Three more former University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football players will have a shot at the NFL, and their first chance to prove themselves will happen soon.
Offensive lineman Josh Cardiello, linebacker Dale Warren and defensive back Lucas Webb have accepted invitations to rookie mini-camps set to begin next Thursday, according to news releases from UTC. Cardiello was invited by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with Warren and Webb both invited by the Buffalo Bills.
They join fellow former Mocs standout Tae Davis in having a professional football opportunity. Davis, a safety before moving to linebacker last season under first-year coach Tom Arth, signed a free-agent contract with the New York Giants this past Saturday after the conclusion of the three-day, seven-round NFL draft in Arlington, Texas.
Webb is a defensive back from Northport, Ala., who was listed at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds as a senior this past season, when he earned his fourth straight All-Southern Conference first-team selection. He was the first player in program history to achieve that feat, and he finished his collegiate career with 13 interceptions, tied for the UTC record.
His 51 starts and 272 interception return yards are also Mocs records, his four interceptions returned for touchdowns are a SoCon record and his five defensive scores tied for the conference record. He finished his time at UTC with 228 tackles, 30 passes defensed, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles.
"Lucas is an incredible ambassador for Chattanooga football, and we are very proud of him for all his accomplishments on and off the field at UTC," Arth said in a release. "Lucas is one of our all-time greats, and I am so excited that he will have the opportunity to continue his playing career with the Buffalo Bills."
Warren (6-0, 225), from Covington, Ga., appeared in 43 games for the Mocs, starting 18, and was an All-SoCon first-team pick as a junior in 2016, when he totaled 91 tackles (61 solo) and tied the school record for tackles for loss (19). He finished his UTC career with 151 tackles and had 35 last season despite appearing in just five games after he sat out the first six due to an NCAA rules violation.
Arth, who was once a backup to Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, described Warren as "one of the most talented football players I have been around" in a release.
"He truly loves the game and prepares and plays with focus and passion," Arth said.
Cardiello, who is from Buford, Ga., began his collegiate career at Georgia before transferring to UTC before the 2015 season. He started all 37 games the Mocs played during his time with them, handling a transition from right guard to center before his senior season, and was an All-SoCon second-team selection each of the past two years.
Arth described the 6-3, 305-pounder as "the anchor" on his first offensive line at UTC.
"I am ready to compete at the highest level and try to earn spot," Cardiello said in a release. "I am grateful to all of the coaches at UTC I have worked with during my career. They helped me get into this position and gave me this chance to be successful."
Softball Mocs lose
With the regular season nearing its conclusion, UTC lost 5-4 to Georgia State in nonconference softball Wednesday night in Atlanta.
Alyssa Coppinger hit two solo home runs, Aly Walker was 2-for-4 with an RBI, and J.J. Hamill and Hayleigh Weissenbach each went 2-for-3 for the Mocs (25-26), who led 3-2 after 5 1/2 innings.
In the bottom of the sixth, UTC pitcher Allison Swinford - she had relieved Celie Hudson to start the third - hit leadoff batter Brenna Skalski on an 0-2 count and walked Ivie Drake before giving up a double to Kirsten McMonigle. That brought Skalski home, and the Panthers (28-21) then made it 4-3 on Megan Litumbe's bunt single.
In the seventh, Weissenbach drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on Hamill's sacrifice bunt, went to third on Walker's groundout and scored the tying run when Brook Womack reached on a fielding error. But Womack was left stranded, and Georgia State's Arden Jobe ended the game in the bottom half when she homered to left field on an 0-1 pitch.
Jobe finished 3-for-4.
UTC will host Auburn on Sunday in a 2 p.m. doubleheader at Frost Stadium. The SoCon tournament begins next Wednesday in Greensboro, N.C.