Blue & Gold gameWhat: The Mocs wrap up spring practice with a final scrimmage.When: Today, 3 p.m.Where: Finley StadiumAdmission: FreeExtras: There will be a free kids clinic starting at 1. In addition, there will be free hot dogs, beverages and popcorn starting at 2.
Spring football practice at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga comes to an end this afternoon at Finley Stadium, but the Mocs will still have much work to do after the Blue & Gold game.
There’s weight-room work for all the players, rehab work for those that missed all or part of spring practice because of injury and there’s a good chance the coaches will be trying to sign a few transfers.
One player the Mocs appear to be pursuing is Southern Cal wide receiver Brice Butler, who announced in January that he wanted to transfer.
The Norcross, Ga., native, listed at 6-foot-4, 195 pounds, had 20 catches for 292 yards as a redshirt freshman in 2009. Last season, however, he had just nine grabs for 112 yards.
According to numerous L.A.-based news reports this week, Butler has narrowed his list of prospective Football Championship Subdivision schools down to two: UTC and Delaware. There is also a possibility that he will remain at USC.
Butler didn’t respond to several calls from the Times Free Press seeking comment and Mocs coach Russ Huesman isn’t allowed to discuss players UTC is or might be recruiting. Huesman did say that the Mocs would be interested in signing a player or two if the right situation came along.
“Usually things happen after spring ball, when people kind of see where they are and where they fit, so the options are there for us to do that,” he said. “Whether we do it or not, it will take the right kid.”
Along with a wide receiver, UTC might also be in the market for an offensive and defensive lineman. Injuries have forced the Mocs to use freshmen and walk-ons on the defensive line throughout the spring.
Huesman said he has been pleased for the most part with the way his team has performed during spring practice. Defensively, he said, it’s been difficult to gauge what kind of progress the unit has made because so many key players are on the sideline recovering from injuries.
Offensively, the Mocs are replacing five starters from last season, including three offensive linemen. Quarterback B.J. Coleman said the offense has “gotten better as a unit and that’s the most important thing.”
Coleman said tight end Sean Stackhouse, the University of Kentucky transfer, has come in and made a positive impression.
“I think he’s done a good job finding his role on the team,” Coleman said. “He knows he’s not going to be Garrett Hughes [the Mocs’ all-conference tight end last season], but I think he knows over time that he can become a vital part of this thing.”
After today’s game, the offensive and defensive MVP awards will be handed out and next season’s three team captains will be announced.
Coleman was a captain last season and will almost certainly voted to the position again. Among the likely candidates for the other two spots are linebacker Ryan Consiglio, defensive tackle Nick Davison, wideout Joel Bradford and safeties Jordan Tippit and Chris Lewis-Harris.