Around the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football program, there’s some optimism that defensive end Chris Victor could be in line for a big season.
There’s one thing, though, that sixth-year head coach Rusty Wright, first-year coordinator Mike Yeager and the rest of the UTC defensive staff are certain of: Whether it comes from the 6-foot-4, 235-pound Victor, senior Joseph Bakhole (6-2, 243), redshirt junior Marquise Freeman (6-3, 226) or someone else, there’s a lot of production that has to be replaced — one way or the other — for the Mocs to maintain their standard at edge rusher, where dominant performances have become the expectation.
Jay Person — a two-time Southern Conference defensive player of the year and two-time Football Championship Subdivision All-American — isn’t walking through that door, having recently signed with the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Neither is fellow UTC graduate Ben Brewton, a three-time All-SoCon selection whose career totals with Person show a combined 49.5 sacks and 85 tackles for loss.
The past three seasons, those two had solidified the edges. It was a position group that UTC coaches didn’t have to worry about, not only because they knew the pass rush would be taken care of, but because they knew those players would do the right thing.
Now, at least through preseason camp as UTC works toward its Aug. 31 opener at Tennessee, it’s a question that still needs answering. The Mocs have guys there, no doubt. But who are going to be THE guys?