The Chattanooga Mocs are well underway in preparation for August’s fall camp in the Scenic City. A majority of the roster is already on campus working out and readying for an exciting 2024 campaign.
Last week, we learned the secondary’s theme song might as well be the Rev. Al Green’s iconic “Let’s Stay Together”. This week, we move closer to the line of scrimmage and take a closer look at a restocked linebacker room.
Who’s back? All the major players. Both starters – Alex Mitchell and Kobe Joseph return – as well as rotational contributors Kameron Brown and Zion Rutledge along with special teams ace Kendall Jackson looking for more snaps. Depth comes from rising sophomore Connor Delashmitt and the incoming freshmen duo of Landon Feggins and Amanuel Dickson.
At this time last year, it was an unproven room with potential but not a lot of game experience.
"That's the biggest thing," Coach Rusty Wright explained. "Alex had to play. Kobe had to play last year. They came in and played and played. I think you see those young guys kind of watching and learning and doing things based off our older ones now.
"It's a room that's got huge upside (for years to come)."
Much like last week’s mention of what’s needed from the returning safety trio, Wright is looking for that next step from his linebackers.
"I really like where we are there," he continued. "Alex Mitchell has a chance to be a really good 'Chattanooga linebacker'. That's what he looks like. That whole room has a chance to be very solid for us this year.
"Last year was the first where we didn't have an all-conference linebacker since I've been here. We'll get one of those guys back to that."
Mitchell led the 2023 squad with 78 tackles including 3.5 for loss and a sack. He forced three fumbles, broke up three passes and rumbled 38 yards for his first career touchdown on a pick six to put the Mocs up two scored on the first two drives of the game in the runaway win at Samford.
He topped double digits three times with a high of 11 at North Alabama and at Wofford. Mitchell made 10 stops at home against Furman.
Joseph was fourth on the tackles list with 59. He made his first start in week seven at Mercer for an injured Mitchell. Two games later, the duo started together for the first time at VMI and continued that run through the playoffs. He led the room in TFLs (5.0) and sacks (2.0).
Brown made 40 tackles as one of just two LBs – Bo Spearman the other – to play in all 13 games. He started out in tandem with Joseph behind Mitchell and Spearman before Joseph’s elevation. Brown (Auburn) and the Harvard grad transferred last summer missing spring practice and playing catchup in fall camp. With a full year under their belts, along with rising junior Mitchell and true sophomore Rutledge, the Mocs have an experienced group with exciting youth to boot. Don’t be shocked if a preferred walk on checks in as well prior to camp.
We sat down with Kam Brown for a quick Q&A on a multitude of things. The senior who transferred last summer from Auburn is always a good conversation.
What was that transition like, going from "power five" to Chattanooga?
Brown: "Oh, it's honestly awesome. We came here, got to meet some of the coaches on the visit, and fell in love with how the team is and the coaches as well. The coaches remind me a lot of my papa and just some of the good coaches I've had before as well. So that's exactly what brought me here."
You never seem like you have a bad day. Just what is it about your attitude and regardless of what's going on around you?
Brown: "I've been grateful to see a lot of things. I know a lot of people who can't do the things we do every day. My grandparents are my biggest wisdom givers, and my parents too. They taught me there's really never a bad day. You choose to have a bad day if you want to have a bad day and just to hold on to things."
What impressed you about Chattanooga?
Brown: "It's just beautiful here. Like the outdoors. We went hiking this weekend and just seeing some beautiful areas like Rainbow Falls (Signal Mountain). I'd say being active in FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) with some of the dudes."
How "together" is this team as a whole and not just the linebacker room?
Brown: "When building a culture, I'd say you gotta have dudes like minds...strong minded. When I first got here last year, it was after the spring, so I just jumped in during fall camp. It seemed like everybody's together and stuff, but it feels like we're even more together this year than last. You got dudes want to do be around each other and coming out for extra work. It's special to see."
How does that impact your room in particular?
Brown: "Coach (Mike) Yeager has prepared us so well. I feel he set us up for greatness right now. We do meetings on our own since (the coaches) are not allowed to do anything with us yet. So, we'll go to the field together...the sand pits. A lot of dudes want to work on footwork, and I think between me, Kobe and Alex, we're bought into the whole group right now. The freshmen actually know what they have to do on the field and are asking questions and not scared to speak up. Zion is coming, he's going to be great for us. Amanuel was here in the spring and Landon is here now as well. They're just good dudes that love to work."
What do you look for this room to do moving forward this year because it's key role in this defense?
Brown: "Consistency. Be able to communicate and just be physical. Everybody in our room can move. Everybody can be physical. Be ready for your chance because Coach Yeager loves a strong four. He always says, 'I want to play the best four' and that comes with knowing the game. This group, man it loves football. This summer, we're having meetings where even the freshmen are actually trying to draw things up. They want to come in, do extra and I think that's probably the best thing we could have right now."
What position would you play if you weren’t a linebacker?
Brown: "Quarterback."
2024 Linebacker Room
Starters Returning/Lost (2/0): Mitchell, Joseph
Letter Winners Returning/Lost (6/1): Mitchell, Joseph, Brown, Jackson, Rutledge, Delashmitt | Spearman
Redshirts/Newcomers (0/2): Dickson (Jan. enrollee), Feggins
Notes to Know…
- The room combined for three interceptions – Joseph (2-60) & Mitchell (1-38) – and 98 return yards in ’23. Add in three fumble recoveries and that’s six of the program’s 20 turnovers gained.
- Of the six returning letter winners, five were credited with eight or more games played.
- Of the eight linebackers currently on campus, six are home grown (Mitchell, Rutledge, Jackson, Delashmitt, Dickson, Feggins) along with two transfers (Brown-Auburn, Joseph-Harvard).
- Mitchell has played 22 of a possible 24 games over his two seasons with 94 tackles. Mitchell has not redshirted nor has Rutledge who is a year behind him.
- History favors the room under Wright with five all-conference selections since 2019: Marshall Cooper (2019) & Ty Boeck (2019, ’20-21, ‘21 & ’22).
2024 PREVIEW SERIES
June 5: QB – Y2Chase
June 12: RB – Uncertain Certainty
June 19: WR – All Growns Up
June 26: TE – One More Year
July 3: OL – Who’s Next
July 10: DB – Let’s Stay Together
MEET THE MOCS
Sports Talk on WGOW 102.3 FM is running it back again this year. Their weekly ”Meet the Mocs” position segments interviewing key student-athletes over the summer months follow along with GoMocs.com’s position previews. Check out Kameron Brown with the Sports Talk gurus Scott McMahen, David Paschall and Joe Varner at 4:35 p.m. Click the listen live link here on WGOW.com.
SEASON TICKETS ON SALE
Season tickets are now available to the general public. The deadline to renew last year's seats is May 31. Prices start at $60 for general admission. Mocs Club members have the option for reserved seats beginning at the $250 donation level which includes a season parking pass to go with the season ticket. The purchase of season tickets is the lowest per game price for fans.
STUDENT SEASON TICKETS AVAILABLE
Season tickets for students are FREE. However, students do need to register for their ticket here.
MOCS TOP 10 IN 1ST PRESEASON POLL
The Mocs are No. 10 in the HERO Sports FCS Preseason Top 25 released Thursday morning. The top 10 is led by South Dakota State followed by North Dakota State, Montana, Montana State, South Dakota, Villanova, Idaho, Sacramento State and Southern Illinois. Furman is 14th and Western Carolina comes in at 16.
PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA TEAMS
FCS Football Central: DT Marlon Taylor (1st), WR Javin Whatley (1st), OL Reid Williams (2nd)