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UTC cornerbacks progressing well; Samford is next test

UTC's Trevor Wright works to bring down Fordham wide receiver Jordan Allen during a playoff game last November at Finley Stadium. Wright and fellow cornerback C.J. Fritz are first-year starters at their position this season, but Mocs coaches have been pleased with their progress. UTC's Trevor Wright works to bring down Fordham wide receiver Jordan Allen during a playoff game last November at Finley Stadium. Wright and fellow cornerback C.J. Fritz are first-year starters at their position this season, but Mocs coaches have been pleased with their progress.

By Gene Henley September 21, 2016 3 min read

A challenge awaits University of Tennessee at Chattanooga defensive backs Saturday against Samford.

Mocs cornerbacks C.J. Fritz and Trevor Wright are ready for it.

The Bulldogs are ranked ninth in passing efficiency (167.77) and eighth in passing yards per game (317) among Football Championship Subdivision teams. Devlin Hodges has eight touchdowns with only one interception in his first full season as a starting quarterback and has completed at least two passes to 11 players, with eight of those catching at least one touchdown pass and only one player (Emmanuel Obajimi) with two.

On defense, the Mocs lead FCS teams in points allowed per game (4.7), total yards allowed per game (164.3) and passing yards allowed per game (102.7). They’re tops in the Southern Conference in passing efficiency defense with a rating of 83.9.

This is the first year for Fritz and Wright as full-time starters, but they are far from inexperienced. UTC coaches said they’ve been pleased with the duo’s progress so far this season.