Finney embraces new role for UTC football team
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga fullback Torrez Finney has a message for whichever UTC running back is following him toward the line of scrimmage this season.
“Just follow me to heaven,” he said.
The 5-foot-7, 220pound Finney is looking for an opportunity to pave the way for running backs this season much like a way was paved for him to come to UTC. A two-time state wrestling champion at Jones County (Ga.) High School who was 40-0 as a senior and ranked as high as No. 10 in the country, Finney came to Chattanooga hoping to both wrestle and play football.
UTC wrestling coach Heath Eslinger didn’t have a spot for him, though, and immediately walked over to then-football coach Russ Huesman’s office and suggested that Huesman take a chance on him.
Blessed with a 6-foot-5 wingspan, Finney played linebacker during his redshirt walk-on season, but with the new staff and head coach Tom Arth’s desire to use a fullback, Finney’s build was a perfect fit for what the Mocs are wanting to do with that position.
“He’s a willing guy,” Arth said. “I think he could have a significant role. When I talked to him about the move (to fullback), he said, ‘Whatever role you want, I’m just happy to be a part of the program, and I’ll give it everything I have.’”
Finney, who was a two-time all-stater and the Region 2-5A defensive player of the year as a Jones County senior in 2015, had a solid run that set up the final touchdown of the day for the Mocs in their scrimmage. Of course, his primarly role is to be a problem for opposing players when he comes around a corner or goes through a hole looking for somebody to block.
“There’s somebody blocking you on the way to heaven, and you’ve got to knock them up out the way,” Finney said. “I want to be a fearless fullback. I want people to fear me; you can tell fear in the defensive player when they scrench up when the fullback comes, and that’s the type of reputation I want to have as a fullback in this conference, and on this team.
“I want to be the best fullback this team could
ever have.”
The Mocs have practice No. 12 of the spring this afternoon at Scrappy Moore Field.
Mocs trio honored
Three players who ended their UTC careers last fall, All-America running back Derrick Craine and three-year offensive-line starters Jacob Revis and Hunter Townson, recently were named members of the 2017 Hampshire Honor Society by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.
Craine had a 3.87 grade point average as a health and human performance major, while Townson had a 3.78 and Revis a 3.22.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfree press.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenleytfp.