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UTC positional analysis: Mocs expected to continue leaning on running game in 2023

Staff file photo by Robin Rudd / UTC's Ailym Ford (0) enters his fifth season with the Mocs having accounted for 49% of their rushing yards during his career. Ford and his fellow running backs are expected to be leaned on heavily this season, too, with the Mocs again bringing in a new quarterback.
Staff file photo by Robin Rudd / UTC's Ailym Ford (0) enters his fifth season with the Mocs having accounted for 49% of their rushing yards during his career. Ford and his fellow running backs are expected to be leaned on heavily this season, too, with the Mocs again bringing in a new quarterback. Staff file photo by Robin Rudd / UTC's Ailym Ford (0) enters his fifth season with the Mocs having accounted for 49% of their rushing yards during his career. Ford and his fellow running backs are expected to be leaned on heavily this season, too, with the Mocs again bringing in a new quarterback.

By Gene Henley 2 min read

The Times Free Press is taking a positional look at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football roster with the Mocs’ season set to kick off in less than two months on Sept. 2 at North Alabama.

Here’s a look at the running backs.

Who’s gone: No one

Who’s back: Senior Ailym Ford (1,383 total yards, 14 touchdowns in 2022; 3,443 career rushing yards); senior Gino Appleberry (426 rushing yards, three touchdowns in 2022); junior Lance Jackson (135 yards, two touchdowns against Mercer in 2021); junior Chris Houston; sophomore Reggie Davis; freshman Solomon Locke.

Who’s in: Malachi Jeffries (1,387 yards, 23 total touchdowns last year as high school senior at Georgia’s Cartersville).