With preseason football practice starting soon for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, the Times Free Press is taking a daily positional look at the Mocs, with today’s preview on special teams:
Who’s back
Right now, this phase of the game for the Mocs is highlighted by their return teams. Those groups are led by two seniors: Brandon Dowdell, who last season averaged 21.5 yards on six kickoff returns and 6.1 yards on 10 punt returns (a combined average of 11.9 yards per return), and Bryce Nunnelly, who averaged 23.6 yards on five kickoff returns (the team’s top receiver, he did not return a punt). Dowdell, also the standout in an experienced secondary, handled all but one punt return in 2019 for UTC, which returned just 15 kickoffs compared to 33 for its opponents. Victor Ulmo returns for his fourth season as the team’s kicker, although he struggled at times last year. The former Baylor School standout missed four extra-point attempts in 2019 after missing just two in his first two seasons with the Mocs; he was 11-for-17 on field-goal tries as a junior, with two of those misses from at least 40 yards, and his long kick was 38 yards. Gabe Boring is expected to assume punting duties on a full-time basis after splitting those last season with Colin Brewer, who was a senior. Boring, a junior from Bledsoe County, punted 14 times in 2019 and averaged 39.2 yards with a long of 54.
Who’s new
The Mocs brought in Arkansas State transfer Aaron Sears, who is from Murfreesboro, during the offseason. The kicker, who will have three seasons of NCAA eligibility remaining, made 136 consecutive extra-point attempts in high school, which still stands as a Tennessee state record. He was 12-of-14 on field-goal tries inside 45 yards in his final two seasons for Oakland, and he connected on a long of 48.
Strengths
Dowdell has the ability to be electric in the return game, with nine career punt returns of at least 10 yards and four of at least 20, topped by his 38-yard dash against Jacksonville State last season. Despite his struggles, Ulmo has proven to be clutch at times, evidenced by his game-winning field goals to defeat rival East Tennessee State University last fall and eighth-ranked Samford 23-21 on the road during the 2017 season.
Weaknesses
Ulmo’s consistency must be addressed. Three of the four missed kicks came in games the Mocs won anyway, but two of those (against ETSU and The Citadel) came down to the wire, when every point was important. The Mocs can’t afford to not have those.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3.