6 freshmen sure to play for Mocs

Friday, January 1, 1904

Arkansas-SEMO Live Blog

Ten true freshmen will be among the 62 University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football players who will climb aboard the plane headed for Nebraska on Friday.

Coach Russ Huesman said at least six are sure to play in Saturday's season opener against the 10th-ranked Cornhuskers: running back Marquis Green, wide receiver Tommy Hudson, offensive linemen Shaun Hill and Brandon Morgan, fullback Taharin Tyson and defensive tackle Josh Freeman.

J.J. Jackson and Chris Awuah will be UTC's primary running backs, but Huesman said offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield has some specific plays to get the small (5-foot-7) but speedy Green involved.

"We'll have some good stuff for him," Huesman said. "He's catching the ball great and he's running it great. He brings an added dimension to the offense."

The participation of the four other true freshmen making the trip will be "a need-based thing," Huesman said.

Those players -- running back Kenny Huitt, wideout Ron Moore, defensive tackle Toyvian Brand and Huesman's son, Jacob, UTC's fourth-string quarterback -- won't play unless injuries force them into action.

For now UTC wants to protect their redshirts, but Moore and Huitt may play this season, the coach said.

A busy Monday

The Mocs didn't practice Monday, but that didn't mean it was a lazy day for Huesman. He spoke to a packed house at the UTC Quarterback Club's luncheon, he later spoke at Unum, and sprinkled in were interviews with radio stations locally and in Nebraska.

Huesman said today would be "even nuttier" with the Southern Conference coaches' teleconference, several more radio interviews, a TV teleconference with the Big Ten Network and then the UTC media luncheon. And then he has position meetings and practice in the afternoon.

"It'll be a busy two days," Huesman said, adding that "It should be like this when you're playing Nebraska."

Williams watches

Suspended running back Keon Williams, who will miss the 2011 season, attended Sunday's practice. Huesman said he didn't get a chance to talk to him but has seen him at study halls.

Asked if it was a good sign that Williams came out, Huesman said the good sign will be "if he does well in school and stays out of trouble. Then I'll know he's into it, and once that occurs then he'll come back and we'll be ready to roll."

Contact John Frierson at jfrierson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6268. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/mocsbeatCTFP.