UTC wide receiver Tommy Hudson (8) plays in the game against Austin Peay at Finley Stadium.Sooner or later, Chaz Moore believes he has a chance to break one. Tommy Hudson wants to break one, too.
Moore is the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s primary kick returner and Hudson returns the Mocs’ punts. Both have had some success already this season and are giving UTC’s return game a much-needed lift.
“Obviously we’re not perfect, but I think we’re getting on some blocks and giving them a chance,” Mocs coach Russ Huesman said.
In his first season returning punts, Hudson averaged 5.2 yards on his 15 returns in 2012. He had a long of 23 yards, and that one return made up nearly one-third of his total of 78 return yards. Huesman was more concerned with catching the punt securely than getting yards on the return. As a team the Mocs were more punt fielders than returners, averaging 4.9 yards a return, which ranked eighth in the Southern Conference.
Huesman said Hudson has more confidence this season — and Huesman has more confidence in him — and that has resulted in fewer fair catches and more returns. Hudson had a 27-yard return against Georgia State and a 15-yarder versus Austin Peay. He’s averaging 9.8 yards per return, which ranks second in the SoCon.