Now that he is gone, the Mocs are going to have to find a replacement that can fill his big shoes.  That role will likely be filled by a pair of fresh faces in junior Sean Stackhouse (6-4, 245, Jacksonville, Fla.) and freshman Faysal Shafaat (6-5, 240, Orlando, Fla.).

Stackhouse transferred to UTC from Kentucky in January while Shafaat sat out the 2010 season as a redshirt.  Stackhouse is transitioning from an offensive lineman after playing guard for the Wildcats.  Shafaat possesses great hands and is learning to be a better blocker with each practice. 

"With Faysal and Stackhouse, we feel like we have two quality players who can play in this league," stated Head Coach Russ Huesman.  "They are different kinds of players, which is good.  We have some things we can do with them."

Shafaat is the more long and lean of the two.  He has made some amazing catches during camp, but it has been the dramatic improvement in his attitude towards blocking that is earning him the majority of the snaps with the first team. 

"I think when he came here, he had the mentality that he was just going to catch the football," stated tight ends coach Russ Ehrenfeld.  "In our offense, you have to be a run-blocker first.  He has great hands, but the biggest thing that Faysal has done is he is growing up.  He is very mature and has bought into what we are doing in the run game."

Stackhouse spent the three previous seasons playing offensive line, so he is ahead of the group from a blocking standpoint.  He is concentrating on improving his route-running to keep defenses honest when he is one the field.   

"Running routes, if you watch film, you can tell I was a guard," joked Stackhouse.  "It has been a work in progress and I feel like it is coming along.  (Shafaat) is an awesome route-runner.  He does great with the ball and his blocking has improved a lot." 

UTC also has a pair of true freshmen competing for playing time.  Troy Dye (6-3, 245 - Hendersonville, Tenn.) and Jarrod Coleman (6-4, 240 - Chattanooga, Tenn.) give the Mocs four tight ends on scholarship.  Dye was an all-district selection as a senior at Hendersonville High School last season.  Coleman is the younger brother of quarterback B.J. Coleman. 

The possibility of a Coleman-to-Coleman connection took a big hit early in camp when the younger of the two went down with a shoulder injury.  Jarrod separated his shoulder and has missed most of the Mocs' practices.  Both Dye and Coleman are redshirt candidates. 

"I think the bottom line is you want your guys to improve every day in practice and I think that we have done that," added Ehrenfeld.  "You go back to the basic fundamentals and you exercise those and stress those in practice.  You show them video and if they are doing it correctly, you get excited about it.  If they are struggling, then you show them what they are doing wrong and you teach from that."

2011 Chattanooga Mocs Football Practice Schedule
Saturday - Aug. 20 - 2:30 p.m. - Finley Stadium (Scrimmage) - Meet the Mocs
Sunday - Aug. 21 - 2:00 p.m. - Scrappy Moore Field

Monday - Aug. 22 - OFF - First Day of Classes
Tuesday - Aug. 23 - 3:30 p.m. - Scrappy Moore Field
Wednesday - Aug. 24 - 3:30 p.m. - Scrappy Moore Field
Thursday - Aug. 25 - 3:30 p.m. - Scrappy Moore Field 

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