UT Martin Football Moves to #17 and #15 in New FCS Polls

By Alex Boggis, UT Martin Assistant Sports Information Director

MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin football program jumped up in the national polls this week after a commanding Week 4 victory to open Ohio Valley Conference play. The Skyhawks will enter their Week 5 matchup ranked No. 15 in the weekly Stats Perform FCS Top 25 poll while sitting No. 17 in the AFCA FCS Coaches’ Top 25.

The Skyhawks moved up three spots in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 poll and two positions in the AFCA FCS Coaches’ Top 25.

UT Martin ranks in the top-25 in 15 different team categories and 22 individual categories. The squad sits amongst the nation’s top 10 teams in blocked kicks allowed (0, first), blocked punts allowed (0, first), sacks allowed (1, first), turnovers lost (2, third), passes had intercepted (1, fourth) and blocked kicks (two, fifth).

Individually, Zak Wallace ranks in the top-10 nationally in rushing touchdowns (6, fifth), rushing yards (430, sixth) and total touchdowns (six, ninth) while Tyler Larco ranks sixth nationally with 45.3 yards per punt.

AFCA FCS Coaches’ Top 25

1. North Dakota State (24)         3-1         694          1
2. Montana (4)                              4-0         672          2
3. South Dakota State                 3-1         646          3
4. Montana State                         3-1         592          T-4
5. Sacramento State                    3-0         584          6
6. Delaware                                   4-0         555          8
7. Weber State                             4-0         498          12
8. Jackson State                            4-0         490          11
9. Missouri State                          2-2         432          T-4
10. Chattanooga                             3-1         431          9
11. Holy Cross                                 4-0         408          13
12. UIW                                            3-1         375          7
13. Mercer                                       3-1         339          16
14. Stephen F. Austin                     2-2         244          17
15. Villanova                                    2-2         221          10
16. Austin Peay                               4-1         215          23
17. UT Martin                                  2-2         213          19
18. Eastern Washington                1-2         184          15
19. Samford                                     3-1         181          22
20. Fordham                                    3-1         175          18
21. William & Mary                        3-1         168          14
22. Richmond                                  3-1         155          T-24
23. Elon                                             3-1         106          NR
24. Southeastern Louisiana         2-2         78             NR
25. Rhode Island                             2-2         71             21

Stats Perform FCS Top 25

1. North Dakota State (44)         3-1         1,337       1
2. South Dakota State                 3-1         1,272       T-2
3. Montana                                    4-0         1,264       T-2
4. Montana State                         3-1         1,158       T-4
5. Sacramento                               3-0         1,1142     7
6. Delaware                                   4-0         1,053       8
7. Missouri State                          2-2         943          6
8. Weber State                             4-0         942          12
9. Jackson State                            4-0         907          11
10. Holy Cross                                 4-0         837          13
11. UIW                                            3-1         808          T-4
12. Chattanooga                             3-1         753          10
13. Mercer                                       3-1         551          17
14. Villanova                                    2-2         452          9
15. UT Martin                                  2-2         403          18
16. Samford                                     3-1         380          21
17. Richmond                                  3-1         348          22
18. William & Mary                        3-1         346          14
19. Southern Illinois                       2-2         345          24
20. Eastern Washington                1-2         344          15
21. Southeastern Louisiana         2-2         358          NR
22. Austin Peay                               4-1         328          NR
23. Elon                                             3-1         226          NR
24. Southeast Missouri                 3-1         171          NR
25. Eastern Kentucky                     2-2         154          16

Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information