UTC defensive line coach Marcus West jumps on star end Davis Tull after the Mocs stopped The Citadel’s last possession for a 28-24 UTC victory this season at Finley Stadium. Tull was the Mocs’ third end honoree as Southern Conference defensive player of the year in West’s five seasons with the program.Marcus West has coached the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga defensive ends for five seasons, since Russ Huesman was hired as head coach.
Three times the Mocs have had an end voted the Southern Conference defensive player of the year: Josh Beard in 2009 and Davis Tull the past two seasons. Coincidence?
“He’s an excellent football coach, there’s no question about it, but two of those have gone to Davis Tull, and that’s a pretty special individual,” Huesman said. “I don’t want to take anything away from Marcus, but a lot of people could coach Davis Tull.
“Now, the things he did with Josh Beard were incredible. Josh had barely played the year before, and he did a tremendous job with him.”
With a player as gifted as Tull, who became UTC’s all-time sack leader during his redshirt junior season, being voted the league’s top defensive player isn’t a surprise.