Chattanooga ranks No. 10 in HERO Sports’ FCS Preseason Top 25.
The Mocs finished 8-5 last year, exiting in the FCS second round with a 26-7 loss at Furman.
Here’s a look at the 2024 Chattanooga football squad.
Returning 2023 All-Conference Players (3)
Second Team
OL Reid Williams
DT Marlon Taylor
WR Javin Whatley
D1 Transfer Portal Movement
Transfers Coming In From The FCS (6)
Ethan Myers (LS), Austin Peay
Treyvon Hobbs (DB), Brown
Taylor Smallwood (DB), Lafayette
Chris Domercant (WR), Stonehill
David Stewart (EDGE), UT Martin
Samari Brooks (DL), Campbell
Transfers Coming In From The FBS (10)
Devin Lively (OL), Air Force
B.J. Ragland (OL), Charlotte
Jules Ney (OL), Georgia State
Alen Karajic (K), Jacksonville State
Heath Jehu (P), Kentucky
Joseph Bakhole (EDGE), ULM
Amaari Smith (DB), WKU
T.J. Springer (DB), WKU
Rickie Davis Jr. (DB), WKU
Jaden Gaines (DL), Eastern Michigan
Transfers Lost To The FCS (4)
Bo Spearman (LB) to Austin Peay
Camden Overton (TE) to Gardner-Webb
Jeremiah Katt (OL) to Northern Arizona
DeAndre Jones (DL) to West Georgia
Transfers Lost To The FBS (2)
Colin Truett (OL) to Baylor
Jamoi Mayes (WR) to Cincinnati
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Offensive Outlook
After scoring 27.5 points per game last year (No. 44 in the FCS) and owning the No. 26 passing offense (245.3 yards per game), Chattanooga returns its standout quarterback, two of its top three wide receivers, and three starters on the offensive line.
Quarterback Chase Artopoeus enters his sixth season of college football and his second with the Mocs. He earned the starting job last year after transferring from UCLA. In 10 starts, he went 187/298 passing (63%) for 2,672 yards, 20 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
Artopoeus will have two good wide receivers on the outside. While the Mocs lost their receptions and receiving yards leader to the FBS (Jamoi Mayes to Cincinnati), Javin Whatley and Sam Phillips weren’t far behind in production. Whatley was an All-SoCon selection after tallying 55 catches for 977 yards and a team-high nine touchdowns. Phillips recorded 60 catches for 624 yards and four scores.
Tight end Jay Gibson is back as well, getting granted a seventh season. He started eight games in 2022 before being limited to three starts last year due to injury. Gibson has 28 career catches for 269 yards and two touchdowns while being an effective run-blocker at 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds.
Chattanooga also added transfer Chris Domercant to the WR mix. An All-NEC selection last year, Domercant played in 24 career games at Stonehill and had 85 total catches for 1,520 yards and 16 touchdowns.
The Mocs lose their top two rushers — Gino Appleberry and Ailym Ford. Reggie Davis will grow into a larger role after rushing for 322 yards and two TDs. As Chattanooga battled injuries in the backfield last fall, Davis stepped up in the postseason, rushing for 97 yards against Austin Peay.
Offensive line has been a strength for Chattanooga, and the unit returns three starters — Reid Williams (6’1″ 286 lbs), Dave Monnot III (6’6″ 315 lbs), and Almarion Crim (6’2″ 295 lbs). Williams is an All-American-level talent and was ranked as PFF’s No. 5-graded FCS center last season.
The Mocs added three FBS transfer linemen this offseason — Devin Lively (Air Force), B.J. Ragland (Charlotte), and Jules Ney (Georgia State).
Defensive Outlook
Chattanooga allowed 24.5 points per game in 2023, ranking No. 44 in the FCS. Returning are seven starters and the top four tacklers.
Linebacker Alex Mitchell returns as a leader after totaling a team-high 78 tackles, including 3.5 TFLs, one interception, and three pass breakups. Kobe Joseph is another returning LB starter. He had 59 tackles, five TFLs, two sacks, two interceptions, and two pass breakups in 2023. Kameron Brown played plenty of reps as well at linebacker, tallying 31 tackles.
Chattanooga returns a strong safety tandem. Jordan Walker finished second on the team with 73 tackles, adding three interceptions. And Josh Battle was right behind him with 70 tackles. Reuben Lowery III is a veteran cornerback, totaling 67 tackles in the last two seasons with eight TFLs and five pass breakups.
Up front sets the tone, and Marlon Taylor (6’2″ 322 lbs) and Quay Wiggles (6’3″ 281 lbs) man the middle. Taylor is arguably the best returning interior defensive lineman in the FCS. The two-time All-SoCon selection had 30 tackles, nine TFLs, and 5.5 sacks last year with a Top 10 PFF run-defense grade. Wiggles totaled 25 tackles and five TFLs in 2023. Montrell Henderson added more than 277 snaps on the d-line, recording 29 tackles.
Adding to the returning experience are a handful of defensive transfers, including Brown DB Treyvon Hobbs, Lafayette DB Taylor Smallwood, UT Martin EDGE David Stewart, ULM EDGE Joseph Bakhole, WKU DB Amaari Smith, and WKU DB T.J. Springer.
2024 Preseason Preview Central
Chattanooga Football Schedule
8/31 at Tennessee
9/7 at Georgia State
9/14 vs Mercer
9/28 vs Portland State
10/5 at ETSU
10/12 at No. 14 Furman
10/19 vs Wofford
10/26 vs VMI
11/2 at No. 16 Western Carolina
11/9 at The Citadel
11/16 vs Samford
11/23 at Austin Peay
Bold indicates SoCon games
HERO Sports’ rankings
