EXPECTATIONS
When a football team used to success has an experienced senior quarterback, expectations should be high, and there’s no reason UTC can’t be good in 2017 despite graduating five All-Americans. Alejandro Bennifield was a second-team All-Southern Conference pick last year and should be even better under the tutelage of three successful college quarterbacks on staff. The offense is vastly different than it has been, and a lot more is required of not only Bennifield but the offense as a whole. For UTC to meet its playoff expectations, the 6-foot-3, 220-pounder will have to play up to his own. If he does that, and the defense is as good as it should be with a talented front and secondary, the Mocs will compete for a playoff spot for the fourth consecutive season.
CONCERNS
The inexperienced offensive line and linebacker units are cause for concern, but the biggest issue has been inconsistency in the kicking game, as three players – sophomore Colin Brewer, the team’s punter, redshirt freshman Victor Ulmo and true freshman Austin Slifko – have been competing to replace two-time first-team all-conference place-kicker Henrique Ribeiro. The offensive line has only three players who have played significant time, while the linebacking unit will return no starting experience if Dale Warren’s NCAA-mandated suspension is upheld.
Head coach Tom Arth watches the action with James Stovall (9) in the background. The UTC football team practiced at Finley Stadium on August 10, 2017. WHAT’S NEW