SoCon – College Football Three Most Exciting Teams

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The Southern Conference (SoCon) is one of the top FCS conferences in college football year after year. As part of our preview coverage before attending the SoCon Media Days next week, we take a look at what likely could be the most exciting three teams to battle it out on the gridiron at the top of the conference this season.

UT – Chattanooga Moccasins

Returning 2023 All-Conference Players (3)

Second Team
OL Reid Williams
DT Marlon Taylor
WR Javin Whatley

Transfer Portal – Incoming

Transfers – In From The FCS (5)
Ethan Myers (LS), Austin Peay
Treyvon Hobbs (DB), Brown
Taylor Smallwood (DB), Lafayette
Chris Domercant (WR), Stonehill
David Stewart (EDGE), UT Martin

🔸#FCS Spotlight🔸

Chattanooga QB Chase Artopoeus (@ChaseArtopoeus)

-2024 Sr
-6-2, 208 lbs
-2023 transfer from UCLA
-2023: 187/298 passing for 2,672 yards, 20 TDs, 7 INT
-2023 PFF No. 10-graded FCS QB

📸Derek Daniel/@GoMocsFB pic.twitter.com/uDyYh3uQhi
— HERO Sports FCS (@HEROSports_FCS) July 3, 2024

Transfers – In From The FBS (8)
Devin Lively (OL), Air Force
B.J. Ragland (OL), Charlotte
Jules Ney (OL), Georgia State
Alen Karajic (K), Jacksonville State
Heath Jehu (P), Kentucky
Joseph Bakhole (EDGE), ULM
Amaari Smith (DB), WKU
T.J. Springer (DB), WKU

Offensive Firepower

After scoring 27.5 points per game last year and producing the No. 26 ranked passing offense, the Mocs return its standout quarterback, two of its top three wide receivers, and three starters on the offensive line.

Quarterback Chase Artopoeus enters his sixth and final year of college football. He earned the starting job last year after transferring from UCLA. In 10 starts, he went 187/298 passing (63%) for 2,672 yards, 20 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.

Artopoeus will have two good wide receivers on the outside returning. Javin Whatley was an All-SoCon selection after grabbing 55 catches for 977 yards and a team-high nine touchdowns. Sam Phillips wasn’t too far behind with 60 catches for 624 yards and four scores.

Expect to see transfer Chris Domercant in the WR mix too. The former All-NEC selection has 85 total catches for 1,520 yards and 16 touchdowns in 24 career games. Tight-end Jay Gibson returns as well and has 28 career catches for 269 yards and two touchdowns.

𝐇𝐎𝐆𝐒 𝐔𝐏 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐓 🐗

OL Reid Williams (2nd Coaches/Media) & OL Griffin McDowell (2nd Media) tabbed to All-@SoConSports teams🏅@reidwilliams88 x @Griffin_mcdow62 pic.twitter.com/YWuETMKQTs
— Chattanooga Football (@GoMocsFB) November 21, 2023

Offensive line will be a strength for Chattanooga as the unit returns three starters. Reid Williams (6’1″ 286 lbs), Dave Monnot III (6’6″ 315 lbs), and Almarion Crim (6’2″ 295 lbs). Williams is an FCS All-American-level talent. Also, the Mocs added three FBS transfer linemen this offseason Devin Lively (Air Force), B.J. Ragland (Charlotte), and Jules Ney (Georgia State).

Chattanooga Football Schedule

8/31 at Tennessee
9/7 at Georgia State
9/14 vs Mercer
9/28 vs Portland State
10/5 at ETSU
10/12 at Furman
10/19 vs Wofford
10/26 vs VMI
11/2 at Western Carolina
11/9 at The Citadel
11/16 vs Samford
11/23 at Austin Peay

Bold indicates SoCon games

Furman Football

Returning 2023 All-Conference Players (2)

First Team
DE Luke Clark

Paladin sack by Luke Clark! pic.twitter.com/bDee3b9Ky2
— Furman Football (@PaladinFootball) October 1, 2022

Second Team
K Ian Williams

Transfer Portal – Incoming

Transfers – In From The FCS (0)

Transfers – In From The FBS (2)
Joshua Burrell (TE), Florida State
Jalen Tate (DB), Georgia State

Offensive

The Paladins lose a lot including their starting quarterback, top running back, and the top four offensive linemen in snaps from last year. They do return their top three pass-catchers and three linemen who started at least four games in 2023.

Carson Jones looks like the favorite to be Furman’s 2024 starter at quarterback. The 6-foot-2 redshirt sophomore stepped in for an injured Huff versus Chattanooga during the second quarter last season. He finished the game with 139 passing yards and two touchdowns. Including throwing the game-winning eight-yard TD pass with 1:44 remaining to clinch the SoCon title.

Jones started the next two games, which were the final two before the playoffs. He went 18/23 for 226 yards and four scores in a 37-3 win over VMI. Before struggling the following week in a 19-13 loss to Wofford that dropped the Paladins in the playoff seeds. Huff then returned from his injury in Furman’s playoff run. Jones play earned him the SoCon’s Co-Freshman of the Year Award, as voted on by the coaches.

Carson Jones with a 9 yard TOUCHDOWN pass to Wayne Anderson, Jr., and the Paladins take the lead, 17-14! pic.twitter.com/XCYMtwH5bo
— Furman Football (@PaladinFootball) November 4, 2023

Furman’s top three leaders in receiving yards all return, Colton Hinton (34 catches, 404 yards, 2 TDs), Joshua Harris (42 catches, 380 yards, 2 TDs), and Ben Ferguson (27 catches, 335 yards, 1 TD). Plus, the Paladins also added Florida State transfer tight end Joshua Burrell.

Defensive

After allowing the 11th best in the FCS 18.2 points per game, Furman returns four of its top tacklers and snap leaders. Evan DiMaggio is back after finishing third on the team in tackles with 79 stops, including 11.5 TFLs and five sacks.

Luke Clark will be a leader on the defensive line after an All-Conference season. The 6-foot-3 253-pound Clark totaled 53 tackles, seven TFLs, six sacks, and four quarterback hurries. Alex Maier (6’4″ 238 lbs) will have an increased role after tallying 24 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, three sacks, and three quarterback hurries.

Evan DiMaggio with the big hit on 3rd down! pic.twitter.com/oRDHa2nA1O
— Furman Paladins (@FurmanPaladins) August 31, 2023

Xavier Stephens (6’3″ 292 lbs) is a returning starter on the interior of the defensive line. Last year, he totaled 35 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, and three sacks. Jeremiah Jackson (6’0″ 265 lbs) adds experience up front, recording more than 300 snaps last fall and notching 12 tackles, three sacks, and seven QB hurries.

Furman Football Schedule

8/31 at Ole Miss
9/7 vs Charleston Southern
9/14 vs Stetson
9/21 at William & Mary
9/28 vs Samford
10/5 at The Citadel
10/12 vs Chattanooga
10/19 vs Western Carolina
11/2 at VMI
11/9 vs Wofford
11/16 at East Tennessee State
11/23 at Mercer

Bold indicates SoCon games

Western Carolina
Returning 2023 All-Conference Players (2)

First Team
QB Cole Gonzales

.@CatamountsFB junior QB Cole Gonzales was today named to the second-team Preseason All-America by FCS Football Central. Gonzales tossed a school-record 28 touchdown passes to earn @SoConSports Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2023. #OurTime

🔗- https://t.co/HON63xuhnG pic.twitter.com/hDjLYNJ2aw
— Western Carolina Athletics (@Catamounts) July 15, 2024

Second Team
OL Blake Whitmore

Transfer Portal – Incoming

Transfers – In From the FCS (3)
Tyquez Royal (DB), Campbell
Brett Gray (OL), Valpo
Amarian Robinson (DB), Youngstown State

Transfers – In From the FBS (2)
Jordan Daniels (OL), Akron
Christian Lowery (K), Cincinnati

Offensive Power

WCU averaged 37.5 points per game last season, ranking No. 4 in the FCS. The offense returns its standout quarterback, its No. 2 RB with four starts, and four offensive linemen who had starts from last year. They must replace its top two wide receivers.

Cole Gonzales returns as one of the best quarterbacks in the FCS. He was voted as the 2023 SoCon Offensive Player of the Year after a breakout sophomore season. Gonzales finished 204/310 passing for 2,803 yards, 28 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Plus, he also had 203 rushing yards. His passing efficiency of 166.4 ranked No. 3 in the FCS in 2023.

WR AJ Colombo looks to step into a larger role after finishing No. 3 on the team with 31 catches for 438 yards and five TDs in 2023. WR Calvin Jones is also back after tallying 27 receptions for 348 yards and two scores. RB Branson Adams showed great signs starting the final four games last year. He totaled 89 rushes for 539 yards (6.1 yards per carry) and three TDs on the season.

Strong experience returns on the o-line. Blake Whitmore (6’2″ 295 lbs) is a multi-year starter, Xavier Graham (6’2″ 330 lbs) started nine games last season, Derek Simmons (6’6″ 315 lbs) started the first six games before an injury, and Aaron Sanez (6’2″ 290 lbs) logged three starts.

Western Carolina Football:
-Blake Whitmore
Best Returning 2024 FCS Interior Offensive Lineman In the SoCon
All-Southern Conference, OL pic.twitter.com/nT79OoKgLV
— Sidelines – Western Carolina (@SSN_WCU) July 19, 2024

Caleb Carter (6’3″ 300 lbs) started the first two games last year before a season-ending injury and could be part of the rotation as well. WCU also brought in two D1 transfers on the offensive line. Brett Gray (6’3″ 275 lbs) from Valpo and Jordan Daniels (6’5″ 310 lbs) from Akron could be in the mix for playing time. It should be a strong year protecting one of the FCS premiere Quarterbacks.

Western Carolina Football Schedule

8/29 at NC State
9/7 vs Campbell
9/14 at RV Elon
9/21 at Montana
10/5 vs Wofford
10/12 vs The Citadel
10/19 at Furman
10/26 at Mercer
11/2 vs Chattanooga
11/9 at ETSU
11/16 vs VMI
11/23 at Samford

Bold indicates SoCon games

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