MARTIN, Tenn. – Strong starts to the season for a pair of University of Tennessee at Martin football players has earned the tandem a spot on the Phil Steele FCS Mid-Season All-American teams. Skyhawk linebacker Jaylon Sharpe was named to the All-American first team while safety Oshae Baker slotted into the third team.
Hailing from Charlotte, NC, Sharpe has been a defensive weapon through the first half of the season for the Skyhawks at linebacker. He leads the team with 38 total tackles – including 25 solo stops – while pacing the Big South-OVC Football Association with 11.0 tackles for loss. He has recorded five or more tackles in six of the team’s seven games while tallying three TFLs against both North Alabama (Sept. 14) and Gardner-Webb (Oct. 5). The graduate student has also tallied a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry this season.
A native of Sanford, Fla., Baker has lived up to his preseason billing as a consensus All-American. The safety has tallied 30 total tackles – including 15 solos – while recording four pass breakups and two interceptions. This season he has become the program’s all-time leader in both passes defended (40) and pass breakups (32). He also leads the Big South-OVC with 15.1 yards per punt return and ranks sixth in kick return average (21.7).
The Skyhawks will return to action at Hardy Graham Stadium next weekend when playing host to association rival Eastern Illinois on Saturday, Oct. 26.
