The Chattanooga Mocs additions to the 2022 football roster continued with NSD 2022.
Jimmy Bowdry – 5-11, 173, CB – Thomasville HS – Thomasville, Ga.
Highlights…Played for Zach Grage at Thomasville…Class AA All-State pick by Atlanta Journal-Constitution and RecruitGeorgia.com…2021 Region 1-AA co-Player of the Year…68 tackles with five interceptions and 19 passes defensed forcing two fumbles and making three TFLs…helped lead the Bulldogs to the state title game as a senior…THS went 13-2 with a spotless 5-0 region record in 2021…also caught two passes for 61 yards and a TD his final prep season…older brother Jay started 34 games as a defender at Georgia Southern.
Coach Wright quick take on Jimmy Bowdry: “ Long, athletic corner…lot of range and covers a lot of ground…on the taller side for us…prototypical corner who can run and is not afraid of contact.”
Will Collier – 6-2, 266, OL – Valdosta HS – Valdosta, Ga.
Highlights…Played for former Mocs assistant Shelton Felton at Valdosta…saw action at offensive tackle and tight end…twice earned All-State honorable mention…honor student.
Coach Wright quick take on Will Collier: “Long, athletic guy along the offensive line. He’ll play tackle for us. He plays the game with energy and effort who knows what it takes to win games.”
Adorian Favors – 6-5, 306, OL – Cedar Shoals HS – Athens, Ga.
Highlights…Played for Leroy Ryals at Cedar Shoals…FBS offers from Boston College, Coastal Carolina and Georgia State before missing senior season due to injury…All Region 8-4A in 2020…threw shot put for track & field team posting 16th-best toss in school history (34’2.5″).
Coach Wright quick take on Adorian Favors: “We saw him as a junior and in some camps that year. Big guy, moves well…he’s one who probably shouldn’t be here.”
Jestin Gilmore – 6-2, 200, LB – Tuscaloosa County HS – Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Highlights…Played for former Moc Adam Winegarden at Tuscaloosa County…finished with 95 tackles, including five for loss for the Wildcats in 7A…Tuscaloosa News All-Area team…also competed in basketball and track & field tossing the 14th-longest discus spinning it nearly 73′ in 2019…honor student.
Coach Wright quick take on Jestin Gilmore: “Long, rangy, athletic defender. Looks like an outside rusher for us like Jay Person. He’s got just a huge upside.”
Montrell Henderson – 6-3, 327, DL – Charles Drew HS – Riverdale, Ga.
Highlights…Played for Steve Robinson at Charles Drew…2-star per rivals.com…3-time first team All-Region 3-5A performer for the Titans as well as Academic All-Region…30 tackles as a senior with 10.0 for loss including six sacks and seven more hurries…131 tackles, 34.0 TFL, 13.0 sacks and 30 QB hurries over prep career…honorable mention all-state in 2020…also played baseball and basketball at Charles Drew.
Coach Wright quick take on Montrell Henderson: “Big guy…biggest guy we’re signing this year. Plays nose guard/3 technique…plays football, basketball and baseball at his high school..,only 17, 18 I think in September, so his upside is huge.”
Preston Hutchinson – 6-2, 195, QB – Eastern Michigan – Mason, Ohio – Eligibility: 1yr
Transfer from Eastern Michigan with one year of eligibility remaining…2,286 passing yards running for another 235 in 22 appearances including nine starts…27 career touchdowns with 16 from his ample arm and another 11 on the ground… best season was 2020 starting six games during the COVID-truncated campaign with 1,662 yards by air and 206 via the ground…threw for 12 touchdowns and added eight more rushing…311.3 yards per game of total offense jumps off the page…last time a Mocs QB averaged 300 yards of total offense in a season? Chris Sanders in 2000 (341.5)…three 300-yard games in his nine starts and five with multiple TD passes…seven games, including all six in 2020, with multiple total scores…highs of four TD passes against Toledo and four combined – rushing & throwing – four times including a three rushing TD day at Ball State recording a career-best 118 yards on the ground…topped 350 yards of total offense in three of his starts.
Coach Wright quick take on Preston Hutchinson: “Enrolled and going to grad school now. Originally from Mason, Ohio where we had a lot of contacts. Had a lot of good film on him from his years in the MAC.”
Kendall Jackson – 5-11, 190, ATH – Oak Ridge HS – Oak Ridge, Tenn.
Highlights…Played for Joe Gaddis at Oak Ridge…3-star prospect per 247 and rivals.com…No. 117 running back on 247 and No. 39 player in the state of Tennessee by rivals…excelled on both sides of the ball for the Wildcats profiling as a linebacker here…19+ offers including the likes of Tennessee, Ole Miss, Kentucky and Arizona State…named to the No. 5 slot in Knox News’ Elite Eight in August 2021, which spotlights the top eight football prospects around Knoxville…also played basketball.
Coach Wright quick take on Kendall Jackson: “RB/LB that’ll probably wind up playing linebacker here for us. He’s dynamic with ball in his hands but plays defense exactly the way you want a linebacker to play it.”
DeAndre Jones – 6-5, 250, DL – New Manchester HS – Douglasville, Ga.
Highlights…Played for Cedric Jackson at New Manchester…3-star prospect per 247 sports & 2-star by rivals.com…2-time first team all-region performer for the Jaguars…26 tackles with 11.0 for loss including 5.0 sacks as a senior…52 tackles with 17 TFLs (6.0 sacks) over last two campaigns.
Coach Wright quick take on DeAndre Jones: “ Football and basketball player at New Manchester…young guy at 17 who is turning 18 later this year who is a big guy now…really good student who is going to be a really good football player here.”
Jaden Jude – 6-3, 180, WR – Athens HS – Athens, Ala.
Highlights…Played for Cody Gross at Athens…2021 Decatur Daily All-Area Team…played quarterback and wide receiver for the Golden Eagles…honor student.
Coach Wright quick take on Jaden Jude: “Played quarterback, wide receiver and safety, did a little bit of everything…always had the ball in his hands & that’s what excited us.”
Alex Mitchell – 6-1, 225, LB – Riverdale HS – Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Highlights…Alex’s defensive coordinator at RHS is former Mocs DE Zach Rayl…head coach Will Kriesky…led a defense that surrendered just 7.9 points per game in a 10-2 season…pitched five shutouts on those 12 games…also played tight end on offense…recorded 86 tackles with 2.5 sacks, three interceptions and one caused fumble…All-State, Region 4-6A Defensive MVP and Tennessee Mr. Football semifinalist.
Coach Wright quick take on Alex Mitchell: “Big, strong, athletic linebacker. Tennessee kid who played for Zach Rayl (former Moc DL) who is the DC there…good tackler, very smart football player.”
Camden Overton – 6-3, 248, TE – Marietta HS – Marietta, Ga.
Highlights…Played for Richard Morgan at Marietta…helped lead the Blue Devils to second-place in Region 3 Class 7A and into the second round of the playoffs in a 7-win season…64 catches for 882 yards with seven touchdowns…73.5 ypg average…long reception of 56 yards…96 receptions over 23 games in his final two prep campaigns for 1,315 yards and 12 TDs…All-State first team in 2021 as well as first team all-county…2-time all-region…earned Devil Award for making the most gains in the weight room…also lettered in basketball.
Coach Wright quick take on Camden Overton: “Excited about him because he played both defense and offense. Was just really impressed by how he could do things on both sides of the ball. A great team leader (at Marietta). Going to be really good in our tight end room.”
Luke Schomburg – 6-3, 190, QB – Sparkman HS – Huntsville, Ala.
Highlights…Played for Laron White at Sparkman…14 TDs thrown in 2021 leading the Senators to the Class 7A playoffs…ran for the game-tying TD and threw the winning to send SHS to the playoffs in 28-21 win over Huntsville…multiple TDs thrown in four games with a high three against Gardendale and Grissom…season-high 284 yards against Gardendale…15.4 yards per completion…also played baseball.
Coach Wright quick take on Luke Schomburg: “Long, athletic young man who’s going to continue growing and have a bright future.”
Andrew Southard – 5-10, 190, K – Pope John Paul II HS – Hendersonville, Tenn.
Highlights…Played for Justin Geisinger at Pope John Paul II…DII-AAA all-state kicker…2021 Tennessee Mr. Football semi-finalist for the Knights…5-star kicker per Kohl’s Kicking Showcase and 4-star punter…3-time all-region performer…game-winning kicks over Brentwood Academy (24 yds) in the playoff quarterfinals and over Knox Catholic (47 yds) in regular season…57-57 on PAT attempts as a senior and 9-13 on field goals with a long of 48…62 of 71 kickoffs were touchbacks…career numbers: 16-28 on FGs & 110-111 on PATs…long of 48 yards…also played lacrosse.
Coach Wright quick take on Andrew Southard: “Andrew’s one we saw all through the year. Really strong leg and excited what Andrew is going to be able to do for us.”