GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University football team will kick off its 2024 campaign this Saturday (Sep. 7) when the Sons of Davy Crockett make the 437-mile trek to Livingston to face the University of West Alabama.
Billy Taylor will be making his collegiate head coaching debut for the Pioneers as TU begins its defense of its South Atlantic Conference Mountain Division crown.
Tusculum returns 45 lettermen including nine starters from last year's 6-5 club which advanced to the league championship game for the second time in four years.
Taylor, who served the last nine seasons as defensive coordinator at NCAA FCS East Tennessee State University, has brought with him a talented coaching staff including longtime Wofford College offensive coordinator Wade Lang.
While at Wofford, Lang's offense posted staggering numbers as his teams were ranked among the national leaders in team rushing, total offense and scoring offense, resulting in 12 NCAA FCS Playoff appearances and seven Southern Conference championships.
OFFENSE
The quarterback position returns the top two signal callers from the 2023 team as well as a mix of talented newcomers.
Last year's starting quarterback Matthew Palazzo returns after posting a 6-3 mark under center. The Greeneville, Tennessee native passed for 2,045 yards and accounted for 26 touchdowns (19 pass, 7 rush). His 19 passing TDs where second in the league and the ninth-most in TU history. His seven rushing scores were tops on the club and ninth overall in the conference.
Senior Brayden Phillips (Tallahassee, Fla.) made two appearances last season in a reserve role and 10 overall in his Tusculum career. Phillips had an outstanding spring game and has carried that momentum into fall camp. Junior Richard Hunter (South Pittsburg, Tenn.) may also see playing time for the Pioneers under center while the quarterback roster also includes: Carlos Turner (St. Louis, Mo.), Lavante Adams (Cleveland, Tenn.), Brendyn Colella, Jacob Dennie (St. John's, Fla.), Kamden Wellington (South Pittsburg, Tenn.) and Lex Dinwiddie (Fletcher, N.C.).
Junior running back Jalen Hunt (Athens, Tenn.) returns as TU's top rusher. The 2024 Preseason All-SAC Mountain Division choice ran for 419 yards and a touchdown. He also posted 14 receptions for 35 receiving yards. Jojo Restall (Orange Park, Fla.) was second on the team with his 372 rushing yards and two scores. John Celestin (Orlando, Fla.) tallied 35 yards on seven carries including a touchdown. Sophomore Otasowie Dion (Montgomery, Ala.), who transferred from Mississippi College, is listed on the depth chart for the Pioneers.
Also looking to contribute in the offensive backfield are: junior Dominic Vance (Knoxville, Tenn.), sophomore Hank Harrison (Bremen, Ala.), redshirt freshman Jackson Roper (Boone, N.C.) and freshmen Carmello McDaniel (Hartsville, S.C.), Jerome Newland (Lawrenceville, Ga.) and Joseph Goho (Winter Park, Fla.).
TU's top returner in the receiving corps is graduate student Kemani Brown (Miami, Fla.) as he accounted for 19 catches for 231 yards with two touchdowns. He also completed the game-winning two-point conversion pass in TU's double-overtime win over Mars Hill to claim the division title.
Junior Ethan Stinnett (Sevierville, Tenn.) had 15 receptions for 146 yards and touchdown, while Zaron Collins (Miami, Fla.) finished with 11 grabs for 161 yards and two TDs. Collins was on the receiving end of his brother Kemani's two-point conversion pass in the Mars Hill game. Senior AJ Hill (Simpsonville, S.C.) is back after a 2023 campaign where he made 11 catches for 76 yards. Senior Corey Moraux (Moncks Corner, S.C.) played in 10 games where he made 10 catches for 113 yards and a touchdown.
Junior receiver Carlton Terry II (Conway, S.C.) comes to Tusculum after spending the last two seasons at Wofford College. Also looking to add to TU's offensive assault are: senior transfers Taivonn Ervin (Cleveland, Ohio) and Adrian Compton (Ellenwood, Ga.), junior Ashton Hagans (Milledgeville, Ga.), sophomores Leshaud Holloway (Knoxville, Tenn.), Jesse Fields (Coconut Creek, Fla.) Logan Farless (Watertown, Tenn.) and Spencer Russell (Knoxville, Tenn.), and freshmen Bryson Letterman (Jefferson City, Tenn.), Jake Barbuto (Hendersonville, Tenn.), Micah Threatt (Shelbyville, Tenn.), Dante Strickland (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Theo Washington (Shelbyville, Tenn.).
Junior tight end Reginald Hunter (South Pittsburg, Tenn.) appeared in nine contests last season and finished with eight receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown. Senior Zack Maaske (Brentwood, Tenn.) has seen action at tight end the last two seasons including six contests in 2023.
Also competing at tight end are: local senior Kenton Cobble (Mosheim, Tenn.), junior Jalen Hurt (Memphis, Tenn.), sophomore Easton Dellinger (Lincolnton, N.C.) and freshman Matthew Clayton (Clinton, Tenn.).
Anchoring the offensive line is junior Adrian Gumm (Maryville, Tenn.) who made eight starts in the trenches last year for the Pioneers. Gumm has also shined on TU's track and field team where he was a medalist in the shot put at both the SAC Indoor and Outdoor Championships.
Also seeing action in 2023 on the offensive line were sophomores Nehemiah Storey (Rockwood, Tenn.), Chris Sweeney (West Palm Beach, Fla.), Jeff Linton (Rockingham, N.C.) and Vernon Holland (Nashville, Tenn.), along with returning sophomores Garrett Priest (Athens, Tenn.) and Eric Andrews (Lenoir, N.C.).
Redshirt freshman Conrad Smith (Dunwoody, Ga.) could see action at one of the tackle positions, while junior Victor Garza-White (Kennesaw, Ga.) and veteran Gabe McLamb (Jacksonville, Fla.), along with true freshman Bree Blackmon (Foley, Ala.) are listed on the season-opening depth chart.
Joining the Pioneers on the offensive line in 2024 are: sophomore Corbin Tomaszewski (Fairbanks, Alaska) and freshmen Joshua Fife-Offshack (Knoxville, Tenn.), Chaz Waine (Huntington, W.Va.), Matthew Nunley (Hixson, Tenn.) and Judd Shelnut (Steens, Miss.).
DEFENSE
Senior linebacker Earnest Johnson III (Miami, Fla.) is Tusculum's top-returning tackler from 2023. The two-time, Preseason All-SAC Mountain Division selection finished second on the team with 76 tackles, including 13 for loss, five sacks and led the team with nine quarterback hurries. In his 35-game career at TU, he has been credited with 156 total tackles.
Sophomore linebacker TJ Jingozian (Ocala, Fla.) played in 10 games last season and made four solo stops on special teams including one forced fumble and a blocked kick. Sophomore Rashad Watson (Apopka, Fla.) also played in 10 outings where he finished with nine tackles, one for loss and was credited with a blocked kick on special teams. Junior David Alston (Groveland, Fla.) appeared in four games last year and made three solo tackles including one for loss.
Senior linebacker Mike McFayden (Apopka, Fla.) made 11 stops in 2023 as he made two tackles behind the line of scrimmage and had two QB hurries. Freshman Jeremiah Williams (Cairo, Ga.) will contribute at linebacker as he garnered All-State and All-Region honors at Cairo High School.
The TU linebacker corps also includes: seniors Tiger Vinson (Millington, Tenn.) and transfer Jaden Gary (Miami Gardens, Fla.), juniors Antonio Poto (Stuart, Fla.), Joaquin Graham (Columbia, S.C.), sophomores Dane Caldwell (Houston, Texas) and Sam Northcott (Tullahoma, Tenn.), redshirt freshman Anthony Peterson (Lakeland, Fla.), freshmen Ja'Ki Singleton (Elkton, Fla.), CJ Carter (Ooltewah, Tenn.) and Antwone Robinson (Apopka, Fla.).
Senior defensive end Chris Stevenson (Knoxville, Tenn.) has played in 23 career games for the Pioneers where he has amassed 50 total tackles including four for loss with two sacks. Also returning up front for Tusculum is the senior duo of Bode Patton (Riceville, Tenn.) and Terrick Ponds (Lake City, Fla.). Patton played in six games last season, while Ponds made nine appearances in the defensive trenches.
ETSU senior transfer Deven Brantley brings a wealth of veteran experience with him. The Riverdale, Georgia product played in 31 games on Coach Taylor's ETSU defense as he totaled 55 tackles including seven for loss and four sacks.
Junior defensive end Soloman Maosa (Nashville, Tenn.) played the last two seasons at Cumberland University where he played in 16 contests and tallied 40 total tackles including 6.5 for loss and one sack. Coffeyville Community College transfer Aidan Dark (Niceville, Fla.) also joins the Pioneers.
Junior defensive lineman Gavin Rowell (Melborne, Fla.) is also back as he finished fifth on the roster with his 47 tackles including 11 for loss with six sacks. Also returning up front for Tusculum are junior DeShawn Carey-Parker (Knoxville, Tenn.), sophomores Dylan Horne (Ocoee, Fla.) and Mason Allen (Cookeville, Tenn.) and redshirt freshmen Taeshawn Clark (Clarksville, Tenn.). Joining the Pioneers are ETSU transfer Malachi Jim-Lawson (Cosby, Tenn.) and freshmen Jorryn Griffin (Loganville, Ga.), Tanner Douglas (Christmas, Fla.), and Nikko McDonald (Knoxville, Tenn.).
Senior cornerback Marquel Pittman (Tallahassee, Fla.) is slated to be one of the starters in the secondary for Tusculum. He played in all 11 games last season, mostly on special teams where he averaged 18.6 yards on his 18 kickoff returns. Two years ago, he returned a kickoff for a 96-yard touchdown. Pittman has shined on TU's track & field team where he has garnered All-America distinction as a sprinter.
The other cornerback slot will be manned by University of Findlay transfer Quinn Smith (Cincinnati, Ohio). He accounted for three passes defended with two interceptions as he helped the Oilers to a 7-4 record in 2023. Before that, Smith played in 34 games in the ETSU secondary as he totaled 73 total tackles with six passes defended and an interception.
Also slated to see action at cornerback are sophomore Marcel Bowes (Jacksonville, Fla.) and freshman Dayquan Diston (Lake Butler, Fla.).
At safety, juniors Daryl Smith (Athens, Tenn.) and Corey Radcliff (Miami, Fla.) return for Tusculum. Smith played in all 11 games and finished with 11 tackles, while also leading the team with two blocked kicks. He also shined on the TU track & field team where he was a NCAA Division II National Championship qualifier in the indoor and outdoor triple jump and was named Tusculum's Male Athlete of the Year. Radcliff totaled nine tackles in his 10 contests in 2023.
Senior Robert Allen (Knoxville, Tenn.) and junior Cam Sanders (Chattanooga, Tenn.) will also contribute at safety. Allen finished with 11 tackles including one for loss, while Sanders saw action in three contests.
Also joining the Pioneers in the secondary are: junior Francisco Andino (Orlando, Fla.), sophomores Kendrick Moore (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), Rio Little (Chuckey, Tenn.), freshmen Kani Bulton (Lake City, Fla.), Ian Hubbert (Gainesville, Fla.), Kevin Jordan (Cincinnati, Ohio), Logan Hargis (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Bishop James (Cincinnati, Ohio).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Tusculum returns its entire place kicking crew from 2023 while adding some veteran experience at punter.
Senior John Aiden Pittman (Corryton, Tenn.) enters his final Tusculum campaign with 67 career points which are the ninth-most in school history. Last year, he went 16-of-18 in extra points and connected on a 35-yard field goal. Also back are kickers Harrison Baltzell (Kennesaw, Ga.), Luke Barna (Oneida, Tenn.) and Antonio Sanchez (Sevierville, Tenn.). Joining the Pioneers this year is freshman kicker Camilo Nanfra (Tampa, Fla.).
Tusculum added NJCAA All-American punter Stefaan Forbes (Tulsa, Okla.). Last season at Hutchinson Community College, he averaged 39.6 yards per punt and recorded 20 kicks inside the 20 (6th in NJCAA) and accounted for 13 fair catches. He helped Hutchinson to a 10-1 record and a conference championship.
The Pioneers return junior long snapper Caleb Swinehart (Erwin, Tenn.) and he will be joined by Albany State transfer (Daniel Wan (Shanghai, China).
COACHING STAFF
Coach Taylor has assembled an experienced coaching staff which has amassed over a combined century of collegiate experience. Joining Taylor on his staff are Wade Lang (Offensive Coordinator / QB), Teddy Gaines (Defensive Coordinator / DB), Cole Watson (Passing Game Coordinator / Recruiting Coordinator / WR), Payton Dixon (Director of Football Operations / RB / Special Teams), Dwight Evans (Defensive Line / Video Coordinator), Jake McKenzie (Offensive Line) and Reed Smith (Outside Linebackers).
Graduate assistant coaches Peyton Derrick (Tight Ends), Dillon Droze (Offensive Line Asst.) and former Pioneer Jordon Harmon (Defensive Asst.) and Tyler Estep (Strength & Conditioning) also join the Tusculum staff in 2024.
THE SCHEDULE
Saturday's road trip to West Alabama kicks off a 10-game slate for the Pioneers. The Tigers (1-0) opened their season last week and got a game-winning 20-yard field goal on the final play of the game in a 16-15 home win over Miles College.
Saturday will be the second all-time meeting between Tusculum and West Alabama as the Tigers won the 2019 inaugural meeting in Greeneville.
After an open date next Saturday, Tusculum will open South Atlantic Conference play when the Pioneers host Newberry College. TU will host five games at Pioneer Field this year including Newberry (Sep. 21), Limestone (Oct. 5), Emory & Henry (Oct. 12), Anderson (Oct. 28) and Carson-Newman (Nov. 9). TU will be on the road for five contests including West Alabama (Sep. 7), Lenoir-Rhyne (Sep. 28), Mars Hill (Oct. 19), UVA Wise (Nov. 2) and Wingate (Nov. 16).
