Virgin gains notice in Mocs secondary

photo UTC defensive back Dee Virgin celebrates after running an interception in for a touchdown during the Mocs' home football game against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014, at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Mocs GlanceUTC (0-2) at Austin Peay (0-1)Saturday, 5 p.m.Governors Stadium in Clarksville96.1 FM

A soft-spoken, almost painfully shy kid away from the football field, Dee Virgin has a separate personality once he steps onto the field. There's nothing quiet or soft about how he plays and through the first two games the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga sophomore has let his abilities speak loudly, proving why coaches trust him to be the team's top shut-down cornerback.

"He's done a great job. He's a very, very talented player," Mocs coach Russ Huesman said. "He's got a knack for how to cover and a knack for how to break on the ball. He's a physical kid who plays really hard on every snap.

"I don't know if people realize how good he played last year as a freshman. He had a couple of interceptions and we knew last year he'd be an excellent player going forward. He just had to focus and work really hard at his craft and he has. We line him up out there and feel good about that side."

In the season opener, Virgin drew the assignment of covering Central Michigan wideout Titus Davis, a three-time all-conference player who is also on the Biletnikoff Award watchlist for the nation's top receiver. Davis, who led the nation with an average of 18.2-yards-per-catch in amassing more than 1,100 receiving yards last year managed just one catch for 11 yards against Virgin.

Last week the 5-foot-10, 195-pound Virgin was seemingly all over the field, making a career-best 8 tackles, including coming across the field to chase down Jacksonville State quarterback Eli Jenkins inside the 5-yard line to prevent a score after a long run. He also had a tackle for loss, returned an interception 55 yards for the Mocs' first touchdown and had two pass breakups, including one deflection that was picked out of the air by freshman safety Lucas Webb and also returned for a TD.

"[Virgin] made a great play on the ball to intercept it," Jenkins said after last week's game. "I had watched film on him all week, but I decided to try him and he made a great play on the ball."

Despite only being a sophmore, Virgin came into the season as the only corner with starting experience, having played in nine games last season when he led the team and was tops among Southern Conference freshmen defensive back with nine passes defended and had two interceptions.

"I'm trying to take what I learned last year and build off that confidence," said Virgin, who was a three-sport all-region athlete at Donalsonville, Georgia's Seminole County High and set a school record with a 104-yard interception return. "Things have slowed down on the field after getting that experience last year and everything feels more natural to me out there.

"I don't usually say a lot on the field, but I want to be more of a leader by doing the little things like getting in the film room more and coming to practice or meetings early. I don't have the big head. I know I still have a lot of work to put in and things to improve on. I'm just trying to get better and be somebody that the coaches can count on. Just be myself out there and have fun."

Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293.

Upcoming Events