The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s 2026 football season kicks off Aug. 29 at West Georgia, and beat writer Gene Henley is taking a daily positional look at UTC’s roster.
After highlighting quarterbacks, running backs and receivers (including tight ends), he takes a look at offensive linemen.
Who’s gone: Ryan Merklinger (graduated; 6-foot-4, 319 pounds; 12 games, 12 starts in 2025); Tyrell Ragland (graduated; 6-2, 318; 11 games, 10 starts); B.J. Ragland (graduated; 6-1, 286; 11 games, five starts); Will Buchanan (graduated; 6-6, 340; eight games); Christian Va’a (transferred; 6-0, 315; did not play); K’Erius Cockrum (transferred; 6-3, 292; did not play); Joseph Kallies (transferred; 6-0, 328; did not play); Dazmon Galloway (transferred; 6-1, 312; six games).
Who’s back: Nick Paul (junior, 6-2, 315; 12 games, 12 starts); Aidan Donald (redshirt junior, 6-3, 262; 12 games, 12 starts); Devin Lively (junior, 6-2, 289; 11 games, seven starts); Watts Alexander (redshirt sophomore, 6-4, 294; 10 games, two starts); Tracy Jackson (redshirt sophomore, 6-1, 301; six games); Connor Coffman (redshirt freshman, 6-4, 288); Johnny Davis (redshirt freshman, 6-2, 301); Malik Watts (redshirt freshman, 6-4, 287); Will Brown (redshirt junior, 6-0, 281; did not play); Jules Ney (redshirt sophomore, 6-2, 294; two games).
(READ MORE: UTC left tackle Aidan Donald learns to play bigger than his size)