DEFENSIVE LINE
A lot of production was lost with the graduations of All-Southern Conference performers Isaiah Mack and Derek Mahaffey, but a solid foundation returns. Devonnsha Maxwell (6-2, 270) earned Freshman All-America first-team designation by Phil Steele and was first-team All-SoCon after registering 32 tackles, 6 1/2 for loss and 5 1/2 sacks in nine games (five of them starts). Senior Khayyan Edwards (6-4, 255) is back on the line after starting eight games at linebacker, while senior Tevlin Jones and redshirt freshman Tavi McLean return as lettermen. Much is expected of junior transfer Dantrell Barkley (6-4, 285), a former three-star junior college prospect who played in seven games at Charlotte a year ago. Transfer T.J. Cammack and true freshmen Marlon Taylor and Evan Brown also could get in the mix.
LINEBACKERS
There are six returning lettermen, but only preseason All-SoCon first-team middle linebacker Marshall Cooper returns as a starter. The senior from Hixson High School led UTC in tackles last year with 98, including 15 against The Citadel, and earned second-team All-SoCon mention. The 2019 group entered preseason camp as the team’s biggest question mark, a big reason coach Rusty Wright and his staff brought in four FBS transfers. Sophomores Zay Brown (South Carolina), Kam Jones (Louisville) and Kayne Roberts (North Carolina) and freshman Jay Person (Appalachian State and Bradley Central High School) are all in the mix to start, as are returning lettermen Ty Boeck, C.J. Winston, Ben Brewton and Christian Snyder.
DEFENSIVE BACKS