MARTIN, Tenn. – While the University of Tennessee at Martin football program is in the midst of unprecedented success on the gridiron with three consecutive league championships, head coach Jason Simpson and his squad is hungry for even more as they open the 2024 campaign.
“These guys want more”, Simpson said. “We know we have won three straight conference championship, but we have only been rewarded with one playoff appearance. We have a list of the things that we are chasing, but we have to focus on everything we have to do on a daily basis – with relentless intent – to ultimately accomplish our goals.”
Complacency has not been an issue this offseason. The frustration and pain the team felt on Selection Sunday still stings nine months after the Skyhawks were listed on the First Four Out of the FCS playoffs for the second consecutive season.
“I think for this team, especially for those of us guys that have been here for a couple years, we are very hungry,” Skyhawk offensive guard Josiah Tingley said. “A couple years ago we got a taste of what it feels like to be in the playoffs and get our first playoff win in program history. Then in the last two years, it has just been a huge letdown to not be in that spot. Yes, the three-peat is fun, but we are all looking to chase more. Just settling for 8-3 won’t be enough for us seniors.”
“There is always something bigger,” UT Martin safety Oshae Baker noted. “We haven’t made it to the playoffs in the last two years. A conference ring is cool, but there is a bigger picture. We are trying to chase bigger things and we aren’t settling for a conference championship.”
The seeds of investments have been planted throughout the offseason and the Skyhawks are hoping for a bountiful harvest this fall. With a veteran group returning for UT Martin, Simpson has entrusted his players to lead the team and take ownership of their success.
“I am excited about this team,” Simpson said. “We had a really good summer and I love seeing the kids in the building and their growth. This is a very mature and talented team. I’m very blessed to help these kids chase their dream and represent this university. We have an experienced team at a lot of positions and the players have done a good job of leading by example. We give the players direction and the road map for the journey that we want to accomplish for that day, but these kids have done a good job of being player led. There are some mature, grown men on this team that have great character. I love coming to work everyday with a group like this.”
UT Martin will be tested early and often throughout the 12-game season. The campaign opens on Saturday, Aug. 29 when the Skyhawks travel to Big 12 country for a matchup against nationally ranked Kansas State. Then a quick turnaround sees the squad square off against its biggest rival Southeast Missouri in Week 2 for a critical conference matchup.
From there the Skyhawks will host back-to-back home matchups against FCS non-conference foes North Alabama and Missouri State to wrap up the opening third of the season’s schedule. The month of September wraps up with another FBS matchup – this time against first-year Conference USA member Kennesaw State.
With non-conference play in the rearview mirror, UT Martin will rattle off consecutive matchups against Gardner-Webb and Western Illinois in Big South-OVC Football Association action before heading into the bye week in mid-October. After the refresher, the Skyhawks will conclude the second-half of the campaign against Eastern Illinois, Tennessee State, Charleston Southern, Tennessee Tech and Lindenwood.
UT Martin returns its starting quarterback, three starting receivers and the interior of the offensive line on a unit which ranked among the nation’s best with the seventh-ranked total offense at 439.8 yards per game. The defense was also strong which returns five starters – including three linebackers and a pair of safeties – while ranking sixth in rushing defense (96.3 ypg) and tackles for loss (7.5).
Position Notes
Quarterbacks: Kinkead Dent, Julian Calvez, Hunter Geissinger, Josh Keith, Kaiya Sheron, Kody Sparks.
Graduate quarterback Kinkead Dent joined the Skyhawks last summer, won the starting job out of fall camp and led the program to its third consecutive league championship. Dent propelled an offense which ranked among FCS leaders while passing for 2,295 yards and 25 touchdowns for an eight-win campaign. With another year under his belt in Simpson’s dynamic offensive system, the early returns look good for Dent through camp. Claiming the second-string role has been Kentucky transfer Kaiya Sheron while Grambling State transfer Julian Calvez has also shown flashes through fall camp.
Running Backs: Glover Cook III, Chris Franklin, Javion Goins, Corey Harris, Jr., Narkel LeFlore, Rashad Raymond, Patrick Smith, Terayon Sweet.
Replacing an All-American is always difficult, but the Skyhawks went to the portal and found some strong backs to beef up a talented running back room. Returner Narkel LeFlore has received numerous preseason honors for his work as both a running back and return specialist but is poised for a strong season as the squad’s featured back. Transfer playmakers Patrick Smith (Vanderbilt) and Rashad Raymond (VMI) will compete for touches in the backfield while returner Glover Cook III is also slated to add depth in a potent rushing attack.
Wide Receivers: Scottie Alexander, Kobe Askew, Bryce Bailey, Anthony Carter, Jeremiah Edwards, Quincy Hamilton, Jack Irwin, Will Morris, Deuce Oliver, Devin Queen, Zoe Roberts, Trevonte Rucker, Jay Sams, Edward Smith, DeVonte Tanksley, Airius Trice and Asa Wondeh.
All three starting receivers are back in a Skyhawk uniform for Dent and company. Veterans Zoe Roberts (28 receptions, 325 yards, six touchdowns) and DeVonte Tanksley (54 receptions, 698 yards, four touchdowns) provided stability in the receiving core last season while newcomer Trevonte Rucker (37 receptions, 469 yards and two touchdowns) was strong in his debut season in 2023. Senior receiver Asa Wondeh returns for his final season after missing the majority of last year with an injury while Middle Tennessee transfer Bryce Bailey and converted safety Airius Trice is slated to give additional depth to the receiving group.
Tight Ends: Jaren Bowling, Tyler Dostin, Max Dowling, Katerian LeGrone, Zion Rucker, Christian Stapleton and Hyatt Timosciek.
UT Martin went into the offseason looking for additional depth at the tight end position and found it. While Max Dowling played the role of hero in the team’s overtime victory against Eastern Illinois last season, the Skyhawks added a pair impact transfers in Kent State transfer Tyler Dostin and Delta State transfer Tyler Dostin to create a dynamic room in both blocking and receiving schemes at the position.
Offensive Line: Mitchell Appleton, Elijah Bowser, Drake Carroll, Branson Conner, Logan Crough, Jason Eaton, Dolapo Egunjobi, Nick Edwards, Jai’Lun Hampton, AJ Marquez, Eric McNeil, Garrett Smith, Andrew Smithberger, Josiah Tingley, Riley Turner, Vance Van Every and Preston Yarber.
Gone are two pillars on the offensive line from the tackle position with the graduation of multi-year starters Gavin Olson and Lamar Morgan. Despite their loss, the Skyhawks return three-fifths of their starting group with the return of all three interior linemen with left guard Josiah Tingley, center Vance Van Every and right guard Drake Carroll. UT Martin will lean heavily on its interior experience while former Eastern Michigan transfer Jason Eaton and Louisiana Tech transfer Elijah Bowser are slated to slot into the tackle slots. Newcomers Jai’Lun Hampton and Dolapo Egunjobi have shown flashes while returners Logan Crough, Nick Edwards and Garrett Smith have earned spots on the depth chart.
Defensive Line: Trevor Anthony, Taylor Burton, Toby Camp, Jabaree Dawkins, Christian Dowell, Lebron Edmond, Mario Eugenio, Xavier McIver, Deshawn McKnight, Davonte Murray, Charles Perkins, Jarel Savage, Broderick Tommie, Jr. and Chris Wilson.
While the Skyhawks lost all three of the team’s starters on the front line of the defense from last season, the cupboard is far from empty when it comes to experience. Senior Christian Dowell has played significant snaps since his freshman season while freshman All-American Charles Perkins is slated to start at defensive end. Returning for his second year in a Skyhawk uniform is sophomore Taylor Burton while veteran Toby Camp returns to the fold. Newcomers Deshawn McKnight and Xavier McIver have also impressed throughout camp.
Outside Linebackers: Bryce Dailey, Keyshawn Johnson, Aidan Maddox and Michael Pleas, Jr.
The Skyhawks lost its all-conference outside linebacker from last season but will look to a mixture of returners to fill the void. After sitting out last season, UT Martin looks for a strong season from Jackson State graduate transfer Michael Pleas, Jr. to provide an impact while returner Bryce Dailey played significant snaps during his redshirt-freshman season in 2023.
Linebackers: Stephen Ballard, Na’Drian Dizadare, Chris Hunter, Jr., Ethan Maddox, Anthony Little, Jaden Moore, Stefan Ponder, Jaylon Sharpe, Tevin Shipp, Lamar Smith and Shamari Weir.
Arguably the team’s strongest returning group – in terms of experience – is the linebacker core highlighted by veterans Chris Hunter, Jr., Jaylon Sharpe and Tevin Shipp. While the Skyhawks typically start two linebackers, all three will see significant snaps in varying packages while bringing 298 career tackles between the trifecta. Providing depth at the position is Tulsa transfer Jaden Moore and returner Shamari Weir.
Safeties: Kaleb Almo, Oshae Baker, Joel Castleberry, Zamaryion Farmer-McCray, Lanard Harris, Josh Hastings, Jordan Lee, LeBron Morgan, Tyler Mullins, Adarion Patton, Chris Rhodes, Cam Robertson, AJ Robinson, Jr. and Jacob Stevenson.
UT Martin returns starting experience at the safety position as preseason All-American and Buck Buchanan Award Watch List honoree Oshae Baker slides back into the fold after playing cornerback in 2023. The Skyhawks also return dynamic safety Josh Hastings for a second season in the secondary after tallying 11 pass breakups and an interception in a breakout campaign. The Skyhawks will look to a pair of newcomers to compete for the other starting safety position as JUCO transfer LeBron Morgan and Jacob Stevenson (missed last season with injury) are in a head-to-head race. The squad is also looking for contributions from Joel Castleberry and Tyler Mullins.
Defensive Backs: CJ Cobbins, Celeycan Hill, Desmon James, Rob Johnson, Jamal Mayers, JaMichael McGoy, Jr., Doug Newsome and LaMarion Pierce.
While both starting cornerbacks from last season are still on the roster, JaMichael McGoy, Jr. has one position nailed down while Baker moved back to the safety slot. With the other position up for grabs, North Texas transfer Rob Johnson holds the upper hand in the competition through fall camp while newcomers Doug Newsome and Chris Rhodes have shown strong flashes.
Specialists: Carlo Arenas, Hayden King, Connon Littlefield, Kaden Morgan, Alex Nolen, Colton Peoples and Jaren Van Winkle.
After boasting one of the best special teams units in the country last season, the Skyhawks will look to replace the production lost in all phases of the kicking game. Junior newcomer Jaren Van Winkle is poised to serve as the team’s primary place kicker and punt specialist while Carlo Arenas could see time on kickoffs. Returning all-conference performer Colton Peoples will serve as the team’s long-snapper for a second straight season.
UT Martin opens the season on Saturday, Aug. 31 when traveling to Big 12 foe Kansas State for a first-time meeting. Kickoff from Manhattan, Kansas is slated for 6 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
