UTC wide receiver Bingo Morton splits Western Carolina linebackers Daniel Riddle (58) and A.J. Newman during a SoCon game last September at Finley Stadium.The Times Free Press is taking a daily positional look at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team leading up to the first practice Wednesday. Today we look at the wide receivers:
Who's back?
Five receivers who caught passes during the 2017 season return, four of whom are seniors. Bingo Morton led the Mocs in catches with 39 and was tied for the lead in touchdowns with four. Joseph Parker had three scores on 34 catches, including the game-winner against East Tennessee State in the season finale. Wil Young has shown moments of potential during his career, while Dejuan McQuarters is a speedster still looking for a way into the rotation. Sophomore Bryce Nunnelly had seven catches in his first season on the roster and will be a player to watch. Other seniors are walk-ons Xavier Johnson - who started his career at quarterback - and Cody Swabek, who formerly ran track at Louisville.
Who's new?
UTC brought in three freshmen and a transfer who could be asked to contribute. T.J. Horton, Genuine Potts and former Bradley Central standout Lameric Tucker were all big-time contributors in their high school programs, while Demarcus (Mark) Williams comes to UTC from Minnesota, where he caught two passes as a freshmen. He signed with the Golden Gophers as a quarterback and could be in some packages at quarterback for the Mocs. Redshirt freshman Jeffery Wood is very fast with the ball in his hands. Incoming walk-ons Andrew Manning (a former Ooltewah player) and J'Kobe Orr, who played with Horton at Georgia's Cartersville, were productive in high school.
Strengths
The returning core has size and strength, and a tough receiver in Parker who's capable of making catches in the slot. Morton caught passes in 10 games a year ago, while Parker made receptions in nine. Having a year in the program and a number of experienced, smart seniors as well as Nunnelly will bode well for the starting quarterback, whoever it ends up being.
Weaknesses
The main deficiency appears to be the same problem the Mocs have at other positions: depth. After the first five, nobody has been on the field in a UTC uniform, with Williams' nine games as a Gopher making him the most experienced outside of the core quintet.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com.