UTC quarterback Terrell Robinson is back.

The former all-state South Pittsburg star, who quit the UTC football team on Tuesday, has had a change of heart and has re-joined the team.

“Terrell met with me and the assistant coaches earlier today (Thursday), was very humble in his conversation with us and wants to be part of this team and help us win a championship,” said Mocs head coach Russ Huesman.

“He’s been a good person the entire time he has been here and I wanted to make sure he is making the right decision.

Robinson started in the Mocs 34-13 loss to South Florida this past Saturday, did split playing time with the No.2 QB Jacob Huesman, and was penciled in to be the starter  against Jacksonville (Ala.) State this Saturday before he left the team Tuesday.

According to coach Huesman, Jacob Huesman will start Saturday with junior Graham Nichols being the back-up.

Mocs vs. Jax State: "This will be a game of two evenly matched teams," said coach Huesman. "Jax State has a lot of talent on both sides of the ball. Last year we won by 21 points (38-17), but the game was a lot closer than the score indicates (Mocs led 23-17 at halftime).

Robinson, was 4-of-5 passing for 25 yards last Saturday against the Bulls and ran for 19 yards on seven carries, while Huesman was 9-of-13 for 87 yards passing and had one rushing touchdown called back on a holding penalty.

Robinson will not take any snaps in today's practice and will not travel with the team to Jacksonville State, but he will drive to the game on his own, be on sidelines in street clothes wearing his No, 17 game jersey.

"I told Terrell on Tuesday that he was going to start (against Jacksonville State) and I hated that he left the team, but glad that he has returned,” coach Huesman stated.

"But I am glad to hear what he said about wanting to drive to Saturday's game on his own and be on the sidelines with his teammates. That's pretty good in my mind."

 Robinson was 2-1 as a starter in 2011 beating Western Carolina and Elon.

 “Terrell has always been a humble young man with not a lot of ego and he felt he let the team down by quitting,” coach Huesman said. “Today he seemed excited to come back and be part of the team."

Next Week: The Mocs practice Sunday night due to the home opener on Thursday against Glenville State (Finley Stadium, 6 p.m.).

Equal Snaps in Practice:  “We will give Terrell and Jacob even amount of snaps during Sunday’s practice and then we (coaches) will evaluate the quarterback situation at that time,” said coach Huesman.

Robinson, the former 1A Mr. Football Award Winner in Tennessee and senior class salutatorian from South Pittsburg, sited the reason he was leaving the team was due to the inability to function in a two-quarterback system.

“I told Terrell today to not look over your shoulder and go out there and play and have fun,” stated coach Huesman.

Lots of Emotion: Asked if Robinson's decision to leave the team had something to do with a young player making an emotional decision, coach Huesman said, "This sport (football) is so different than other sports with such high emotions and excitement and the blood flowing," said coach Huesman. "But overall, the pressure doesn't  get to Terrell. He's a pretty cool character." 

"In my mind he made the wrong decision to quit, but in his mind he made the right decision."

Had Options: “Terrell had options to play other places if had decided to leave the team permanently,” said coach Huesman. "He has come back to the team, because he wanted to comre back."

“Yet, I wanted to see a humble, contrite Terrell Robinson in our meeting, one without any demands and that is what I saw.”

Close-Knit Team: Senior running back and co-captain J.J. Jackson said, “for sure we want Terrell back on the team. We are very forgiving. He made a mistake and regrets it. We are a close knit team and he’s a great leader.”

contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net