Jacob Huesman

Davis Tull

Southern Conference preseason rankings (First-place votes in parenthesis) Media poll 1. Chattanooga (29) 235 2. Furman (1) 203 3. Samford 174 4. Wofford 155 5. Western Carolina 105 6. The Citadel 103 7. Mercer 67 8. VMI 38 Coaches Poll 1. UTC (6) 48 2. Furman (1) 40 2. Samford (1) 40 4. Wofford 30 5. Western Carolina 24 6. The Citadel 22 7. Mercer 10 7. VMI 10 Preseason all-conference Offensive Player of the Year: Jacob Huesman, Jr., QB, Chattanooga Defensive Players of the Year: Davis Tull, Sr., DL, Chattanooga First Team Offense QB Jacob Huesman, Jr., QB, Chattanooga RB Hank McCloud, Sr., Furman RB Keon Williams, Sr., Chattanooga OL Charles Emert, Sr., Furman OL Gunnar Bromelow, Jr., Samford OL Synjen Herren, Jr., Chattanooga OL Josh Wineberg, Jr., Western Carolina OL T.J. Chamberlin, Jr., Wofford TE Faysal Shafaat, Sr., Chattanooga WR Andrej Suttles, So., Furman WR Karnorris Benson, Jr., Western Carolina First Team Defense DL Justin Oxendine, Sr., The Citadel DL Gary Wilkins, Sr., Furman DL Davis Tull, Sr., Chattanooga DL Tarek Odom, Sr., Wofford LB Carl Robinson, Sr., The Citadel LB Marcus McMorris, Sr., Furman LB Carl Rider, Jr., Furman DB Reggie Thomas, Jr., Furman DB James Bradberry, Jr., Samford DB Jaquiski Tartt, Sr., Samford DB Sertonuse Harris, Jr., Western Carolina First Team Specialists PK Warren Handrahan, So., Samford P Greg Peranich, Sr., Samford RS Shaun Warren, Sr., Western Carolina Second Team Offense QB Reese Hannon, Jr., Furman RB Darius Ramsey, Jr., Western Carolina RB Will Gay, Jr., Wofford OL Joe Turner, Jr., Furman OL C.H. Scruggs, Jr., Samford OL Corey Levin, So., Chattanooga OL Andrew Marcotte, Sr., VMI OL Anton Wahrby, So., Wofford TE Tony Philpot, Jr., Samford WR Karel Hamilton, So., Samford WR Terryon Robinson, So., Western Carolina Second Team Defense DL Ira McCune, Sr., Furman DL Jerry Mathis, Sr., Samford DL Josh Freeman, Jr., Chattanooga DL Derrick Lott, Sr., Chattanooga LB Bobby Wilson, Jr., Samford LB Christon Gill, Sr., Western Carolina LB Kevin Thomas, Sr., Wofford DB Trey Robinson, So., Furman DB Ace Clark, Sr., Western Carolina DB Chris Armfield, So., Wofford DB Bernard Williams, Sr., Wofford Second Team Specialists PK Richard Sigmon, Sr., Western Carolina P Nick Pollard, Sr., Chattanooga RS Will Gay, Jr., Wofford

The last time the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team was the preseason pick to win the Southern Conference Michael Jackson's "Thriller" album had just been released, E.T. was the top grossing movie, Danica Patrick and Lil Wayne were newborns and Knoxville hosted the World's Fair.

For the first time since 1982, he Mocs topped both the coaches' and media polls at Wednesday's SoCon media day in Spartanburg (S.C.).

Furman and Samford, which shared last season's conference title with UTC, finished tied for second in the coaches' poll and were second and third, respectively, according to the media.

"We had a decent year last season and we have a lot coming back, so I figured we would be one of the teams in there somewhere," Mocs coach Russ Huesman said. "Nobody looks at us like we all did Appalachian State and Georgia Southern for years. And I'm sure four or five other teams left media day saying, 'they ain't better than us.'

"You can't hide it from the players. They'll read the paper and know about that kind of stuff, but we haven't arrived yet. We've got to get better and take another step this year as a team."

With 15 returning starters, including two-time Defensive Player of the Year Davis Tull, from last year's team, the Mocs collected 29 of the media members' 30 first-place votes and earned six of the league's eight coaches' first-place votes.

The Mocs also swept the conference preseason individual honors, with two-time All America end Tull being selected Defensive Player of the Year and junior quarterback Jacob Huesman named Offensive Player of the Year.

Huesman, who is on the Walter Payton Award watch list, was joined by running back Keon Williams, lineman Synjen Herren and tight end Faysal Shafaat on the SoCon preseason first-team offense, while Tull was the lone first-team defender for UTC. Four other Mocs -- defensive linemen Derrick Lott and Josh Freeman, sophomore offensive lineman Corey Levin and punter Nick Pollard were named second-team all conference. Furman led all schools with 11 preseason all-conference honorees.

"I'm real happy for all those kids because they've worked hard and deserve the recognition," Coach Huesman said. "We'll congratulate those guys and move on to get ready for the season now.

"I remember a few years ago we didn't have any preseason all conference players so this just shows what a great job our coaches have done in bringing in talent and developing it and we've got a lot of good kids who work to make us better."

Mocs host women's clinic

The Mocs coaching staff will host a women's football clinic Friday at Finley Stadium beginning at 6 p.m., with doors opening at 5:30. Admission is $40 either through pre-registration (www.gomocs.com) or at the door. UTC students, faculty and staff can get in for $25. All attendees receive an official Women's Clinic visor. The clinic includes instruction from the coaching staff, both on the field and in the Finley Stadium Club. Door prizes and other awards will be given throughout the evening and all proceeds benefit the Huesman's Huddle program, which provides free admission to home football games to underprivileged fans.

Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293.

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