The Times Free Press is taking a positional look at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football roster with the Mocs’ season set to kick off in less than two months on Sept. 2 at North Alabama.
Here’s a look at the defensive line.
Who’s gone: Defensive linemen Devonnsha Maxwell (Southern Conference-record 37.5 career sacks; undrafted free agent of the Cincinnati Bengals) and John Prince (10 games, two starts, 2.5 sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss, left team), as well as edge rusher Austin Collier (four sacks, graduated).
Who’s back: Seniors Jay Person (All-American, SoCon defensive player of the year, eight sacks, 17 tackles for loss in 2022) and Ben Brewton (All-SoCon second-team selection, 7.5 sacks, 10 TFL); juniors Marlon Taylor (started all 11 games at tackle, 4.5 TFL) and Quay Wiggles (15 tackles).
Who’s in: Juniors E.J. Thomas (junior-college All-American, 13 TFL, five sacks in 2022) and Chris Victor (transfer from Mississippi Valley State) and freshmen Isaiah Harvey and Jamarr Jones.
Analysis: Despite the loss of Maxwell, there’s nothing to suggest the defensive line can’t be just as good as it was in 2022, when the Mocs had a SoCon-best 35 sacks. UTC relies on a lot of pressure up front to make its defense work and win games; with the way this team has been built, it’s going to have to continue to rely on that strategy to be successful early on with questions at quarterback as well as some inexperience at linebacker, where the Mocs lost multiyear starters Ty Boeck and Kam Jones.
If the Mocs are determined to win games by forcing turnovers on defense and taking care of the ball on offense, that will start up front on both sides. In Brewton and Person, the Mocs already have two high-level pass rushers who can wreak havoc. If Thomas, Wiggles or someone else can begin to fill the shoes of Maxwell, not much will change up front — and that is definitely not a bad thing for the Mocs.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com.