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Wiedmer: Two-a-days aren’t quite what they used to be for Mocs
Nikolay Timoshchuk’s first day as a fullback for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wasn’t anything to write home about.
Walking to class one day, the former linebacker received a call from offensive coordinator Jeff Durden saying he’d been taken over to “the good side,” despite not playing fullback since high school. Yet the versatile Timoshchuk, who speaks English, Russian and Ukrainian, has taken it all in stride.
Eventually.
The former Central standout, who spent two seasons as a walk-on at the University of Tennessee, has adjusted to his new role and could fit into the eighth-ranked Mocs’ plans for the 2015 season. He’s actually ahead of schedule in head coach Russ Huesman’s view.
“Nick’s a hard worker, and he’s picked up the position really, really well – surprisingly well for it being a new position for him,” Huesman said before Wednesday’s light workout. “I hope he gives us the same thing that Taharin (Tyson) gave us last year: some catches out of the backfield, a couple runs, but blocking, knowing his assignments and being a great special teams guy.
“He’s shown he can do those things.”
Timoshchuk had 11 tackles last year playing special teams.
“I just feel blessed for the opportunity to play ball and learn the game from both sides,” he said Wednesday. “It feels good to be able to help the team in any way possible. If it’s fullback, linebacker, special teams, it doesn’t matter to me. I’m going to run with it and go 100 percent.”
He admitted the spring scrimmage took a toll on him, mainly because it just wasn’t something he was accustomed to after spending so much time at linebacker the previous four years. New running backs coach Shawn Bryson, who played fullback at Tennessee from 1995 to ’99, became the voice of reason for the 6-foot-2, 225-pounder.
“They had told me when they moved me that I had a fullback body, and I could run and catch,” Timoshchuk said. “After that day, I wasn’t sure I could do it, but when I talked to Coach Bryson, he told me I couldn’t expect to jump in and learn every play.”
Trying to engage blocks as opposed to shedding them has required the biggest adjustment, Timoshchuk said. His ultimate hope is to have the same type of impact Tyson had in his final season, when he had 14 carries for 47 yards and caught five passes for 77 yards and two scores.
“You just really have to embrace the thought of playing the position, but the opportunity and possibility of scoring a touchdown is gonna feel great,” he said. “I saw Taharin score a touchdown at Western Carolina, and when he ran in the end zone, you could see how excited he was. It was crazy.”
Code Blue
The Mocs’ athletic department has declared a “Code Blue” for the Sept. 5 season opener against Jacksonville State at Finley Stadium. Fans can visit the UTC bookstore, Scrappy Sam’s in the mall or GoMocs.com to purchase their blue gear for the game, and there will also be “Code Blue” shirts handed out to the first 2,000 fans in the gate for the opener.
The Gamecocks are ranked ninth in the FCS Coaches Poll and seventh in the STATS FCS poll.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at Twitter.com/genehenleytfp.