Cole Copeland Making Most of Second Chance With the Mocs

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) Cole Copeland started six games as a freshman quarterback for the Mocs in 2017, but then he was suspended the following season for academics.
The Bradley Central grad eventually left the team.
With his college football career going no where, Copeland worked up the courage to seek a return to UTC.
Now he’s making the grades and also starting again for the Chattanooga Mocs.

Said Copeland:”I was just kind of like down. Kind of down and out a little bit because obviously what I did was on my completely.”
Copeland certainly felt disappointed.
Said Copeland:”I really wanted to be look at, especially by my parents and family members can be proud of. I was not being that at all at that point and time in my life.”
In December of 2019, Copeland was back home working out at Bradley Central when his high school coach Damon Floyd, who is a former Moc, reached out on Copeland’s behalf to UTC coach Rusty Wright.
Said Copeland:”Like I was talking to some other colleges. I want to obviously give Chattanooga the opportunity first because I’ve let them down completely.”
Said Wright:”You know he has done everything we have asked of him and more. That’s what I expected. Just been a tremendous young man for us. I got no complaints about him. That’s a testament to him to have a little fortitude and backbone to get things done that way.”
January 2020. Copeland was back on the team.
Fall of 2020, he made the A-D Honor roll.
Fall of 2021, he was named the Mocs starting quarterback in week two.
Said Wright:”He’s pretty steady in the pocket. Pressure doesn’t seem to bother him a whole bunch. Another thing is is he’s a gamer. He plays better in a game normally than he does in practice.”
Said Copeland:”This really was a journey because I really had no idea where my life was headed at all. I was just grateful for the opportunity Coach Wright gave me and obviously this University getting me back here. I couldn’t be more proud to be back here and humbled as well. I just appreciate the opportunity.”