UTC first year head coach Tom Arth welcome 49 lettermen to today’s opening of spring practice at Scrappy Moore Field.
It is the most returning lettermen from one season to the next since 52 returners for the 1997 season.
There are 22 on the offensive side of the ball, 26 on defense and three specialists. There are 11 starters back, including five on offense, five on defense and the punter.
Spring Game: Saturday April 8 at Finley Stadium at noon.
Offense - Starters Returning (5) QB (1) Alejandro Bennifield (Sr.), WR (1) James Stovall (Sr.),TE (1) Malcolm Colvin (Sr.), OG (1) Josh Cardiello (Sr.), OT (1) Malcolm White (So.)
Defense - Starters returing (5) … DT (1) Taylor Reynolds (Sr.) LB (1) Dale Warren (Sr.), one S (1) Lucas Webb (Sr.),CB (2) C.J. Fritz (Jr.), Trevor Wright (Sr.)
Punter (1)- Colin Brewer (So.) ... earned SoCon All-Freshman honors in 2016 ... was fifth in the league with 40.6 yards per kick.
Offense: On offense, coach Arth and staff needs to replace three starters on the offensive lie including All-American guard Corey Levin, All-American running back Derrick Craine plus receivers C.J. Board and Xavier Borishade
But the 2017 offense is solid as second team All-Conference senior quarterback Alejandro Bennified (2,834 yds, 29 TDs) is back for his senior year to lead the offense along with receiver James Stovall (802 yards, 6 TD, 22 starts, Sr.) and tight end Malcolm Colvin (Sr.) plus offensive line starters Josh Cardiello (OG, Sr.) and Malcolm White (OT, So.).
Richardre Bagley (593 yds, 5 TDs) is set to replace Derrick Craine with help from Alex Trotter and Kyle Nalls. Bennifield will also have veteran receivers Alphonso Stewart (297 yds, 2 TDs and 5 starts in 2016) to and Bingo Morton throw to.
Defense … Seniors Taylor Reynolds (DT, 70 career tackles, 3,5 QB sacks), Dale Warren (116 career tackles, 1 INT) and three-time All-SoCon Lucas Webb (Safety, 10 career INTs)) and cornerback Trevor Wright (116 career tackles, 4 INTs) along with junior cornerback C.J. Fritz (62 career tackles, 1 INT). The defense lost All-Anericans Keionta Davis (DL) and LB Nakevion Leslie
UTC Coaching Staff ...Head Coach: Tom Arth … Tom Kaufman (Defensive Coordinator)
Justin Rascati (Offensive Coordinator) ... Ryan Aplin (Receivers)
Brian Cochran (Defensive Line ...Jonathan Cooley (Defensive Backs
DeMarcus Covington (OLBs) ... Matt Feeney (Linebackers)
Nick Hennessey (Offensive Line) ... Chris Hurd (Special Teams/Tight Ends).
Five All-American seniors in 2016 ...Keionta Davis (DL) and Corey Levin (OL) were consensus picks. LB Nakevion Leslie was on the HeroSports. com second team and STATS third team. RB Derrick Craine (HeroSports.com) (and Academic All-American) and OL Jacob Revis (Madness) were third team honorees.