Chattanooga received votes in HERO Sports’ FCS Preseason Top 25.
The Mocs finished 7-5 last year, missing the FCS playoffs.
Here’s a look at the 2025 Chattanooga football squad.
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Returning 2024 FCS All-Conference Players (3)
2nd Team
K Jude Kelley
OL Ryan Merklinger (WIU transfer)
WR Markell Quick (NC Central transfer)
D1 Transfer Portal Movement
Transfers Coming In From The FCS (10)
Kristian Ozane (LB), Davidson
Anton Ricumstrict (DE), Delaware State
Kaelin Drakeford (DB), Eastern Illinois
Nick Coates (DB), Eastern Illinois
Markell Quick (WR), NC Central
Jamarii Robinson (WR), Northern Colorado
Jonathan Hunter-Horton (LB), VMI
Therion Cannon (OL), Western Carolina
Ryan Merklinger (OL), Western Illinois
Ryan Ingram (RB), Wofford
Transfers Coming In From The FBS (7)
AJ Wallace (DB), Arkansas State
Jordan Davis (DB), Ball State
Camden Orth (QB), Bowling Green
Keyshawn Jackson (DB), ECU
Khari Gee (DB), Georgia Tech
Hunter Teal (TE), Miami (OH)
Dazmon Galloway (OL), ULM
Transfers Lost To The FCS (2)
Reggie Davis (RB) to Alcorn State
Almarion Crim (OL) to South Dakota
Transfers Lost To The FBS (14)
Joseph Bakhole (DE) to App State
Javin Whatley (WR) to Arizona
Chris Victor (DE) to Cal
Sam Phillips (WR) to Iowa
Leroy Harris III (DL) to Kansas
Beni Mwamba (DB) to Memphis
Keon Hardin (OL) to Memphis
Alex Mitchell (LB) to Middle TN State
Ethan Myers (LS) to Mississippi State
Josh Battle (DB) to Southern Miss
Chris Domercant (WR) to UCF
D’Arco Perkins-McAllister (DB) to ULM
Reid Williams (OL) to UNLV
Jordan Walker (DB) to West Virginia
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Offensive Outlook
Chattanooga loses its starting quarterback, top running back, top four pass-catchers, and three of its top five offensive linemen in snaps. The Mocs added a few FCS transfers with starting experience and All-Conference accolades.
Two-year starting quarterback Chase Artopoeus has graduated. Returning at QB are junior Luke Schomburg, sophomore Matthew Clemmer, and redshirt freshman Battle Alberson, while Camden Orth arrives from Bowling Green.
Schomburg has seen a handful of starts in the last two seasons due to Artopoeus getting hurt. He started three contests in 2023, throwing for 517 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. Schomburg added four more starts last fall, passing for 663 yards, four touchdowns, and five interceptions. Orth played 22 games in three seasons at Bowling Green, throwing for 864 yards, eight touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He began his college career at LIU, where he passed for 1,825 yards, 11 TDs, and five picks.
The Mocs have to replace the production of their top four pass-catchers, losing their top three wide receivers to the FBS.
WR Markell Quick looks to make an instant splash, arriving from NC Central. Quick was a 2024 All-MEAC Second Team performer with 26 catches for 527 yards and five TDs. WR Jamarii Robinson is another FCS transfer with experience. At Northern Colorado, he tallied 42 catches for 490 yards and two scores in 2023. Tight end John McIntyre is a returning talent for Chattanooga. He recorded 12 catches for 145 yards and a touchdown last year and was recognized on Phil Steele’s Freshman All-American Fourth Team.
At running back, Justus Durant is back after finishing second on the team with 272 rushing yards and tying for a team-high five rushing TDs on 60 carries. Ryan Ingram is a big transfer portal pickup from SoCon foe Wofford. Last fall, he rushed 156 times for 675 yards and six touchdowns, earning All-SoCon Second Team honors from Phil Steele. In 2023, Ingram ran for 837 yards and six scores.
The o-line returns two of its top five players in snaps while adding an FCS All-Conference lineman.
Tyrell Ragland (6-2, 318 lbs) is back after finishing third on the o-line with 720+ snaps. Will Buchanan (6-6, 340 lbs) was fifth with more than 350 snaps. And B.J. Ragland (6-1, 286 lbs) added 260+ snaps, which was seventh on the team. Ryan Merklinger (6-4, 319 lbs) comes in after two seasons of starting at Western Illinois. He was named to the 2024 All-Big South-OVC Second Team.
Jude Kelley adds to the offense as an All-SoCon kicker, going 16/23 on field goals last season with a long of 49 yards, including 9/12 on kicks of 40 yards or longer.
Defensive Outlook
Chattanooga’s defense returns only two of its top 13 tacklers.
Linebacker Zion Rutledge is back after finishing 10th on last year’s squad with 25 tackles, including two pass breakups. Jeremiah Batiste is one of the better returning FCS cornerbacks. In 2024, he had 21 stops (12th on the team), seven pass breakups, and three interceptions, owning PFF’s No. 14 coverage grade among FCS corners.
Defensive end Marquise Freeman played nearly 260 snaps last fall and registered 12 tackles. Defensive tackle Montrell Henderson added 230+ snaps and another 12 stops. DT Jamarr Jones played 160+ snaps and recorded seven tackles.
Joining Batiste at cornerback is Taylor Smallwood. Smallwood began last season as a starter but was injured in Game 3.
Similar to the offense, some transfers will be looked at to fill voids.
Khari Gee is a name to keep an eye on at safety. He was a 4-star recruit and rated as the No. 28 safety in the nation, beginning his college career at Notre Dame in 2022. Gee transferred to Georgia Tech in 2023 and played in all 12 games with two starts as a redshirt freshman, totaling six tackles. He was injured for most of last year before transferring to Chattanooga this offseason.
Linebacker Kristian Ozane arrives from Davidson, where he totaled 52 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, and three sacks in 20 games. Kaelin Drakeford adds valuable experience at safety. He played in 40 games at Eastern Illinois, totaling 170 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, and 11 pass breakups. Nick Coates also comes in from EIU. The cornerback played in 35 games for the Panthers, tallying 119 tackles, eight TFLs, an interception, and 11 pass breakups. He was an All-OVC Second Team selection in 2022.
2025 Preseason Preview Central
Chattanooga Football Schedule
8/30 at Memphis
9/6 at No. 20 Tennessee Tech
9/13 vs Stetson
9/20 at No. 6 Tarleton State
9/27 vs The Citadel
10/4 at VMI
10/18 vs RV ETSU
10/25 at Samford
11/1 vs No. 18 Western Carolina
11/8 vs Furman
11/15 at No. 12 Mercer
11/22 at Wofford
Bold indicates SoCon games
HERO Sports’ rankings
RV = Received Votes
