A tough start to game week got a little sweeter with some Strange news after this morning’s Chattanooga Mocs football practice. Coach Rusty Wright announced senior offensive lineman Cole Strange was invited to the Reese’s Senior Bowl. Executive Director Jim Nagy was on hand to formally extend the Mocs eighth invite to the prestigious event.
Strange is in his sixth year in the program. He has taken complete and full advantage of the opportunity provided by the NCAA’s COVID exception and the additional year of eligibility after the past season was cut short.
The Senior Bowl is the premier venue for graduates wanting to make an impression on NFL Draft evaluators.
Every team in heavily invested in the work week leading into the event with general managers, head coaches and staffs as well as scouts on hand. Both the North and South teams are coached throughout the week and in the contest by current NFL coaching staffs.
The last UTC student-athlete to utilize this opportunity was Keionta Davis in 2017. He later earned a Super Bowl ring with the New England Patriots. Here is the list of Mocs who have (or will) participated in the Senior Bowl:
1953: Chester Lagod, OL
1954: Tom Drake, OL
1955: Dick Young, RB
1982: Curtis Rouse, OT
1989: Travis McNeal, TE
1996: Terrell Owens, WR
2017: Keionta Davis, DE
2022: Cole Strange, G/C
While the Strange news dominated the proceedings, the Mocs still have a lot to play for in the current campaign. They’re preparing for The Citadel at Finley Stadium on Saturday trying to keep their FCS Playoff hopes alive.
Coach Wright opened the press conference in the usual fashion before the Strange announcement at the end of his portion of the proceedings. Junior defensive lineman Christian Smith went next followed by the man of the hour.
Game time is 1:30 p.m. Seventeen Mocs are scheduled to take part with Senior Day proceedings which will start a little after 1 p.m.: Drayton Arnold, Brandon Dowdell, Rashun Freeman, Reginald Henderson, Chris James, Jordan Jones, Jerrell Lawson, Ka’Nore McKinnon, Kyle Miskelley, Blake Mitchell, Harrison Moon, Tyrell Price, Eli Shepherd, Cole Strange, Tyrin Summers and Montez Wilson joined by junior Christian Snyder. All 17 returned to the Mocs this fall as graduate students to complete their careers that ranged from one to six years in the blue & gold.