The 2025 Chattanooga Mocs football roster has 23 new members after the completion of the class via National Signing Day periods. The Mocs inked six high school students on Wednesday to go with 11 in December’s early date.
The new six includes an offensive lineman, a wide receiver, two on the defensive front and two defensive backs. Malik Watts is an exciting new member of the offensive line room, while Mekhi Bell and Myles Mays shine as bright prospect across the ball. Austin Kent and Kamari Todd add two strong additions to the secondary.
KaJuan Harris brings a talented resume to the wide receivers.
There are already eight new squad members with seven transfer students joining two mid-year high school signees from the December Signing Day enrolled and preparing for spring drills.
"It's a good class," Coach Rusty Wright began. "I think it was a good finish for us in February. I'm really pleased with how the coaches worked from start to finish to get the guys we have coming in. We're a little handcuffed by how we start school early to bring in a bunch of transfers at one time. But I think the guys we brought in will give us an opportunity to keep getting better."
Linebacker Gunnar Clary (Cottontown, Tenn.) and defensive back KJ Sejour (Hollywood, Fla) are the mid-year guys signing on day one of the December early period. They look to make an early impression during spring practice to set themselves up for roles as true freshmen in the fall.
The seven transfers fill areas of needs. They include five grad transfers and two with multiple years of eligibility. Teammates from Eastern Illinois’ secondary are in the Scenic City. Nick Coates played the nickel for the Panthers, while Kaelin Drakeford was a safety. The Mocs lost starters at nickel and both safeties. Former Davidson Wildcat Kristian Ozane comes into the linebacker suite.
Offensively, three key positions added significant help. Offensive lineman Ryan Merklinger from Western Illinois started every game for the Leathernecks over the last two years. He is very versatile starting at both center and tackle.
Quarterback Camden Orth is a grad transfer from Bowling Green. Originally from the Gainesville, Fla., area, Orth has the ability to run and throw. At 6-3, 225, he’s the largest QB for the Mocs since Nick Tiano ’19.
The wideouts also get a new face. Shamar Sandgren spent the last two seasons at South Alabama after starting his career at Itawamba Community College in Mississippi. He had 81 receptions for 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns at ICC.
Position Breakdowns:
QB (1): *Camden Orth (Bowling Green)
RB (1): TJ Worthy (Gadsden City HS)
WR (3): Jaden George (Kell HS), KaJuan Harris (Beech Sr. HS), *Shamar Sandgren (South Alabama)
TE (2): TJ Briggs (Lipscomb HS), Landon Strickland (Arab HS)
OL (4): K’Erius Cockrum (Thompson HS), Connor Coffman (Page HS), *Ryan Merklinger (Western Illinois), Malik Watts (Pell City HS)
DL (4): Mekhi Bell (Summit HS), Myles Mays (Marion Co. HS), Xavier Parker (Cartersville HS), Andrew Wynn (Savannah Country Day)
LB (2): *Gunnar Clary (Beech Sr HS), *Kristian Ozane (Davidson)
DB (6): *Nick Coates (Eastern Illinois), *Kaelin Drakeford (Eastern Illinois), Austin Kent (East Nashville Magnet), Jaden Nelson (Tift Co. HS), Kamari Todd (Gardendale HS), *KJ Sejour (Chaminade-Madonna Prep)
PK (0):
P (0):
LS (0):
*January Enrollee
Where the Class Comes From:
Alabama (5): K’Erius Cockrum (Alabaster), Landon Strickland (Union Grove), Kamari Todd (Gardendale), TJ Worthy (Gadsden), Malik Watts (Pell City)
Florida (2): Camden Orth (Gainesville), KJ Sejour (Hollywood)
Georgia (7): Jaden George (Marietta), Myles Mays (Calhoun), Ryan Merklinger (Savannah), Jaden Nelson (Tifton), Xavier Parker (Cartersville), Shamar Sandgren (Savannah), Andrew Wynn (Savannah)
Kentucky (2): Nick Coates (Louisville), Kaelin Drakeford (Harrodsburg)
Louisiana (1): Kristian Ozane (Westlake)
Tennessee (6): Mekhi Bell (Spring HIll), TJ Briggs (Nashville), Gunnar Clary (Cottontown), Connor Coffman (College Grove), KaJuan Harris (Goodlettsville), Austin Kent (Nashville)
Where the Class Comes From:
4-year Transfer (6): DB Nick Coates (Eastern Illinois), DB Kaelin Drakeford (Eastern Illinois), OL Ryan Merklinger (Western Illinois), QB Camden Orth (Bowling Green), LB Kristian Ozane (Davidson), WR Shamar Sandgren (South Alabama)
High School (17): DE Mekhi Bell (Summit-TN), TE TJ Briggs (Lipscomb-TN), LB Gunnar Clary (Beech-TN), OL K’Erius Cockrum (Thompson-AL), OL Connor Coffman (Page-TN), WR Jaden George (Kell-GA), WR KaJuan Harris (Beech-TN), DB Austin Kent (East Nashville Magnet-TN), DT Myles Mays (Marion Co.-TN), DB Jaden Nelson (Tift Co.-GA), DE Xavier Parker (Cartersville-GA), TE Landon Strickland (Arab-AL), DB KJ Sejour (Chaminade-Madonna-FL), DB Kamari Todd (Gardendale-AL), OL Malik Watts (Pell City-AL), RB TJ Worthy (Gadsden City-AL) & DE Andrew Wynn (Savannah Country Day-GA)
Quick look at each signee:
Mekhi Bell - 6-6, 260, DE - Summit - Spring Hill, Tenn.
Played for Brian Coleman at Summit...2-time all-region pick...recorded more than 100 tackles over his final two years for the Spartans with 21 tackles for loss and 10 sacks...39 QB pressures with 23 as a senior...broke up 10 passes as a senior and forced three fumble with one recovery as a junior...also lettered in basketball...final college choice came between Chattanooga, UAB and SEMO...son of Keith and Kendra Bell...has an older sister, India Hawkins, and younger brother, Keith.
TJ Briggs – 6-6, 240, TE – Lipscomb Acad. – Nashville, Tenn.
Played for Jamie Graham at Lipscomb Academy…helped the Mustangs to 34 wins in four years…2-star prospect per Rivals…also played basketball and baseball...parents are Troy Sr., and Katie Ringe-Briggs…two sisters, Sharnell and Zhanae…mom Katie played lacrosse at Trinity…plans to major in Psychology...also recruited by UNLV and Austin Peay.
Gunnar Clary – 6-2, 205, LB – Beech – Hendersonville, Tenn.
January enrollee…played for Anthony Crabtree at Beech High School…led the Buccaneers to an 11-2 record with 104 tackles as a senior…that included 21 TFLs with 4.0 sacks…Region 7-5A Defensive MVP…won two Colorado State Championships before moving to Tennessee…254 career tackles with 46.5 TFLs including 15.5 sacks…high school squads went 43-8 (.843)…also wrestled and ran track…all-county track in the 100m as a junior…conference champ as a sophomore as a wrestling finish sixth (Fr.) and third (So.) in Colorado State Wrestling Championships...parents are Darin and Audrey Clary…younger sister, Sophie… father, Darin, wrestled at Western Colorado…plans to major in Business...also recruited by SEMO.
Nick Coates – 5-10, 190, DB – Sr. – Eastern Illinois – Louisville, Ky.
Joined program in January…transfer from Eastern Illinois with one year remaining…played in 35 games at EIU (2021-24)...amassed 119 tackles with 8.0 for loss (O.5 sacks)...one interception with 12 total passes defensed...forced two fumbles….2nd team All-OVC selection in 2022…prepped at Male High School in Louisville, Ky., playing for coach Chris Wolfe…All-State and All-Area as a senior...All-Area as a junior…helped the Bulldogs to Kentucky Class 6A title contest as a junior and senior...combined for 15 tackles, two TFL and a sack in the contests….also lettered in track & field in sprints as well as the long and triple jump.
K’Erius Cockrum – 6-4, 280, OL – Thompson – Alabaster, Ala.
Played for Mark Freeman at Thompson High School…helped the Warriors to a 10-win season…played first three high school years at Montevallo High School under Garrett Langer…competed on both sides of the ball...parents are Shikeita Bishop and Kevin Cockrum…two younger siblings, Ka’Darrius McElroy and Trinitee Bush…plans to major in Cyber Security...also recruited by Jacksonville State and Colorado.
Connor Coffman – 6-5, 275, OL – Page – College Grove, Tenn.
Played for Charles Rathbone at Page High School...helped lead the Patriots to the TSSAA Class 5A State Championship game all four seasons…52-7 (.881) record for his career heading into 2024 title tilt...his senior squad went 10-0 in the regular season with 397 points scored and only 13 allowed including eight shutouts….played on both sides of the ball but profiles on the o-line in the Scenic City...also offered by Ball State and Middle Tennessee…ranked No. 7 DL in Tennessee by TN Prep Redzone after junior season and No. 12 OL as a senior…top OL Performer honors at U.S. Army Combine and at Prep Redzone camps…parents are Keven and Kristen Coffman...younger brother, Caleb…great grandfather, Fred Jobe, played baseball at Alabama…Eagle Scout and Honor Roll student…plans to major in Business.
Kaelin Drakeford – 6-4, 210, DB – Sr. – Eastern Illinois – Harrodsburg, Ky.
Joined program in January…transfer from Eastern Illinois with one year remaining ..played in 40 games at EIU (2020-24)...credited with 170 tackles with 8.5 for loss including 2.5 sacks...made two interceptions and had 13 total passes defensed...forced four fumbles and recovered two…played for coach David Buchanan at Mercer County High School in Kentucky…played quarterback and safety as a senior leading team to an 8-3 record and appearance in the Kentucky Class 3A state playoffs…passed for 832 yards and seven touchdowns while rushing for 395 yards and six scores…finished the season with 67 tackles including four interceptions and one tackle for loss…2-time All-State selection at safety as a junior and senior.
Jaden George – 6-1, 170, WR – Kell – Marietta, Ga.
Played for Bobby May for Kell in Marietta…3-star prospect per 247sports…26-9 over last three years of prep career after focusing on football…had 38 receptions for 702 yards and five TDs with a long of 60 yards…also competed in track and field finishing as a state finalist in the triple jump as a junior with personal bests of 21’11.5” in the long jump and 43’9” in the triple...parents are Emily and Kenyon Morris…six younger siblings, Kyra, Kaleb, Corie, Cailee, Jojo and Londyn…plans to major in Business…talked with Georgia and Georgia Tech during his recruitment with a long list of FBS offers including Arkansas State, Ball State, Liberty, Marshall, UMass and Temple.
KaJuan Harris – 6-3, 185, WR – Beech Senior – Goodlettsville, Tenn.
Played for Anthony Crabtree at Beech High School…teammate of early enrollee Gunner Clary…highly recruited wideout with P4 offers from SEC (Kentucky, Ole Miss), ACC (Louisville) and Big Ten (Indiana, Purdue) programs…led the Buccaneers to an 11-2 record with 29 catches for 497 yards and seven TDs as a senior…54 catches for 1,173 yards and 15 scores for career…talented DB was recruited as an athlete…103 tackles, 5.0 for loss and 14 pass breakups.
Austin Kent – 6-1, 180, DB – East Nashville Magnet – Nashville, Tenn.
Played for Damien Harris at East Magnet High School…helped lead the Eagles to a 35-9 record over his last three seasons with two district crowns…36 tackles as a senior with an interception, seven pass breakups and a fumble recovery…received 17 DI offers before locking in on Chattanooga.
Myles Mays - 6-2, 276, DT - Marion County (Tenn.) - Calhoun, Ga.
Helped Marion County to the 2024 TSSAA Class 2A State title under head coach Tim Starkey and UTC Hall of Famer Troy Boeck...the Warriors went 21-6 in his two seasons in Jasper...2-time all-region and all-state performer...final college choice came down to Chattanooga, Mercer and Wofford...son of Eric and Mia Mays...three older siblings, Nate, Eric Smith and Catherine Smith, and one younger, Mason...Nate played at football at Wake Forest while Eric competed in football at Lindsey Wilson.
Ryan Merklinger – 6-4, 320, OL – Sr. – Western Illinois – Savannah, Ga.
Joined the program in January…transfer from Western Illinois with one year remaining…started all 23 games for the Leathernecks in 2023 and 2024…showed tremendous versatility playing both center and tackle…Missouri Valley Conference All-Academic…began collegiate career at Valparaiso….prepped at Calvary Day in Savannah...All-State and all-region while also serving as team captain...4-year varsity letter winner.
Jaden Nelson – 6-1, 190, DB – Tift County – Tifton, Ga.
Played for Jeff Littleton at Tift County High School…all-region as a junior and senior…team Defensive Player of the Year both years…90 tackles as a junior and senior with 3.0 for loss…collected four interceptions…also played basketball...parents are Sheron Peng and Ronald Nelson…an older brother, Kaleb…Mechanical Engineering is his study course of interest.
Camden Orth – 6-3, 225, QB – Sr. – Bowling Green – Gainesville, Fla.
Joined the program in January…transfer from Bowling Green with one year remaining…spent three years at Bowling Green playing in two...played in 22 games…threw for 864 yards on 73 of 125 passing with eight touchdowns and seven interceptions...ran for 259 yards on 86 totes with six more scores…transferred from LIU where he spent three years...threw for 1,825 yards completing 154 of 279 passes with 11 TDs and five interceptions…prepped at Buchholz High School in Gainesville, Fla., playing quarterback for coach Mark Whittemore…3 year letter winner helping lead the Bobcats to district championships in 2016 and 2018...reached second round of the playoffs in 2016 and 2018 in both seasons…team captain in 2017 and 2018…passed for 4,711 yards and 48 touchdowns during his career at Buchholz…also played basketball…son of Melissa and Jerett Orth...has a younger brother, Colsen…major is media production.
Kristian Ozane – 6-0, 190, LB – Jr. – Davidson – Westlake, La.
Joined the program in January…transfer from Davidson with two years eligibility remaining…played 20 games for Davidson with 52 tackles...added 6.5 TFLs and 3.0 sacks with a pass breakup…played football and basketball at Westlake High School...4-year member of the football team under Coach John Richardson…2-time First Team All-District selection...1st Team All-Southwest Louisiana and All-State honorable mention as a senior…recorded 123 solo tackles, 195 total tackles, 6 TFLs, and 2 INTs...scored four rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns on offense…volunteered for the Vessel Project of Louisiana…son of Roishetta and Paul Ozane...has five siblings: Keondrea, Keelan, Kami, Kamea & Kash.
Xavier Parker – 6-3, 220, DE – Cartersville – Cartersville, Ga.
Played for Conor Foster at Cartersville High School…all-region performer for the Purple Hurricanes…also competed in track & field...parents are Tammy King and Colt Parker…an older brother, TJ, and younger sister, Elona…undecided on major.
Shamar Sandgren – 6-0, 177, WR – Sr. – South Alabama – Savannah, Ga.
Joined the program in January…transfer from South Alabama with one year remaining…signed with the Mocs in the Class of 2020 but did not attend school…played two seasons at South Alabama and two at Itawamba Community College…caught 19 passes for 208 yards and a TD at USA...returned seven kicks for 116 yards….collected 81 passes in two seasons at Itawamba Community College...amassed 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns...two double-digit games with receptions and four 100-yard efforts…twice reached double-receptions in 2021 with 13 at SW Mississippi CC (117 yds) and 10 against Copiah-Lincoln (133 yds)...multiple TDs (2) against Coahoma CC and Jones College…caught six or more passes in seven career games….2021 All-MACCC North Division first team honors…3-star prep prospect according to 247sports.com...2-star per rivals.com….3-time all-region receiver at Islands High School in Savannah, Ga., playing for head coach Deshawn Printup…820 yards and nine TDs as a senior…also lettered in basketball…full name is De’Quan Shamar Sandgren...has a brother and three sisters.
KJ Sejour – 5-11, 165, DB – Chaminade Madonna – Hollywood, Fla.
January enrollee…played for Damian Jones at Chaminade Madonna College Preparatory in Hollywood…3-time State Champ looking for a fourth in FHSAA 1A…55-4 record for the Lions during his career as of early signing day (Dec. 4) with a national title as a sophomore (2022)…42 tackles with 22 pass breakups and two interceptions as a junior…3-star prospect per 247sports...parents are Kelly Sr. and Aja Sejour…one younger sister, Kayla…plans to major in Finance…Honor Roll student chose the Mocs over FIU and Wofford.
Landon Strickland – 6-4, 195, TE – Arab – Union Grove, Ala.
Played for Kyle Routon at Arab…32-13 record during his career with the Knights as of early signing day (Dec. 4)…all-region, and all-county as a junior leading his squad in receiving yards…also played basketball and baseball...parents are Brian Strickland and Angie Thompson…one older brother, Spencer…father Brian played basketball collegiately at Faulkner, Snead State JC and UAH…undecided on course of study at this time…also considered Army and North Alabama during his recruitment.
Kamari Todd - 6-1, 170, DB - Gardendale - Gardendale, Ala.
Played for Chad Eads at Gardendale High School...team captain...2-time all-region performer...senior year stats include 82 tackles, 14 pass breakups, an interception and two punt blocks while scoring three TDs...159 career stops with 40 pass breakups...also played basketball and ran track for the Rockets...state finalist in the 60 and 100 meter events...set school record in 60 meter...received offers from multiple FBS and FCS programs choosing Chattanooga over Army, Navy, Jacksonville State, Furman, Samford and Lehigh among others...finalists were Chattanooga, Georgia State and Samford...National Honor Society student...son of Kozette Todd and Raymond Hayes...two sisters, Kaia and Kalia...Kaia runs track at Tulane, while Kalia plays volleyball at Florida A&M.
TJ Worthy – 5-10, 185, RB – Gadsden City – Gadsden, Ala.
Played for Ali Smith at Gadsden City High School…all-time leading rusher for the Titans...averaged more than 7.5 yards per carry…scored more than 30 TDs…helped lead the team to a 9-win season as a junior…parents are Tamara Thomas and Tommy Worthy…intends to major in Exercise Science.
Andrew Wynn – 6-5, 215, DE – Savannah Country Day – Savannah, Ga.
Played for Roc Batten at Savannah Country Day School…all-region at defensive back as a junior and defensive line as a senior…had 16 pass breakups and two interceptions as a junior…5.0 sacks and 9.0 TFLs as a senior…also competed in basketball as well as track & field...parents are Melissa and Alex Wynn…two older siblings, Madeline and Alex…father Alex played basketball at Georgia and sister Madeline was a volleyball student-athlete at Davidson…intends to major in Biology.
Malik Watts - 6-4, 295, OL - Pell City - Pell City, Ala.
Played for Nick Gentry at Pell City High School...team captain...1st team all-region performer for the Panthers...senior year stats include 82 tackles, 14 pass breakups, an interception and two punt blocks while scoring three TDs...159 career stops with 40 pass breakups...also wrestled four years ranking No. 2 in the state...notched 150 career wins as of National Signing Day with a fastest pin of just 15 seconds...team captain and 3-time state qualifier...son of Latronda Watts.