SKYHAWK FOOTBALL HOPES FOR RIGHT AMOUNT OF LUCK IN SEASON UNLIKE ANY OTHER

SKYHAWK FOOTBALL HOPES FOR RIGHT AMOUNT OF LUCK IN SEASON UNLIKE ANY OTHER

2/16/2021 5:34:00 PM | Football

2020-21 Media Guide

MARTIN, Tenn. – After an offseason unlike any other, the University of Tennessee at Martin football team will begin the 2020-21 campaign this week with an abbreviated Ohio Valley Conference-only seven-game schedule.

When the 2019 campaign ended on a soggy field in Lexington, Ky. back on Nov. 23, 2019, no one could foresee what the next 15 months would look like. When the Skyhawks finally take the field at Hardy M. Graham Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 21 against Eastern Illinois it will mark 465 days from the team's last contest.

The COVID pandemic turned the world on its head and the OVC was no exception with the league postponing fall competition to the spring back in August. While conference schools were allowed to play up to four non-conference contests, the Skyhawks opted out of fall competition. Then in October, the OVC announced the move to a round robin schedule of seven conference games running from February 21 through April 11.

While the road to getting to this postponed season had its twists and turns along the way, UT Martin head coach Jason Simpson is thankful for the chance to open his 15^th season at the helm of the Skyhawks.

"We are very grateful to play this spring," Simpson said. "There are certainly a lot of roadblocks to playing with testing and not knowing who will be out until Friday night when you play on Sunday. That makes it very difficult to plan and know what players will be available. There is going to be some luck involved. Normally there is luck needed in terms of injuries but now when you throw testing into it, along with the weather, it is going to be a season like we have never experienced but we are just happy to have the chance."

While the season is unprecedented, there is a moderate roadmap to follow with a significant amount of college teams playing during the fall seasons – especially at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level. "If a player tests positive, they are out for 10 days and then there is contact tracing. It is certainly a challenge for the players and the staff. The good news is we were able to sit back and see how other college programs and the NFL handled it in the fall. You just have to be ready to handle the unexpected and roll with the punches."

The Skyhawks return eight starters from an offense that ranked second in the OVC in scoring (30.5 points per game). That includes wide receiver Colton Dowell, who garnered Preseason All-American first team accolades after tallying 38 receptions, 765 yards and four touchdowns in 2019. Preseason All-OVC honoree Peyton Logan (784 rushing yards, six touchdowns in nine games) and John Bachus III (2,549 passing yards, 18 touchdowns against nine interceptions) are also back for UT Martin.

After leading the OVC in scoring defense (19.5 points allowed per game) in 2019, the Skyhawks bring back six starters on that side of the ball. That includes senior safety JaQuez Akins (92 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, six pass breakups) and redshirt senior defensive lineman Austin Pickett (38 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks) – each of whom garnered Preseason All-OVC mentions.

"It is odd to say, but there will need to be some luck involved in it," Simpson said. "On top of playing seven conference games and the injuries that will roll along with that, will there be a week that you have to start your third string guy? We will have to be very fortunate."

"Offensively, I think we have a chance to be very explosive and put up some points," Simpson continued. "We just have to execute and beat the game. Defensively, we have a new coordinator, some new parts of the scheme and some young players on that side of the ball. Early our offense needs to carry us until our defense gets their feet on their ground. We will need to play good team football against quality teams in our league."

UT Martin's abbreviated seven-game slate begins with a home matchup against Eastern Illinois on Feb. 21. The Skyhawks additionally host Jacksonville State (March 14), Southeast Missouri (April 3) and Tennessee Tech (April 11) at Hardy Graham Stadium this spring while making short trips to Murray State (Feb. 28), Austin Peay (March 21) and Tennessee State (March 28).