PAYING VISITSUTC will welcome four football recruits to campus this weekend for official visits:Kendrix Huitt, RB, Norcross (Ga.) High SchoolTevin Stewart-Gaulden, DB, Fitzgerald (Ga.) High SchoolTyrus White, DL, Cedar Grove (Ga.) High SchoolDarrin Reaves, RB, Clay-Chalkville (Ala.) High School
The newest members of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team, January enrollees Shaun Hill and Sean Stackhouse, have been in town for a week.
They arrived ready to begin organized team winter workouts Monday and class on Wednesday. Instead, the two have had little to do because of the snow and ice that shut down UTC all week.
“I haven’t been to class, haven’t gotten books or anything,” said Stackhouse, a transfer from Kentucky who has two years of eligibility remaining.
Hill, who graduated from Apalachee (Ga.) High School in December, was all set to begin college life this week.
“I was hoping to start [classes and workouts] at least midweek,” Hill said, “but now that it’s been a week it’s kind of like a ghost town around here.”
Stackhouse and Hill have joined the rest of the Mocs in voluntary workouts at the Wolford Family Strength & Conditioning Center. Both players said they have a lot to do before spring practice starts on Feb. 23.
The 6-foot-3, 250-pound Hill, a two-time all-state offensive lineman at Apalachee, is switching from guard to center, a position he’s never played before. Rising redshirt junior Austin Wilson will likely be the starter at center next season, but Hill said he’s going to do his best to earn the job.
“I’ve never played it in my life, but I’m ready to learn,” Hill said. “I’ve been working with [quarterback] B.J. Coleman a little and I enjoy it.”
Mocs offensive line coach Russ Ehrenfeld said Hill’s decision to enroll early, rather than waiting to join the team in August, will made a huge difference in his adjustment to the college game.
“It helps tremendously,” Ehrenfeld said. “I’m thankful he’s here because he gets to go through the spring with us and go through winter workouts and really learn the position.”
The 6-4, 250-pound Stackhouse was used as a guard and blocking tight end at Kentucky. He’ll be a tight end with the Mocs, who have just one other scholarship tight end on the roster: freshman Faysal Shafaat.
Kentucky’s offense is similar to UTC’s, which will make Stackhouse’s adjustment a little easier.
“I’ve still got to learn the playbook, learn my role and meet the team and get to know everyone,” he said. “Plus I’ll have to stay on top of my classes once they finally get going.”
The spring semester now is scheduled to begin Tuesday, as will the team’s winter conditioning program.