As the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga aims for a deep playoff run in 2011, offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield knew the team needed more depth at wideout.
Bringing in some receivers who could play right away was a priority for the 2011 signing class, he said. The Mocs did that. They signed three wideouts Wednesday, and all three could play some this fall.
“It wasn’t a spot where we could project kids,” Satterfield said. “We couldn’t sign kids and say we project he’ll be a good player in a couple of years. We didn’t have time for that.
“We had to sign kids that could come in and play next year.”
Ron Moore Jr. from Sanford, Fla., picked UTC over Delaware, which played for the FCS national championship in January. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound Moore had 37 catches for 702 yards and 10 touchdowns as a Seminole High School senior.
“He’s got the potential to come in and create some impact right when he walks on campus,” said Satterfield, who said Moore was a dynamic player with “phenomenal ball skills.”
Carrollton (Ga.) High School’s Marlandas Crane is the biggest of the three wideout signees at 6-2, 215 pounds. He didn’t have many balls thrown his way in high school because Carrollton runs the wing-T, but he had 16 grabs for 310 yards and four touchdowns in 2010.
“Crane’s a big kid that can hold up, and he can take the contact and the abuse that he’ll get in [the Southern Conference],” Satterfield said. “He’ll be able to play early.”
Crane said he likes the sound of that.
“I’m excited to be moving into a different offense where I should get a lot more looks,” he said. “I’m ready for it.”
Colquitt County (Ga.) High’s Tommy Hudson may be the most likely of the trio to redshirt, so he can add some bulk to his 5-10, 160-pound frame.
“If I work hard enough, maybe I can play right away,” said Hudson, who had 102 receptions for 1,410 yards and 15 touchdowns this past season.
Crane could give 6-5 rising sophomore Marlon Anthony a push for the role of UTC’s big receiver. Anthony had 17 catches for 195 yards as a redshirt freshman in 2010.
Satterfield said he hopes Crane and the other signees challenge the veterans for playing time.
“He’ll challenge Marlon, and that’s the great thing about that group,” Satterfield said. “At any time in somebody’s career, you can get beat out at that position because there’s always good kids coming in. We’re signing him to play that position and come in and challenge Marlon, and the best one will prevail.”
The Mocs return their top two wideouts from last season, Joel Bradford and Brian Sutherland. Bradford, a third-team All-American, had 81 catches for 1,284 yards. Sutherland had 50 catches for 729 yards.
UTC lost its third- and fourth-leading receivers in tight end Garrett Hughes (25 receptions) and wideout Chris Pitchford (18). The Mocs signed two tight ends Wednesday: McCallie’s Jarrod Coleman, quarterback B.J. Coleman’s younger brother, and Hendersonville’s Troy Dye. In addition, Sean Stackhouse transferred to UTC from Kentucky in January.
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