{"id":42395,"date":"2022-04-29T13:41:52","date_gmt":"2022-04-29T17:41:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/?p=42395"},"modified":"2022-04-29T13:41:52","modified_gmt":"2022-04-29T17:41:52","slug":"a-first-for-utc-mocs-football-player-cole-strange-selected-in-first-round-of-nfl-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/2022\/04\/a-first-for-utc-mocs-football-player-cole-strange-selected-in-first-round-of-nfl-draft\/","title":{"rendered":"A first for UTC: Mocs football player Cole Strange selected in first round of NFL draft"},"content":{"rendered":"
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New England-bound
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Cole Strange’s UTC academic journey<\/a><\/strong> was captured in a December 2020 Commencement Week feature.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

This media announcement initially appeared on<\/em> gomocs.com<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

What a night, right? Chattanooga Mocs offensive lineman Cole Strange was selected by the New England Patriots with the 29th pick of the NFL Draft\u2019s first round. It\u2019s been an amazing journey for the Knoxville native who came into the program in 2016.<\/p>\n

It all started with a phone call.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got this call from a random number,\u201d he began. \u201cIt\u2019s the New England Patriots congratulating me on being their first-round draft pick. It\u2019s just a dream come true.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew it could happen and had a feeling that I would hear from someone last night. It\u2019s exciting to go to an organization like the Patriots. I\u2019m just ready to get to work.\u201d<\/p>\n

Coach Rusty Wright was quick with his assessment on the pick.<\/p>\n

\u201cVery deserving,\u201d the 4th-year head coach noted. \u201cHe can play all three interior spots \u2013 right guard, left guard & center. That\u2019s an invaluable guy to a football team, and he\u2019s a big guy that can run and is aggressive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Six years, three head coaches and a position change. He signed with Russ Huesman\u2019s staff, Wright as an assistant coach, in 2016. He came to the Scenic City as a TE\/DE, but the switch to o-line was in the cards eventually after redshirting in 2016.<\/p>\n

Then came Tom Arth\u2019s staff and Strange immediately moved to offensive line eventually earning a starting spot in 2017 at guard. At 255 lbs. Questions? He was tabbed freshman All-America in the end, so his enormous potential took flight.<\/p>\n

\"Cole

Cole Strange was just the second Moc to compete in both the Reese’s Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine (photo courtesy of Chattanooga Athletics).<\/p><\/div>\n

Wright came back as head coach in 2019, and the \u201cboy\u201d had become a man. His 2018 performance against South Carolina started turning heads, but it was his next three years that cemented a trip to the Reese\u2019s Senior Bowl, NFL Combine and today\u2019s first-class ticket to Boston from Knoxvegas.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere\u2019s a guy who stayed the course for his entire career,\u201d Wright added. \u201cHe never wavered about where he was at. He\u2019s where he is today because he played for five years, there\u2019s a lot of film on him and he put himself in this position.\u201d<\/p>\n

Strange is now the seventh Moc currently in the NFL based on last season\u2019s rosters. He\u2019s also quick to note the path is there for future Mocs.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can get here from anywhere,\u201d Strange noted. \u201cJust keep working on your craft whether that\u2019s blocking, tackling, running, catching passes or throwing. On the practice field, in the film room, in the weight room and just utilizing all the support we get from sports medicine keeping our bodies right.<\/p>\n

\u201cChattanooga has so much to offer, and I\u2019m very appreciative of the opportunities the program provided me to be where I am today. It\u2019s not a surprise to me at all. It\u2019s what hard work is all about.\u201d<\/p>\n

NOTES<\/strong><\/p>\n