Football Picked 2nd in SoCon Preseason Poll

First Look
Football season is nearly upon us. One of the final rites of passage was held today in Greenville, S.C. The Southern Conference Media Day shared this year’s preseason poll and all-conference prognostications. The Chattanooga Mocs were picked to finish second in 2025 with three on the all-conference squads.
 
First Thought
“It’s always good to come over to Greenville because you know, the season’s right around the corner. You’re getting ready to start fall camp. And you know the biggest thing is, we got to get ourselves ready to go no matter the situation.” – Coach Rusty Wright
 
Preseason Poll
1. Mercer (6): 60
2. Chattanooga (2): 50
3. Western Carolina (1): 49
4. ETSU: 43
5. Samford: 40
6. Furman: 36
7. Wofford: 19
8. The Citadel: 17
9. VMI: 10
 
All-Conference Teams
Offensive Player of the Year: Taron Dickens, R-So., QB, Western Carolina
Defensive Player of the Year: Andrew Zock, So., DL, Mercer
 
First team offense
QB: Taron Dickens, Western Carolina
RB: Devontae Houston, ETSU
RB: Branson Adams, Western Carolina
OL: BJ Ragland, Chattanooga
OL: Mike Bartilucci, The Citadel
OL: Ashton Flinn, ETSU
OL: Eli Brasher, Furman
OL: Xavier Jennings, Mercer
OL: Zach Watson, Western Carolina
TE: Jackson Pryor, Furman
WR: Hakeem Meggett, ETSU
WR: Adjatay Dabbs, Mercer
 
First team defense
DL: Nick Hunter, ETSU
DL: Andrew Zock, Mercer
DL: Conroy Cunningham, Samford
DL: Caleb Fisher, Western Carolina
LB: Je’Mazin Roberts, The Citadel
LB: Ryan Earl, Furman
LB: Hayward McQueen Jr., Western Carolina
DB: Cale Williams, The Citadel
DB: Kouri Crump, VMI
DB: Ken Moore Jr., Western Carolina
DB: CJ Coombes, Wofford
 
First team specialists
PK: Ian Williams, Furman
P: James Platte, The Citadel
LS: Alex Applefield, Samford
RS: Brayden Smith, Mercer
 
Second team offense
QB: Quincy Crittendon, Samford
RB: Autavius Ison, Mercer
RB: CJ Miller, Mercer
OL: Jonathan Cline, ETSU
OL: Micah Sumpter, ETSU
OL: Luke Petit, Furman
OL: Tyler Murray, Mercer
OL: Aaron Sanez, Western Carolina
OL: Quincy Hughes, Wofford
TE: John McIntyre., Chattanooga
WR: Adonis McDaniel, Mercer
WR: Malik Knight, Western Carolina
WR: Isaiah Scott, Wofford
 
Second team defense
DL: Brenden LeBlanc, ETSU
DL: Micah Nelson, Western Carolina
DL: Brandon Maina, Wofford
DL: Marion Smokes, Wofford
LB: Ty Anderson, ETSU
LB: Jaden Mosley, Samford
LB: Blue Monroe, Western Carolina
DB: Jeremiah Batiste, Chattanooga
DB: Donovan Watkins, Mercer
DB: Samaurie Dukes, Western Carolina
DB: Maximus Pulley, Wofford
 
Second team specialists
PK: Ewan Johnson, ETSU
P: John McConnell, Mercer
LS: Jaiden Hamilton, Mercer
RS: Braylon Knauth, The Citadel
 
Notable

• This is the first time the Mocs have been picked second in the league under Wright. There are three firsts, one third and two fourths.
  
  2024: 1
  
  2023: 4
  
  2022: 1
  
  2021: 1
  
  2020-21: 3
  
  2019: 4
• Chattanooga is the only program to have a winning conference record every season since Wright took the helm in 2019.
• This is the first conference honors for Ragland, McIntyre and Batiste. McIntyre and Batiste are returning starters at tight end and defensive back, respectively, while Ragland started several games in 2024 as a junior playing multiple positions across the offensive line.

 
Final Thought
“We’ll give ourselves a chance to see what kind of football team we have. It starts in August then September and October; we’ll see where it all shakes out there at the end, but it’s going to be like it is every Saturday in the Southern Conference. You got to be ready to go play. I’m excited to watch this group start to start season.” – Wright
 
Tickets on Sale
The 2025 season kicks off August 30 at Memphis. It begins on the road with intrastate matchups at the Tigers followed by the short trip to Cookeville to visit Tennessee Tech. The home opener is Sept. 13 with the first-ever meeting with Stetson.
 
Season tickets are on sale beginning at $60. Purchases can be made here on GoMocs.com.
 
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