University of Tennessee at Chattanooga senior running back Derrick Craine was named to the STATS FCS Offensive Player of the Year Watch List announced today.  He is one of 22 players across the nation in consideration for the top offensive award at the FCS level. 

Craine (5-10, 205) is a preseason All-American and a first team All-Southern Conference pick heading into the 2016 campaign.  He set the Mocs' single-season rushing record with 1,251 yards in 2015.  His 13 rushing TDs also tied for the SoCon lead and were the fourth highest mark in school history. 

Athlon Sports listed Craine as the No. 10 running back in the FCS, while SouthernPigskin.com tagged him as the No. 6 overall player in the Southern Conference.  He was a second team Academic All-American last year and is a two-time Academic All-SoCon honoree. 

Craine is the sixth Moc to be named to the Payton Award Watch List in recent memory, including Jacob Huesman (2014 & 2015), B.J. Coleman (2011), Alonzo Nix (2004), Cos DeMatteo (2001), and Chris Sanders (2000).  Huesman finished 11^th in the final voting each of the last two years, while Sanders has the highest mark in UTC history after placing ninth in 2000.

The Mocs are picked to win their fourth-straight SoCon title in 2016.  Craine is one of 47 letter winners returning for UTC, who opens the season at home on Sept. 1 against Shorter.  The Thursday night kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. (E.D.T.) at Finley Stadium.

Tickets are on sale now on GoMocs.com, or by calling the UTC Ticket Office at (423) 266-MOCS (6627).