Chattanooga Mocs senior Devonnsha Maxwell starts 2022 like he finished 2021. He is a candidate for the Buck Buchanan Award, the FCS Defensive Player of the Year presented by Stats Perform. The news comes one week after his nod to repeat as Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
He finished 14th in the voting a year ago with his production belying what position he actually plays for the Mocs. The common misconception is that “D-Max” (emphasis on the Max) is a defensive end. With 12.0 sacks and just 7.5 shy of the Southern Conference record, it’s an easy assumption that he’s out wide with his ears pinned back going after the quarterback snap after snap.
Maxwell is actually a tackle.
The sheik term is 3-technique meaning he has to work through guards, centers and tackles. His production is impressive considering the number of eyes on him every play on the interior of the line.
“D-Max is a major part of our success defensively,” Coach Rusty Wright shared. “He is a disruptive force at the 3-technique.
“He is a leader on this football team and has a bright future ahead.”
Maxwell is a consensus preseason All-America after making virtually every squad a season ago. D-Max recorded 42 tackles with 15.5 for loss and 12.0 sacks. He set the school record sacks in a game with 5.0 in the Rail Rivalry triumph over ETSU against a Bucs offensive line that had allowed just four sacks in the previous six games to start the season.
He is one of two SoCon performers on the initial list. He’s joined by VMI linebacker Stone Snyder who joined him as a finalist in 2021. The full list is linked above.
Maxwell is third all-time in program history with 29.5 sacks. That’s 1.5 behind Keionta Davis’ (2013-16) 31.0 and 7.5 shy of all-time leader at UTC and in SoCon Davis Tull’s 37.0 from 2011-14. He also has Davis’ 13.5 season sack record in 2015 square in his sites.
The Mocs 2022 schedule is linked above. Five home games are included with visits from Wofford, North Alabama, VMI, Mercer and Samford. Season tickets start at just $60 for general admission. Click the link above, go to the Go Mocs app or call (423) 266-MOCS (6627) to purchase.
The ticketing and marketing pros at Chattanooga launched an August campaign for 500 new season tickets sold this week.