The Times Free Press is taking a daily positional look at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team before the first day of practice Wednesday. We end with the quarterbacks:
Tiano leads returners
Junior Nick Tiano had more lows than highs in his most extensive action since his senior year at Baylor School in 2014. The 6-foot-5, 240-pounder completed 55 percent of his passes for 873 yards and six scores, and he had good moments. Against Virginia Military Institute, he had 249 yards passing and four touchdowns, the most the Keydets gave up in one game all season.
With above-average arm strength, Tiano does well when given time to throw, something that didn't happen last year behind a struggling offensive line. He was sacked 15 times and hit countless others, to the point where he appeared to become a little gun-shy before missing the final six games after suffering a shoulder injury.
Sophomore Dominic Caldwell played in the Western Carolina game after both Tiano and graduated senior Alejandro Bennifield were lost with injuries and threw a 6-yard touchdown pass.
Gunslinger James
The coaching staff is very high on 6-3, 220-pound sophomore Chris James, who has spent time at both Valdosta State and Hutchinson Community College. James completed only four of the 17 passes he attempted last season, according to National Junior College Athletic Association stats. He served as a backup last season after winning the starting job in 2016 but went out with a foot injury in the third game.
During the Mocs' spring practice, he showed good mobility and a strong arm before being sidelined with a hand injury. In addition, Cooper Bell (6-4, 180) came to UTC as a preferred walk-on after a senior year at Georgetown, Texas, in which he threw for 2,654 yards and 38 touchdowns - to one interception.
Strengths
Both Tiano and James have experience in college games, although the latter hasn't played at the Division I level yet. Both possess strong arms and solid builds, and the combination of former college starting quarterbacks in head coach Tom Arth and offensive coordinator Justin Rascati should be very helpful to their growth.
Weaknesses
Last season, UTC lost Bennifield and Tiano and had to burn the redshirt of freshman Cole Copeland to remain competitive. With the news of Copeland's season-long suspension this year, the Mocs can't afford a similar circumstance as they don't have the quality of depth at the position to win games should something happen to both Tiano and James.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3.