Jay Person and the Chattanooga Mocs linebacker room has a serious point to make in 202.
photo by Logan Stapleton/gomocs.com
The 18th-ranked Chattanooga Mocs continue fall camp in preparation for the 2021 campaign. GoMocs.com moves to the fourth installment in its 8-point season preview series taking a look at the room that drives the defensive bus.
Starters Returning (3): Ty Boeck, Kam Jones, Jay Person
Starters Lost (0): N/A
Returnees with career starts (4): Justin Snyder, Christian Snyder, Montez Wilson, C.J.
Winston
There’s so much to say with so little time as it applies to this linebacker group. The first thought that comes to mind…it’s the most underrated position group in the country.
Returning starters on the inside – Ty Boeck & Kam Jones – have few peers and outside linebacker Jay Person was as disruptive as anyone in the league last season tying for the Southern Conference lead in tackles for loss with teammate Devonnsha Maxwell at 1.8 per game (Jones was right behind them with 1.4). Despite all of that, Person alone got All-SoCon mention this preseason and that was on the second team.
And then the depth! Christian Snyder started in the spring finale and racked up 20 tackles en route to SoCon Defensive Player of the Week honors. He and Justin Sanders didn’t miss a beat and C.J. Winston showed his ability as well.
Winston and Kohl Henke have made their mark on special teams. Freshmen Bo Spearman and Daniel Brent have that opportunity as well as that initial work leads to greater chances. It’s always been a stepping stone in the Mocs recent tradition of strong linebacker play. Frontline guys Montez Wilson and Austin Collier also play with their hand up at outside linebacker which means 10+ guys give confidence to the staff as a whole.
“We've got guys now in Kam Jones and Ty Boeck who have been in the system for a couple of years,” Coach Rusty Wright pointed out. “They understand what we're trying to do, and they're skilled enough to be another in a long line of good linebackers here.
“We've built a little more depth in that room with Christian Snyder, Justin Sanders and Bo Spearman playing better as a young guy. That room has a chance to be a real asset for us.
“Outside you've got Jay Person, C.J. Winston, Tez Wilson...Jay can rush the passer, play the run, he's athletic and a local guy. C.J. Winston keeps getting better over the last year and a half. He plays hard and gives himself a chance. I feel good about what those guys bring to our defense. They're a disruptive factor.”
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“I think our room…the goal is to be the best linebacker room in the nation. I don't see why that's not attainable. Our group is getting older and more mature. Guys like Bo Spearman, Kohl Henke, Christian (Snyder), me and Ty (Boeck), we just keep pushing forward trying to get better day after day. The younger guys are actually pushing us harder and making it more competitive. I'm excited. Having depth is a good thing, keeping us fresh and faster on the field.” – ILB Kam Jones
“Our linebackers are really talented. They make practice for us quarterbacks a lot more difficult because they know what they're doing. They're extremely athletic, fast, strong and they're attentive...they get us a lot better for sure.” – QB Drayton Arnold
“I think outside linebacker is the most important position in our defense. That guy is important in the run game and is included in the pass rush. He also has to be able to drop back into coverage. That position needs a special person. I think Jay (Person), C.J. (Winston), Tez (Wilson) and Austin Collier are doing a great job setting the edge and being a force on the outside.” – OLB Coach Tyrus Ward
“Ty Boeck and Kam Jones have played a lot of football for us, and they're playing really, really well right now. They know the defense. They're playing with better pad level, better leverage. They should be really good players for us this fall. The fact that Christian Snyder, Justin Sanders and Bo Spearman have all gotten better and better. That creates more competition so now Ty and Kam know they have to play well every single day.” – ILB Coach Mike Yeager
WHAT DOES LB MEAN TO MOCS DEFENSE
“Outside linebackers are guys who can bring pressure off the edge and can chase, and we have the tendency to make a play there. Inside linebackers are really, really smart. They do a great job getting us lined up and making the correct call. Those first two are experienced and very, very aggressive attacking the run.” – DC Lorenzo Ward
NOTES
- Top 3 in tackles in 2020-21 all play inside linebacker: Kam Jones (34), Ty Boeck (31) & Christian Snyder (28).
- Boeck was a takeaway machine last season with an interception and two fumble recoveries in four games.
- Jay Person tied All-American Devonnsha Maxwell in tackles for loss with seven and was second to the D-end in sacks with three.
GoMocs.com continues its annual position-by-position preview Friday with the wide receivers. The preview series starts with an article on the home of all things Mocs, GoMocs.com, followed throughout the day on various social media channels @GoMocsFB.
The schedule:
Season tickets are available by calling (423) 266-MOCS (6627) or online here at GoMocs.com. Fans also can go through the GoMocs app available on Android and Apple IOS devices in their respective app stores. Home games await hosting the Governors, Western Carolina, ETSU, Furman and The Citadel.