By Alex Boggis, UT Martin Assistant Sports Information Director
MARTIN, Tenn. – In a release of its annual preseason predictions, Phil Steele has tabbed University of Tennessee at Martin football standouts Matthan Hatchie (second team) and John H. Ford II (fourth team) to their respective FCS Preseason All-American teams. Additionally, the publication has added 12 Skyhawks to their Preseason All Ohio Valley Conference Team with Ford being tabbed OVC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
With Phil Steele picking three all-conference teams for the OVC, UT Martin garnered six players on the first team led by Hatchie, Ford, Zak Wallace, Gavin Olson, Deven Sims and Brock Powers. The second team was comprised of Colton Dowell, Lamar Morgan and Oshae Baker while Jay Rogers, Rob Hicks and Tyler Larco were added to the third team.
Hatchie is a consensus preseason All-American while earning back-to-back All-OVC honors after anchoring an impressive offensive line at the center position. He graded out at 89 percent or better in each game while tallying 101 knockdowns. In the middle of an offensive unit which ranked eighth nationally in sacks allowed during the regular season, he gave up only one sack in 362 attempts. The durable standout played every snap except for mop-up time against Murray State while serving as a leader of the group with his toughness and makeup. Offensively, the unit led a team which ranked 15th nationally with 207.6 rushing yards per game.
Ford posted a big year en route to his first All-OVC selection by combining for 88 tackles – including 44 solo and 44 assists – while notching 5.0 tackles for loss totaling 17 yards. The ball-hawk defender tallied four interceptions – ranking fourth in the OVC – while returning one 75 yards for a touchdown against Tennessee State. He also registered three quarterback hurries and four pass breakups. He has shown the ability to rack up tackles in bunches to sit eighth in the OVC, tallying four double-digit tackle performances against Eastern Illinois, Tennessee State, Southeast Missouri and Montana State.
Wallace was a breakout performer in his redshirt-freshman season, tallying 148 carries for 807 yards and 15 touchdowns. The tailback ranked second in the league amongst running backs in yards per carry (5.5 ypc) while leading the league and ranking and sixth nationally with 15 rushing touchdowns. His 15 touchdowns ranked tied for third in the program’s single-season history while tallying multiple scores in four contests. He became the first Skyhawk to tally at least three touchdowns in a game since 2014 when he ran for three in a win over Murray State while also tallying two against Eastern Illinois, Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech.
Olson played and started in all 13 games at right guard last season. He graded out at 84 percent or better in each game while tallying 95 knockdowns. He helped anchor an offensive unit which ranked eighth nationally in sacks allowed during the regular season. The sophomore guard transitioned from tackle inside to be right guard and has been a mainstay on the unit starting since he was a true freshman. As a whole the unit leads the way for an offense which ranked 15th nationally with 207.6 rushing yards per game.
Sims earned his second straight All-OVC first team selection after leading the team with 93 total tackles – including 45 solo and 48 assisted stops – while notching 6.0 tackles for loss totaling 23 yards. He also recorded an interception, two pass breakups and three quarterback hurries. The team leader in tackles for the past two seasons has recorded six games in double figures in his career – including four last year against Western Kentucky, Murray State, Austin Peay and Southeast Missouri.
Powers has proven to be a model of consistency within the Skyhawk special teams unit as a four-year starter at long snapper. Playing in all 13 games last season, he worked with both the punt and place-kicking units which ranked amongst the best in the OVC. He also got in the action with three tackles while recovering a key fumble against No. 10 Missouri State in the first round of the NCAA Division I playoffs.
Dowell picked up his third All-OVC selection despite seeing his season shortened due to injury after just six games. Even with limited action he still ranked amongst the best receivers in the league with 22 receptions for 398 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged 66.3 yards per game and 18.1 yards per receptions to lead the team in both categories. He began the season with his sixth career 100-yard receiving performance against Western Kentucky, tallying six catches for 102 yards and a touchdown. He added another touchdown in a road win over nationally ranked Jacksonville State. For his career he ranks ninth in program history with 1,760 receiving yards.
Morgan played in 12 games while starting in eight games in his debut season with the Skyhawks despite battling injuries at right tackle. He graded out at 84 percent or better in each game while tallying 73 knockdowns. He helped anchor an offensive unit which ranked eighth nationally in sacks allowed during the regular season. The newcomer helped a unit which ranked 15th nationally with 207.6 rushing yards per game.
Baker was a versatile starter for the Skyhawks at several key positions in the secondary on the way to being named a Phil Steele FCS Freshman All-American last season. He tallied 68 total tackles while notching 3.5 tackles for loss – including 2.0 sacks. The ballhawk ranked second in the OVC and tied for the team lead with four interceptions while ranking third in the league with nine pass breakups.
Rogers played in all 13 games for the Skyhawks last season while starting nine games during the championship run. The defensive tackle compiled 21 total tackles while notching 4.0 tackles for loss totaling 13 yards. One of his biggest hits came on a strip sack against Tennessee State while tallying 2.0 tackles for loss against Southeast Missouri.
Hicks had a nice season in his debut campaign with the Skyhawks in 2021 by tallying 38 total tackles as a key reserve at linebacker. Primed for a starting role this season, the former Louisville transfer tallied a season-high 10 tackles against Austin Peay while notching seven tackles against both Western Kentucky and Southeast Missouri last season.
Larco was named to the Phil Steele list as both a place kicker and punter after showing his versatility for the last two seasons. He was named OVC Specialist of the Week twice last season while scoring 70 points on the season to rank fifth in the league. He made 7-of-15 field goal attempts and converted 49-of-51 point after attempts. As a punter he averaged 40.0 yards per punt while booting two over 65 yards – including a 68 yarder against No. 9 Jacksonville State which ranked as the 10th longest in program history.
The defending OVC champions open the 2022 season on Thursday, Sept. 1 when playing host to Western Illinois at Hardy M. Graham Stadium at 6 p.m.
Season ticket packages and single-game ticket sales for Skyhawk football are now available. For more information or to purchase your tickets today, visit the Skyhawk Ticket Office, located in Room 1091 in the Skyhawk Fieldhouse, call (731) 881-7207 or purchase online here.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information