Football doesn't slow down for anyone. At any level, if something happens to alter a team's lineup or roster - from injuries to transfers to suspensions - there's always a next-man up mentality.
So it's no surprise that with former University of Tennessee at Chattanooga senior receiver Bryce Nunnelly's decision to forgo the Mocs' spring semester season, graduate in May and transfer to Western Michigan, there was no panic among those who remain.
Although Nunnelly was UTC's most productive receiver the past two seasons, the Mocs threw on just 41% of their plays in 2019 and averaged less than 200 passing yards per game. So while it's safe to assume this isn't a pass-happy offense, someone will have to make catches.
Is there a single player who is expected to fill the void left by Nunnelly? Or will it be done by committee?
"You can't really expect one guy in particular to step up, because he could get hurt," UTC coach Rusty Wright said. "Does it help having that guy? Sure it does, but we kind of build the offense around being able to do certain things, no matter who is playing that spot."
The returns from the position group were mixed in 2019, the most recent full season for the Mocs, who did play one nonconference game this past fall at Western Kentucky. The second-leading receiver was Reginald Henderson, who averaged 18.1 yards on 21 receptions as a junior that season. Other than Nunnelly, the only UTC receiver with a touchdown catch was Tyrin Summers, who hauled in a 75-yard pass against The Citadel on Nov. 16, 2019. Nunnelly was the only UTC receiver who played in every game as injuries plagued the unit.
Staff photo by Robin Rudd/ UTC football coach Rusty Wright gets a flying high-five from receiver Reginald Henderson after the Mocs kicked a field goal to beat East Tennessee State on Oct. 17, 2019, at Finley Stadium.Tight end Chris James, a converted quarterback, led the team in touchdown catches with seven, and when his production is factored in along with the bevy of backfield options for the Mocs - including 1,000-yard rusher Ailym Ford - it's easy to see why the receivers could be a forgotten bunch.
But it's Henderson and Summers. It's fellow senior Kanore McKinnon. It's Andrew Manning. It's transfers Tyron Arnett (Western Michigan) and Tyler "Smoke" Smith (Western Kentucky), the most recent addition.
The group is ready to produce throughout 2021, with a traditional fall season still planned.
"We love Bryce and he was a part of the family, but it's just next man up," said Manning, a former Ooltewah standout who had 39 yards on six catches as a freshman in 2019. "We've had a lot of people step up, a lot of young guys, and it's a great thing when you have young guys be able to step up like that and just fit in with the rest of the group."
The Mocs are set to open their Southern Conference schedule Feb. 27 against Wofford at Finley Stadium, with the original opener against Virginia Military Institute postponed. Whatever UTC's spring season turns into - whether fewer than eight games or perhaps more than that with the Football Championship Subdivision set for playoffs - maybe no position group is more ready to play than the receivers.
They would have been ready to prove they were better than 2019 even before losing their most well-known weapon.
"It's been over a year since we played a full schedule," Summers said. "It's a lot of tension in the right ways. We just come out every day just ready to practice, ready to get out there and just see what we can do.
"We're going to compete."
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3.