Before he could take the next step on the football field, John Prince had to takes steps within himself to get right.
The talent was unmistakable for the 6-foot-1, 227-pound University of Tennessee at Chattanooga sophomore defensive lineman.
A member of UTC's 2020 signing class from Stockbridge High School in the Atlanta area, Prince had a chance to be part of the program all last year and showed potential. He started all four Southern Conference games on the spring schedule — the result of the 2020 Football Championship Subdivision season being delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic — and made eight appearances (one start) in 11 games on the fall schedule.
You would see a sack here, a tackle for loss there, a moment here, a moment there. It was enough to garner SoCon All-Freshman recognition after the spring schedule, but it also felt as if there was another level to his game within reach.
The problem wasn't outward as much as it was internal. The pandemic had taken his grandfather and his aunt, and Prince was processing their deaths while trying to become a vital part of the defensive line rotation.
"At first, you know, it's your family going, so you're not going to just go back to being normal," Prince said. "This is another piece of you going, but when I finally locked it up, put all my feelings and all my emotions towards the game, that started to help me — it helped me manage it better."
The results have been obvious on the field during the Mocs' 3-0 start this season.
There are still those plays that make you say "wow," with one example in last Saturday's 41-14 homecoming win as UTC's third touchdown was set up by special teams when Prince pushed an upback into the North Alabama punter, whose kick went off his teammate's back. The ball was recovered by sophomore Chris Houston at the 4-yard line and set up quarterback Preston Hutchinson's 1-yard touchdown run to put the Mocs up 20-0.
It's the consistency shown, though, that is allowing UTC coaches to rely on Prince as the Mocs — ranked ninth by FCS coaches and 10th in the Stats Perform Top 25 — step up in competition to visit Football Bowl Subdivision member Illinois (2-1) at 8:30 p.m. Thursday on the Big Ten Network. Adding to the challenge of a short week of preparation for UTC is the fact the Fighting Illini had an open date last Saturday. The Mocs, who opened the season with a shutout of SoCon foe Wofford, will instead have extra time as they prepare for their return to league play on Saturday, Oct. 1, at East Tennessee State.
As UTC, the preseason favorite to win the SoCon, makes the push for its first playoff berth since 2016, Prince's current contributions suggest he will be a factor in the effort.
"Since January, John has worked his tail off in the weight room and worked his tail off on the practice field," coach Rusty Wright said. "He gives us a good option out there where there's no dropoff. He plays hard and does the things he's supposed to be doing.
"He's growing up — that's the thing, he's growing up."
Prince has 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss this season, the most of any Moc not in the starting rotation. He's having an impact on the team's success, and he's having fun doing it.
"This season has been incredible so far. It's like we're one voice now," he said. "Last year we were OK, but this year it's a different feeling coming out here, balling with my brothers and stuff. It's a different feeling, man. It's a better atmosphere. We've got guys that want to come in and do the right thing; we've got guys that all have a common goal.
"Everybody wants to win the SoCon, wants to go to the playoffs. When everybody's on that right goal, you just feel different, the vibe is different, everybody's going hard. Everybody is just worried about the play that's in front of us, and it's not a lot of talking on the sidelines anymore. This is better, man. We've got a better squad this year."
And a better Prince doing his part.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3.