Mocs land 10 players on SoCon preseason team

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga put a league-high 10 student-athletes on the preseason AllSouthern Conference Football Team, picked by the league coaches and released as part of SoCon Media Day. The Mocs were also the top choice by the coaches and media to win the SoCon title in 2016.

Senior defensive end Keionta Davis is the coaches’ selection for SoCon Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. He is one of seven Mocs on the first team, including senior linebacker Nakevion Leslie and junior defensive back Lucas Webb on defense, senior running back Derrick Craine, senior offensive lineman Corey Levin and junior offensive lineman Jacob Revis on offense and senior kicker Henrique Ribeiro on special teams.

Davis anchored a stout Chattanooga side that led the SoCon in total defense in 2015. The senior recorded 39 tackles, including 17 for loss. The Chattanooga, Tenn., native tallied 13.5 sacks on the season and recorded at least one sack in eight different games as UTC led the league in sacks (34). He added seven quarterback hurries, six pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Seniors Cedric Nettles (DB) and Vantrel McMillan (DL) were second team defensive picks, while junior offensive lineman Josh Cardiello made the offensive second team.

This is the second year in a row the Mocs have placed at least 10 on the preseason AllSoCon team. UTC had a school-record 12 on last year’s squad and nine in both 2014 and 2013. In comparison, current NY Jet defensive back Buster Skrine was the lone Moc on the preseason All-SoCon team in head coach Russ Huesman’s first season in 2009.

UTC grabbed seven of nine first place votes in the SoCon Coaches Preseason Poll and took the top spot with 63 points. The Citadel and Samford held the next two spots with a first place vote each. Western Carolina and Mercer rounded out the top five.

In the media poll,