Mocs QB Alejandro Bennifield Ready to Replace Jacob Huesman as UTC Starts Spring Drills

Chattanooga-(WDEF) The Chattanooga Mocs kicked off spring practice on Monday at Scrappy Moore Field.
Even though UTC returns a lot of talent and experience, they have to replace perhaps the most prolific quarterback in school history in Jacob Huesman.
But coaches and players believe the job will be in good hands.
Junior Alejandro Bennifield will replace Jacob Huesman at quarterback this spring, and Bennifield is taking his new number one status in stride.
Bennifield-“I definitely feel more attention. I can’t say I feel different about the game. To me it’s just football. Just come out here and work. My goal for this spring is really just be the outright leader of the team. I want everybody to know that I’m in control. I’m going to run the team.”
Head coach Russ Huesman has a ton of confidence in Bennifield.
Huesman-“It was comfortable enough for us to turn away a bunch of transfer quarterbacks that were interested in coming to school here. We made the decision that Alejandro is our guy.”
Don’t be surprised to see the Mocs utilize the deep ball with their new quarterback.
Said defensive back Lucas Webb-“He has got a cannon. He can literally flick his wrist, and the ball goes 50-yards down field.”
Huesman-“I mean we are probably going to have to do a little more of throwing the football now. We’ve got a great bunch of receivers coming back, and Alejandro can sling it. I would say probably you will see a little bit more throwing than we’ve done in the past.”
One new target for Bennifield this spring is Duke Ethridge. He just finished his basketball career for the Mocs, and now he’ll give football a go this season at tight end. The 6’6, 225-pound Ethridge is a former high school football All-American.
Huesman-“It should be fun. Be interesting. That’s one of the interesting things about the spring is to see how that goes.”
Webb-“If we were a coach, we might just put him when we’re inside the 20. We just put him to the outside and throw it up, and see him go get it. I’m excited to see what he can do. I’ve heard some good stuff.”