Former UTC defensive back Chris Lewis-Harris signed a free agent contract with the Cincinnati Bengals today. Lewis-Harris was a four-year starter for the Mocs from 2008-11.
A native of Smyrna, Ga., Lewis-Harris was a second team All-Southern Conference selection after finishing fourth on the squad with 59 tackles last season. He started 38 of 44 games in his career and posted five interceptions in his four years at UTC.
Lewis-Harris was a team captain and leader of one of the top defenses in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in 2011. Chattanooga was No. 2 in the nation in pass defense, allowing only 141 yards per game in the air. UTC also led the SoCon and was No. 5 in the country in pass efficiency defense at 100.15. The Mocs finished the year also leading the SoCon in total defense (305.3 yds/g), scoring defense (19.7 ppg) and turnover margin (+9).
Lewis-Harris is the third former Moc currently on an NFL roster as training camp begins. He joins fellow rookie and quarterbackB.J. Coleman (2009-11) who was taken by the Green Bay Packers in the seventh round of April's NFL Draft. Defensive backBuster Skrine (2007-10) is entering his second season with the Cleveland Browns.
UTC opens the season with a trip to South Florida on Sept. 1. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (E.D.T.) in Tampa, Fla., and the game will broadcast on ESPN3. The five-game home schedule opens on Thursday, Sept. 13, against Glenville State at 7 p.m. at Finley Stadium.