Paul Zoeller/Staff
Charleston Post & CourierQuarterbacks
For the third consecutive year, Jacob Huesman has a hold on the starting spot. The two-time Southern Conference offensive player of the year threw for 2,731 yards and 23 touchdowns and led the FCS with a 68.5 percent completion rate in 2014, also running for 14 scores and more than 1,000 yards. He has won 22 games in his career and is stating the case to end his time at UTC as the most decorated quarterback in school history, so his health will play a role in the success of the team this season. Behind him are sophomore quarterbacks Alejandro Bennifield and Tyler Roberson. Bennifield had a good spring and seems to have entrenched himself into the No. 2 position, and Roberson is the better runner of the two.
Running backs
It’s not certain whether the Mocs are looking for a featured back or a platoon of four or five, but junior Derrick Craine has the most experience of those working for carries. He was a freshman all-conference performer in 2013 – the same honor Richardre Bagley earned last season. Bagley will get more than his fair share of carries, too. They’re the only two returning backs on the roster, but the coaching staff is high on the prospects of incoming freshmen Kyle Nalls and Alex Trotter, who each ran for more than 2,000 yards in 2014. Shaqualm McCoy made the most of a solid spring, rushing for more than 200 yards in three scrimmages. Nikolay Timoshchuk was moved from linebacker to fullback and will be looked at to fill the shoes of the graduated Taharin Tyson.
Receivers