Devonnsha Maxwell doesn't even like the thought of being considered the "weak link" of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga defense.
As the Mocs enter their third week of preseason camp, he's making the case that he definitely won't be thought of in that manner.
The 6-foot-3, 290-pound redshirt freshman end has solidified a spot on the Mocs' three-man defensive front alongside 2017 All-Southern Conference selections Isaiah Mack and Derek Mahaffey. It's been Maxwell's job to replace graduated seniors Taylor Reynolds, who had 64 tackles with 6 1/2 for lost yardage last season, and D.J. Prather.
The two current seniors have been able to show a wealth of knowledge from their combined eight prior years of experience in college football, doing what they can to show Maxwell the ropes.
"We've seen nothing but spectacular play from Devonnsha," defensive line coach Davern Williams said. "For a young guy he's been very consistent. I really think Mahaffey and Mack have rubbed off on him as far as the technique and effort that he puts in day to day, and it's been great that he's stepped into that role after the guys that left last year and played well.
"It's been like that since the spring: He's been balling, been dominating."
Head coach Tom Arth agreed that working with Mack and Mahaffey has been great for the 19-year-old Maxwell's development as a player.
"Those guys are smart players, veteran players," Arth said. "They understand blocking schemes; they understand their responsibility within the defense. For Devonnsha to have the opportunity to be around those guys and see the way they work and the way they study has been a really big benefit to him."
Maxwell said before Thursday's practice that he doesn't want the rest of the defense to think he can't hold his own, which has pushed him. As the relatively unknown quantity on the defensive line, he expects that a lot of stuff will be geared to go in his direction until he proves he can make plays himself.
"Isaiah and Derek have shown me the way through camp, through my time being here," Maxwell said. "I'm grateful to have them show me the ropes and teach me how to do the stuff they do. Last season I learned to come out and get better every day, and that's been my goal. Playing with those two, you've got to carry your own weight - those aren't just some scrubs - and that's what I've wanted to do for fall camp. They've shown they're in their own league, but I feel I've been able to solidify myself.
"I'll continue to get better as we go along."
Brewer on holder list
UTC punter Colin Brewer has been added to the Peter Mortell holder-of-the-year watchlist, a tongue-in-cheek, informal award given to the best college football holder in the United States.
The award was created in 2015 by Mortell, then a senior punter at Minnesota. Each year's finalists and award winner are selected by the HOTY Foundation. Brewer is the only Football Championship Subdivision representative on this year's watch list.
The former Baylor School standout has been the holder for the Mocs the past two seasons. With him in that role, former kicker Henrique Ribeiro and current sophomore Victor Ulmo are a combined 77-of-81 on extra points and 21-of-27 on field goals, including Ulmo's game-winning 38-yard kick to beat eighth-ranked Samford last season.
The foundation will help raise money for a charity of the winner's choosing. The award has gained national attention as the winner records an acceptance video shown during ESPN's College Football Awards Show.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3.