enters his senior season firmly entrenched as the UTC starter with one of the most productive seasons in program history. The Baylor School graduate was 233-for-378 passing for 2,710 yards and 15 touchdowns against six interceptions in 2018. The yards were the fifth-most in a single season for the Mocs and included back-to-back 300-yard games to start the season against Tennessee Tech and The Citadel. Tiano, who also rushed for 239 yards, was third in the Southern Conference in total yards per game with 268.1. And he is comfortable in a new offensive scheme that will feature more pass-run quarterback options. The battle to back up Tiano was one of the focuses in training camp and included senior Chris James, junior Dominic Caldwell, graduate transfer junior Drayton Arnold and true freshman Gio Richardson.
RUNNING BACKS
Senior Tyrell Price started all 11 games in 2018, rushing for 697 yards and nine touchdowns, though the 6-foot, 220-pounder managed just 3.7 yards per carry. The former junior college All-American also was third on the team with 42 receptions and added 278 yards and a touchdown on catches. Price features the ideal combination of size and speed for Wright’s preferred physical style of offense. Backfield depth greatly improved this spring and summer with the addition of transfer Elijah Ibotkun-Hanks (5-8, 195), a senior who had more than 2,000 yards rushing in three years as a starter at Albany, the move of sophomore Jeffery Wood from receiver and the influx of a trio of talented freshmen: Ailym Ford, Brandon Gregory and Lance Jackson.
RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS