UT MARTIN FOOTBALL PLACES 14 PLAYERS ON PHIL STEELE ALL-CONFERENCE SQUADS
8/17/2021 12:00:00 PM | Football
MARTIN, Tenn. – A total of 14 University of Tennessee at Martin football players earned All-Conference honors courtesy of Phil Steele this week.
The group of Colton Dowell (wide receiver), Donnell Williams (wide receiver), Rodney Williams II (tight end), JaQuez Akins (safety) and Deven Sims (safety) earned first team honors. The second team was highlighted by Matthan Hatchie (offensive line), Gavin Olson (offensive line), Austin Pickett (defensive line), Jay Woods (cornerback), Tyler Larco (place kicker) and Dresser Winn (punter) while Chris Jackson (offensive line), John Ford (linebacker) and Brock Powers (long snapper) were tabbed to the third team.
A native of Lebanon, Tenn., Dowell is a two-time All-OVC selection after tallying 78 receptions, 1,224 yards and eight touchdowns over the past two seasons. During the shortened spring campaign he ranked amongst OVC leaders in receptions (40, first), receiving yards (459, second), touchdowns (four, second), receptions per game (5.7, second) and receiving yards per game (65.6, third) while ranking 21st nationally in receiving touchdowns and receiving yards.
Hailing from St. Louis, Mo., Donnell Williams posted a breakout season this spring for the Skyhawks. He tallied 29 receptions for 445 yards and three touchdowns en route to All-OVC second team honors. The receiver ranked amongst OVC leaders in receiving yards per game (74.2, second), receiving yards (445, fourth), receptions per game (4.88, fifth), receptions (29, seventh), touchdowns (three, seventh) and yards per catch (15.3, ninth).
Memphis native Rodney Williams II added to his preseason honors after garnering All-American honors last offseason. The tight end tallied 30 receptions for 327 yards and four touchdowns en route to a pair of All-American honors. He ranked amongst OVC leaders in touchdowns (four, second), receptions (30, fifth), receptions per game (4.3, sixth), yards (327, eighth) and yards per game (46.7, 10th).
A Starkville, Miss. native, Akins earned has earned All-OVC honors in both seasons in a Skyhawk uniform after ranking third on the team with 38 combined tackles and 3.0 tackles for loss. He also tallied four pass breakups and a quarterback hurry. The hard-hitting safety ranked second in the OVC with two forced fumbles while his two fumble recoveries rank first nationally.
Hailing from Smyrna, Tenn., Sims posted a huge campaign in his first season as a full-time starter by leading the team with 60 total tackles – including 29 solo stops – while recording 5.0 tackles for loss. The hard-hitting safety also contributed four pass breakups and a forced fumble. He ranked amongst OVC leaders in forced fumbles (one, second), assisted tackles (31, third), total tackles (60, fourth), solo tackles (29, fourth) and tackles per game (8.6, fifth).
A native of Haleiwa, Hawai'i, Hatchie wasted very little time making an impact for the Skyhawks in his debut season. The junior college transfer played and started in all seven games on the offensive line at center and the guard positions. He graded out at 84 percent or better in every contest and tallied 60 knockdowns while playing every offensive snap.
Entering his third season as a starter on the offensive line, Olson has been a model of consistency for the Skyhawks. After starting nine games as a true freshman in 2019, the Memphis native started the first six games last season before missing the finale with an injury. Primarily playing right tackle, he graded out at 80 percent or better in every game last season.
Hailing from Lake Minneola, Fla., Pickett returns for his sixth season in a Skyhawk uniform. With 29 career games played, he has 86 career tackles while tallying 14.0 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. The 2019 All-OVC honoree played in just three games last season while tallying 12 combined tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.
Woods also made a splash in his debut season for the Skyhawks by tallying 23 tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss while recovering a fumble against nationally ranked Jacksonville State. The Pinson, Ala. native led the OVC with nine pass breakups while ranking 22nd nationally in passes defended with 1.3 per game.
Larco took over the reigns of the kicking duties as a redshirt-freshman and was nearly automatic en route a pair of OVC Specialist of the Week honors and being named a Freshman All-American. The Miami, Fla. native made 10-of-12 field goal attempts on the year – including a season-long 47-yard attempt. He also converted 17-of-18 point after attempts for a total of 47 points on the season to lead the team. He led the OVC by making 83.3 percent of his field goal attempts while sitting amongst league leaders in kick scoring (second), field goals made per game (second) and PAT kicking percentage (third).
A native of Dresden, Tenn., Winn proved to be a versatile weapon for the Skyhawks last season. Entering his fifth season in the program as a quarterback, he also served as the team's primary punter before suffering a season-ending injury last season. The Week 1 OVC Specialist of the Week tallied 22 punts for 904 yards while averaging 41.1 yards per punt. He booted a season-long 67-yard punt against Austin Peay while having five others of 50 yards or more. He also pinned six of his attempts inside the 20-yard line.
A mainstay on the offensive line over the years, Jackson returns to the fold with 29 games played over his career. The graduate student from Lexington, Ky. has started in 11 career games at various positions on the offensive line while primarily seeing action at left guard, right guard and left tackle.
Ford, a Nashville native, is tabbed to play a significant role for the Skyhawks after starting all seven games at linebacker last season. He compiled 43 total tackles while notching 3.0 tackles for loss and a sack. He also recorded two interceptions – including returning a pick 50 yards for a touchdown against Eastern Illinois.
Hailing from Cornersville, Tenn., Powers has proved to be an integral piece of the special teams puzzle. Entering his fourth year in the program, he has played in every game of his career while seeing action in 29 games as the team's long-snapper.
UT Martin opens the 2021 season on Thursday, Sept. 2 with a road matchup at Western Kentucky. Fans can purchase single-game or season ticket packages for the Skyhawks five home games by going to www.UTMSports.com/Tickets or by calling the Ticket Office at 731-881-7207.
The group of Colton Dowell (wide receiver), Donnell Williams (wide receiver), Rodney Williams II (tight end), JaQuez Akins (safety) and Deven Sims (safety) earned first team honors. The second team was highlighted by Matthan Hatchie (offensive line), Gavin Olson (offensive line), Austin Pickett (defensive line), Jay Woods (cornerback), Tyler Larco (place kicker) and Dresser Winn (punter) while Chris Jackson (offensive line), John Ford (linebacker) and Brock Powers (long snapper) were tabbed to the third team.
A native of Lebanon, Tenn., Dowell is a two-time All-OVC selection after tallying 78 receptions, 1,224 yards and eight touchdowns over the past two seasons. During the shortened spring campaign he ranked amongst OVC leaders in receptions (40, first), receiving yards (459, second), touchdowns (four, second), receptions per game (5.7, second) and receiving yards per game (65.6, third) while ranking 21st nationally in receiving touchdowns and receiving yards.
Hailing from St. Louis, Mo., Donnell Williams posted a breakout season this spring for the Skyhawks. He tallied 29 receptions for 445 yards and three touchdowns en route to All-OVC second team honors. The receiver ranked amongst OVC leaders in receiving yards per game (74.2, second), receiving yards (445, fourth), receptions per game (4.88, fifth), receptions (29, seventh), touchdowns (three, seventh) and yards per catch (15.3, ninth).
Memphis native Rodney Williams II added to his preseason honors after garnering All-American honors last offseason. The tight end tallied 30 receptions for 327 yards and four touchdowns en route to a pair of All-American honors. He ranked amongst OVC leaders in touchdowns (four, second), receptions (30, fifth), receptions per game (4.3, sixth), yards (327, eighth) and yards per game (46.7, 10th).
A Starkville, Miss. native, Akins earned has earned All-OVC honors in both seasons in a Skyhawk uniform after ranking third on the team with 38 combined tackles and 3.0 tackles for loss. He also tallied four pass breakups and a quarterback hurry. The hard-hitting safety ranked second in the OVC with two forced fumbles while his two fumble recoveries rank first nationally.
Hailing from Smyrna, Tenn., Sims posted a huge campaign in his first season as a full-time starter by leading the team with 60 total tackles – including 29 solo stops – while recording 5.0 tackles for loss. The hard-hitting safety also contributed four pass breakups and a forced fumble. He ranked amongst OVC leaders in forced fumbles (one, second), assisted tackles (31, third), total tackles (60, fourth), solo tackles (29, fourth) and tackles per game (8.6, fifth).
A native of Haleiwa, Hawai'i, Hatchie wasted very little time making an impact for the Skyhawks in his debut season. The junior college transfer played and started in all seven games on the offensive line at center and the guard positions. He graded out at 84 percent or better in every contest and tallied 60 knockdowns while playing every offensive snap.
Entering his third season as a starter on the offensive line, Olson has been a model of consistency for the Skyhawks. After starting nine games as a true freshman in 2019, the Memphis native started the first six games last season before missing the finale with an injury. Primarily playing right tackle, he graded out at 80 percent or better in every game last season.
Hailing from Lake Minneola, Fla., Pickett returns for his sixth season in a Skyhawk uniform. With 29 career games played, he has 86 career tackles while tallying 14.0 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. The 2019 All-OVC honoree played in just three games last season while tallying 12 combined tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.
Woods also made a splash in his debut season for the Skyhawks by tallying 23 tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss while recovering a fumble against nationally ranked Jacksonville State. The Pinson, Ala. native led the OVC with nine pass breakups while ranking 22nd nationally in passes defended with 1.3 per game.
Larco took over the reigns of the kicking duties as a redshirt-freshman and was nearly automatic en route a pair of OVC Specialist of the Week honors and being named a Freshman All-American. The Miami, Fla. native made 10-of-12 field goal attempts on the year – including a season-long 47-yard attempt. He also converted 17-of-18 point after attempts for a total of 47 points on the season to lead the team. He led the OVC by making 83.3 percent of his field goal attempts while sitting amongst league leaders in kick scoring (second), field goals made per game (second) and PAT kicking percentage (third).
A native of Dresden, Tenn., Winn proved to be a versatile weapon for the Skyhawks last season. Entering his fifth season in the program as a quarterback, he also served as the team's primary punter before suffering a season-ending injury last season. The Week 1 OVC Specialist of the Week tallied 22 punts for 904 yards while averaging 41.1 yards per punt. He booted a season-long 67-yard punt against Austin Peay while having five others of 50 yards or more. He also pinned six of his attempts inside the 20-yard line.
A mainstay on the offensive line over the years, Jackson returns to the fold with 29 games played over his career. The graduate student from Lexington, Ky. has started in 11 career games at various positions on the offensive line while primarily seeing action at left guard, right guard and left tackle.
Ford, a Nashville native, is tabbed to play a significant role for the Skyhawks after starting all seven games at linebacker last season. He compiled 43 total tackles while notching 3.0 tackles for loss and a sack. He also recorded two interceptions – including returning a pick 50 yards for a touchdown against Eastern Illinois.
Hailing from Cornersville, Tenn., Powers has proved to be an integral piece of the special teams puzzle. Entering his fourth year in the program, he has played in every game of his career while seeing action in 29 games as the team's long-snapper.
UT Martin opens the 2021 season on Thursday, Sept. 2 with a road matchup at Western Kentucky. Fans can purchase single-game or season ticket packages for the Skyhawks five home games by going to www.UTMSports.com/Tickets or by calling the Ticket Office at 731-881-7207.
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