The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga needs for its ground attack to be an area of strength this season. For that to happen, running back Erroll Wynn needs to remain healthy — something that hasn’t happened in the preseason.
Wynn missed several practices last week with a bad hip and sat out part of Tuesday’s workout after hyperextending his left knee. But he was back on the field Wednesday, which was good news for him and the offense.
“There’s been a lot of things (this preseason), so I can’t wait for the day when I wake up feeling good all over,” said Wynn, who led the Mocs with 195 carries last season and averaged 4.0 yards per carry. “I’m starting to feel good, starting to feel ready, though.”
Last week, UTC learned that Bryan Fitzgerald, a first-team preseason All-Southern Conference pick and the Mocs’ leading rusher a year ago with 798 yards, was out for the season after knee surgery. That made it even more vital that Wynn, and transfer Shaun Kermah, head into the season as healthy as possible.
Like Wynn, Kermah has been limited this preseason because of injury, but his hamstring injury has improved, as has his conditioning.
“Erroll’s back bouncing around and looking good,” running backs coach Junior Adams said. “Game week is coming up, the season’s starting and he’s got a little more pep in his step. ... Shaun’s coming along, but he still has to get better and be more consistent for us.”
Skrine out with knee injury
While Wynn and Kermah have returned to the field, the Mocs’ secondary took a hit Wednesday when starting cornerback Buster Skrine injured his left knee on a kickoff return. The speedy sophomore, who started three games last season, was hit on the knee and suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain, Mocs coach Rodney Allison said.
Skrine is expected to be out a couple of weeks and will likely miss the Mocs’ season opener at fourth-ranked Oklahoma on Aug. 30. Either Chris Lewis-Harris or Anthony Brodnax will likely take over at the right corner position until Skrine returns, Allison said.
“This hurts us because Buster plays with the kind of speed we need to play with,” Allison said. “We’ll rehab him as much as we can but (director of sports medicine Todd Bullard) says we’re probably looking at three weeks (without him).”
Romero leaving UTC
Sports information director Jeff Romero is leaving UTC after nearly 12 years to take a position as assistant director of communications at McCallie, he said Wednesday. Romero, an associate SID at Ole Miss from 1991-97, said he will remain on the job through the Mocs’ second game, against Cumberland University, on Sept. 6.
Meet the Mocs on Saturday
UTC fans can “Meet the Mocs” and pick up a free lunch Saturday following the team’s scrimmage at Finley Stadium. The first 500 fans in the First Tennessee Pavillion will receive a free lunch (hot dog, chili, chips and a soda).
The Mocs’ scrimmage starts at 10 a.m., and the lunch and autograph session is expected to begin at 11:30.
