As college football kicks off in Knoxville on Saturday, Tennessee football is gearing up to make a run to the revamped College Football Playoff.

The first stop on its path to the postseason is at home in Week 1 against the Chattanooga Mocs. The Vols hold the upper hand on paper against the FCS opponent.

Coming off a second-round exit in the FCS Playoffs last season, head coach Rusty Wright and his squad will be tasked with a sellout crowd in an SEC environment. If Chattanooga wants to present a challenge, it’ll need standout performances from its top playmakers.

Here’s a closer look at the three players the Vols need to keep in check this weekend.

Defensive lineman Marlon Taylor

Redshirt senior Marlon Taylor will lead the defense. An established leader for the Mocs, Taylor is a centerpiece of the Chattanooga defense.

His 2023 campaign impressed, racking up 30 tackles last season, including nine for a loss. He also added 5.5 sacks and a fumble recovery.

The performance earned him a spot on the All-SoCon second team. This year, he holds high expectations, as he was named the Preseason SoCon Defensive Player of the Year for 2024 while being placed on the FCS Football Central first-team All-American list.

In order to make Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava uncomfortable in the pocket, Taylor needs to have a dominant game against the veteran Vols’ interior offensive line.

Wide receiver Javin Whatley

On the offensive side, Javin Whatley is a standout for the Mocs. Last season, the redshirt junior was named to an FCS first-team All-American and first-team All-SoCon.

Whatley’s stats matched the recognition, hauling in 55 passes for 977 yards and nine touchdowns. Whatley had three games with over 100 yards receiving, including a 231-yard performance with four touchdowns against Western Carolina, landing him a spot as SoCon Player of the Week.

With the overhauled Tennessee secondary, it will be a strong matchup for the Vols to see how they fare. For Whatley, it’ll be a needed challenge and a way to gather film against a tough opponent before returning to FCS play.

Quarterback Chase Artopoeus

Chase Artopoeus, a former UCLA Bruin, will lead the Mocs for a second season after transferring to Chattanooga following the 2022 season. A second-team All-SoCon member a year ago, he expects to build on his performance from last season.

Artopoeus started 10 games as quarterback for the Mocs. Passing for 2,672 yards with 20 touchdowns and seven interceptions, Artopoeus was one of the top signal-callers in the FCS. Ranked in the top 20 nationally for pass yards per game, total offense and passing touchdowns, he presents veteran leadership under coach Wright.

The Mocs need to rally around Artopoeus in their season opener to compete with the Vols. The signal caller will need to control the game and manage the ball well to put up a fight against Tennessee.

Kickoff is slated for 12:45 p.m. ET as a sold-out Neyland Stadium welcomes the 2024 season ahead.