The 2015 University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football Mocs had their first true evaluation Saturday in the form of their first live scrimmage.
If there were grades being given out, one big “Incomplete” would be the consensus pick.
The Mocs went through 79 plays at Scrappy Moore Field, and despite the number of key players sitting out for various reasons, there was still plenty for coach Russ Huesman to be pleased about.
And plenty that still has to be worked out.
“It’s the whole point of spring practice,” he said. “I don’t know how good we’re going to look as a unit on both sides of the ball because there are so many different parts — in and out, back and forth — so we’re really having to look at individual performances and see where we’re progressing individually.
“Defensively, I don’t know if we’re coming off blocks as well as we should; we’re not rushing the passer as well as we should; I’m not sure if we’re fitting the gaps as well as we should. We have a ways to go with some young kids, but the guys that haven’t played that much football have to get better.”
On the defensive side, tackle Josh Freeman played sparingly, as did end Keionta Davis. Cornerback Dee Virgin had to miss practice due to an appointment. On offense, all-conference quarterback Jacob Huesman was held out, while running backs Derrick Craine and Richardre Bagley also got little to no action.
Some players vying for spots on the depth chart had solid days. Sophomore quarterback Alejandro Bennifield took the first-team repetitions and was 8-for-16 for 117 passing yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore running back Shaqualm McCoy had 92 yards on 17 attempts with a pair of touchdowns, while Craine had 51 yards on 10 carries.
C.J. Board was the leading receiver with 59 yards and a touchdown, while tight end Malcolm Colvin caught Bennifield’s other touchdown pass.
Sophomore Trevor Wright had three of the team’s five pass breakups, with Ryan Bossung and Montrell Pardue knocking down the others.
“I thought we had a lot of energy today,” Wright said. “The coaches really want to evaluate the players. There was a lot of smack talk going around, so it’s always good to get the first scrimmage in.
“The defense always gets the better end of it, but both sides of the ball looked pretty good today.”
Linebacker Nakevion Leslie, who had a number of tackles including one for loss, said it was key to get on the field, be physical and “see where everybody is.” The buildup between the different sides of the ball during the week had become a little chippy, so the scrimmage was a good chance to “let it out and compete with each other.”
While for more experienced players such as Wright and Leslie, the goal is more about solidifying their positions or fine-tuning their skills, a player such as redshirt freshman receiver Bingo Morton looks at the spring as a time to show how much he’s learned up to now.
Saturday, he continued his impressive spring and caught a touchdown pass during a goal-line situational drill late in the scrimmage.
“I think we got better today,” Morton said. “It’s good to get the plays right, know my assignments and get better. Now I’m just making sure I know what I’m doing, looking at people in front of me and doing exactly what they’re doing, so when the season comes, I’ll be ready.”
Saturday was the sixth practice session of the spring season. The Mocs will return to the field Monday.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.