By Alex Boggis, UT Martin Assistant Sports Information Director
FRANKLIN, Tenn. – For the first time in program history, the University of Tennessee at Martin football team has been picked as the preseason favorite to win the Ohio Valley Conference crown by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors, the conference announced Tuesday in conjunction with its annual Media Day held at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs.
The Skyhawks earned 70 total points – including 10 of the 14 possible first place votes – to finish ahead of Southeast Missouri in the preseason poll. In addition to being tabbed to repeat as league champs, graduate linebacker John H. Ford II became just the second player in program history to be selected as the league’s Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. In total, nine Skyhawks received OVC preseason honors.
Joining Ford on the Preseason All-OVC squad is sophomore running back Zak Wallace, graduate wide receiver Colton Dowell, senior offensive lineman Matthan Hatchie, junior offensive guard Gavin Olson, junior offensive tackle Lamar Morgan, sophomore cornerback Oshae Baker and graduate safety Deven Sims. Incoming graduate transfer Shaun Lewis rounded out the honorees by being selected to the Newcomers to Watch squad.
UT Martin is coming off a banner season in 2021 which saw the program boast a 10-3 overall mark while going 5-1 in league play to secure the program’s second league championship. In addition to the OVC title, the Skyhawks advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division I Football Championship after picking up the program’s first FCS playoff victory.
Under the direction of OVC Coach of the Year Jason Simpson, UT Martin won a program record nine-straight games and ranked as high as eighth nationally in the AFCA FCS Coaches’ Top 25. Additionally, the Skyhawks became just the third squad in program history to eclipse 10 wins in a single season while picking up victories over nationally ranked foes Jacksonville State (No. 9) and Missouri State (No. 10) along the way.
Ford proved to be a dynamic playmaker for one of the league’s best defenses by playing in all 13 games en route to All-OVC first team honors last season. The Nashville native racked up 88 total tackles – including four double-digit tackle performances – while notching 5.0 tackles for loss. He tallied four interceptions to rank tied for second in the OVC while returning a pick 75 yards for a touchdown against Tennessee State. He also garnered an OVC Defensive Player of the Week honor after tallying five tackles and a 66-yard interception return against Northwestern State.
Wallace is coming off a breakout season in which he earned All-OVC first team honors and was named to a pair of freshman All-American lists by both HERO Sports and Phil Steele. The tailback tallied 148 carries for 807 yards but racked up 15 touchdowns which led the OVC and ranked sixth nationally. Along with leading the OVC in scoring with 90 points on the season, the Benton, Ark. native recorded multiple touchdowns in four contests while reaching the endzone a career-high three times against Murray State. He averaged 5.5 yards per carry to rank second in the league while eclipsing the 100-yard plateau in three contests. Additionally, he earned a pair of OVC Newcomer of the Week honors while picking up one OVC Offensive Player of the Week selection.
Dowell has been a mainstay for the Skyhawks as a three-time All-OVC performer during his career. Despite having his 2021 season shortened due to injury, he still tallied 22 receptions for 398 yards and caught two touchdowns. When qualified, his 18.1 yards per reception led the OVC while his 66.3 yards per game ranked third. His best game came in the season opener against FBS foe WKU when he hauled in his sixth career 100-yard performance and a touchdown.
A native of Haleiwa, Hawai’i, Hatchie has been named a consensus Preseason All-American by several publications as the two-time All-OVC selection returns for his final season in the middle of the Skyhawk offensive line. Hailed as the fourth-best returning FCS offensive lineman in 2022 according to HERO Sports, Hatchie graded out at 89 percent or better in each game last season. Along with tallying 101 knockdowns he anchored an offensive line which ranked first in the OVC in sacks allowed (0.83/game) while only being responsible for one sack in 362 attempts. He showed his durability by playing every snap except mop-up time against Murray State while leading a team which paced the OVC with 239.3 rushing yards per game.
Olson is a three-year starter for the Skyhawks on the offensive line who became an All-OVC second team performer last season after making the move from tackle to guard. A native of Memphis, Olson started at right guard in all 13 games last season while grading out at 84 percent or better. He tallied 95 knockdowns while working on an offensive line which ranked eighth nationally in sacks allowed during the regular season and led the OVC in rushing yards per game.
Morgan wasted very little time making his presence known for the Skyhawks in his debut season on his way to All-OVC second team honors. The right tackle played in 12 games while earning the starting nod in eight. He graded out at 84 percent or better in those contests while tallying 73 knockdowns.
The Sanford, Fla. native posted a big year for the Skyhawks last season as the versatile Baker started all 13 games at various positions in the secondary. No matter where he was located, the playmaker’s stats followed as he compiled 68 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss – including a pair of sacks – and ranked second in the OVC with four interceptions. He especially turned up the intensity at the end of the season when he secured an interception in three consecutive games against Tennessee Tech, Southeast Missouri and No. 10 Missouri State. The ballhawk led the team and ranked third in the OVC with nine pass breakup while also sitting third with 13 passes defended on his way to Phil Steele FCS Freshman All-American honors.
Sims is a highly respected player in the league after earning back-to-back All-OVC first team selections and was recently tabbed the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year pick by Lindy’s Sports. The Smyrna, Tenn. native is a three-year starter who is coming off his second straight season as the team-leader in tackles with 93 while notching 6.0 tackles for loss. He posted four games with double-digit tackle performances while setting season-highs with 11 stops against Austin Peay and Southeast Missouri. Last season he also recorded his first career interception in the OVC-clinching win at Tennessee Tech.
Lewis joins the Skyhawks after spending parts of five seasons at Houston where he saw action in 42 career games. During that span he tallied 39 tackles while notching 10 passes defended, an interception and a fumble recovery. He is slated to slot into the secondary for the Skyhawks.
UT Martin opens the season on Thursday, Sept. 1 when playing host to Missouri Valley Football Conference foe Western Illinois. Kickoff from Hardy Graham Stadium is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Single game and season ticket packages are available to be purchased online at www.UTMSports.com/tickets, through the UT Martin Ticket Office by calling 731-881-7207 or by emailing athletic.events@utm.edu.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information