UTC’s Khayyan Edwards strips the ball from VMI’s Reece Uninski during a game at Finley Stadium in October 2018.
UTC defensive lineman Devonnsha Maxwell, left, hits Tennessee Tech running back Deven Sullivan during the season opener for both teams in August 2018.When the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s opponents put together an offensive game plan last football season, priority No. 1 was finding a way to neutralize the Mocs’ powerful defensive line.
It was often a futile effort as the line, led by Southern Conference defensive player of the year Isaiah Mack and all-conference tackle Derek Mahaffey, often made life miserable for offenses. Mack was second and Mahaffey third on the team in tackles as they combined for 140, an absurd number for linemen.
The senior duo helped lead a red-zone defense that let only 18 of 39 trips by opposing offenses inside the 20-yard line end in touchdowns, and five of those touchdowns were scored by South Carolina. New head coach Rusty Wright and defensive line coach Kenny Baker said replacing the work done by Mack and Mahaffey will require a team effort.
“You have to have a bunch of guys play well,” Wright said. “It’s no different than replacing a player who hits 30 home runs and drives in 100 runs. You may have to have a couple in there to get that production. Right now our numbers are a bit thin there, so we have to have some guys grow up and make plays.”
Added Baker, who came to UTC after five seasons on the staff at fellow SoCon program Mercer: “It’s going to be in numbers because you are not going to replace those two. We have some good ones that are capable of playing at that level. We’ve just got to add depth and get everyone comfortable in their roles.”
Entering their final week of spring drills, the Mocs have three defensive linemen with college game experience, led by Devonnsha Maxwell, a member of the All-SoCon freshman team after making four starts and registering 32 tackles and 5.5 sacks last year. The 6-foot-2, 270-pound end from Valdosta, Georgia, is confident the line’s production will not fall off.
“I know I have to pick up more slack,” he said. “Those two guys were a big part of this defense. We just have to bring the guys we have along and get better every day so we can pick up that slack. We’ve got a bunch of guys who don’t have a lot of experience, but we’ll be good.”
Khayyan Edwards (6-3, 245) moved from linebacker to end during the 2018 season and compiled 46 tackles (five for loss) and forced two fumbles. Fellow rising senior Telvin Jones (6-3, 290) has the inside track at noseguard, while redshirt freshman Tavi McLean (6-3, 255) and Georgia Southern transfer Tristan Mann (6-2, 265) are expected to be in the mix.
“It’s exciting. It’s a new, young group, but the thing I appreciate the most is they come to work,” Baker said. “With this staff you have to put in a day’s work, and it’s like I tell the guys, you have to practice uphill so you can make plays downhill. The guys are responding. We just have to get them the experience.”
Wright has high expectations for the group, which will include incoming freshmen Marlon Taylor (6-3, 275) and Evan Brown (6-4, 230). While he knows there are no Isaiah Macks to lean on right away, he thinks Maxwell can be the unquestioned leader.
“Devonnsha has to play like the guy all the time, not the guy some of the time,” Wright said. “If he does that, it takes some of the pressure off some of the other guys.
“I just want a group that plays their tails off every snap. They will get after it, make plays and get after the passer. We are very focused on stopping the run, and if we can do that, especially in this league, we’ll be OK.”
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.