By Alex Boggis, UT Martin Assistant Sports Information Director
MARTIN, Tenn. – The two-time defending Ohio Valley Conference league champions were well represented on The Bluebloods 2023 Preseason Big South-OVC All-Conference Team as eight University of Tennessee at Martin football players garnered preseason honors.
The group of wide receiver DeVonte Tanksley, tight end DJ Nelson, offensive tackle Gavin Olson, offensive tackle Lamar Morgan and defensive end Daylan Dotson were named to the first team. Meanwhile, the trio of running back Sam Franklin, defensive tackle Jay Rogers and defensive back Oshae Baker received second team honors.
First Team Offense:
QB: Paxton DeLaurent (Southeast Missouri State)
RB: Geno Hess (Southeast Missouri State)
RB: Narii Gaither (Gardner-Webb)
WR: Ryan Flournoy (Southeast Missouri State)
WR: Landon Ruggieri (Bryant)
WR: DeVonte Tanksley (UT Martin)
WR: Anthony Frederick (Bryant)
TE: DJ Nelson (UT Martin)
OL: Zack Gieg (Southeast Missouri State)
OL: Gavin Olson (UT Martin)
OL: Gabriel Thompson (Gardner-Webb)
OL: Lamar Morgan (UT Martin)
OL: JaMichael Watts (Bryant)
First Team Defense:
DL: Ty French (Gardner-Webb)
DL: Daylan Dotson (UT Martin)
DL: Terrell Allen (Tennessee State)
DL: Kenny Dyson Jr. (Bryant)
LB: Bryce Norman (Southeast Missouri State)
LB: William McRainey (Gardner-Webb)
LB: K’Vaughan Pope (Tennessee State)
LB: Elijawah Tolbert (Eastern Illinois)
LB: Christian Fuhrman (Southeast Missouri State)
DB: Lawrence Johnson (Southeast Missouri State)
DB: Raequan Ousley (Gardner-Webb)
DB: Darion Bolden (Lindenwood)
DB: Jamari Brown (Gardner-Webb)
DB: Bryce Phillips (Tennessee State)
First Team Special Teams:
K: Ethan Gettman (Bryant)
P: Nick Bigelow (Tennessee Tech)
RS: Anthony Frederick (Bryant)
Second Team Offense:
QB: Zevi Eckhaus (Bryant)
RB: Sam Franklin (UT Martin)
RB: JD Moore (Charleston Southern)
RB: Juwon Farri (Eastern Illinois)
WR: Damoriea Vick (Southeast Missouri State)
WR: Metrius Fleming (Tennessee Tech)
WR: Justin Franklin (Gardner-Webb)
WR: Karate Brenson (Tennessee State)
TE: Jihad Edmond (Bryant)
OL: Chad Strickland (Eastern Illinois)
OL: Ethan Johnson (Lindenwood)
OL: Nathan Hodnett (Tennessee Tech)
OL: Gareth Warren (Lindenwood)
OL: Trevor Smith (Bryant)
Second Team Defense:
DL: Kobe McClendon (Lindenwood)
DL: Jalen Bell (Tennessee State)
DL: Kali Dava (Tennessee Tech)
DL: Willie Harris (Gardner-Webb)
DL: Jay Rogers (UT Martin)
LB: James Green (Tennessee State)
LB: Ty Anderson (Gardner-Webb)
LB: Keandre Booker (Southeast Missouri State)
LB: Jamar Shegog (Robert Morris)
LB: Monroe Beard III (Tennessee State)
DB: AJ Thomas (Gardner-Webb)
DB: Josh Green (Tennessee State)
DB: Ty Leonard (Southeast Missouri State)
DB: Jamel Johnson (Charleston Southern)
DB: Oshae Baker (UT Martin)
Second Team Special Teams:
K: Stone Galloway (Eastern Illinois)
P: George Souders III (Robert Morris)
RS: Dalyn McDonald (Southeast Missouri State)
Season ticket packages 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
