14 Skyhawks Garner Big South-OVC Postseason Honors
11/26/2024 2:00:00 PM | Football
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – A loaded roster resulted in the University of Tennessee at Martin football program winning its fourth consecutive conference championship and the Skyhawks were rewarded individually for their standout performances as 14 players were named to the Big South-OVC Football Association All-Conference Teams.
UT Martin's first team selections include running back Patrick Smith (Egg Harbor Township, N.J./Holy Spirit HS), center Vance Van Every (Hernando, Miss./Hernando HS), right guard Drake Carroll, defensive end Charles Perkins (Memphis, Tenn./Memphis Academy of Health Sciences HS), nose guard Christian Dowell (Memphis, Tenn./Christian Brothers HS), linebacker Jaylon Sharpe, linebacker Tevin Shipp, safety/punt returner Oshae Baker and cornerback JaMichael McGoy, Jr. (Chattanooga, Tenn./Boyd-Buchanan HS) The second team featured wide receiver Trevonte Rucker, tight end Max Dowling, left guard Josiah Tingley, linebacker Chris Hunter, Jr. and long snapper Colton Peoples.
Smith burst onto the scene for the Skyhawks in his debut season, becoming the fourth consecutive tailback to eclipse 1,000 yards on the ground for the squad since 2021. The Egg Harbor Township, N.J. native ranked atop the Big South-OVC rushing leaderboard by over 250 yards with 1,123 yards on 193 carries. He averaged 5.8 yards per carry and rushed for 13 touchdowns while averaging 93.6 yards per game. For the season, he tallied 100 rushing yards in six contests – including a season-high 148 yards against Southeast Missouri – while rushing for a career-best three touchdown scores in a win over Gardner-Webb. He also finished the regular season ranked 16th in FCS in rushing yards while sitting 22nd in both rushing yards per game and total touchdowns.
Van Every has been an anchor for the Skyhawk offensive line since joining the crew prior to the 2023 season. During his tenure, he has started at center in all 23 games and blocked for a pair of 1,000-yard rushers while averaging 5.2 yards per rush during league play. The Hernando, Miss. native has picked up a pair of Big South-OVC honors in the past two seasons as his first-year designation in 2024 joins his second team pick in 2023. This season he played in 747 snaps and graded out at 84 percent or better. He was a four-time BossHog of the Week and tallied 84 knockdowns on the year. Personally, he was responsible for just one sack on the year.
Carroll is a back-to-back all-conference first team selection after starting the past 23 games at right guard for the Skyhawks. A native of Alexandria, La., he has played a key role on the offensive for a group which blocked for a pair of 1,000-yard rushers the past two seasons and averaged 5.2 yards per carry in league play. This season he played in 728 snaps and graded out at 83 percent or better. He was a three-time BossHog of the Week and tallied 76 knockdowns. Personally, he was responsible for just two sacks on the year.
After earning Freshman All-American honors last season, Perkins took his game to another level en route to an all-conference first team selection in 2024. The Memphis, Tenn. native tallied 38 total tackles while racking up 8.5 tackles for loss. Including in that TFL tally were 2.5 sacks while also adding eight quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a recovery. He tallied multiple tackles for loss against Missouri State with a pair of TFLs and 1.5 sacks while also notching 1.5 TFLs against Tennessee Tech.
Dowell earned his first all-conference honor after starting in all 12 games for the Skyhawks at the nose tackle position. He finished the regular season with 26 total tackles – including 10 solo stops – on the interior of the defensive line. The Memphis, Tenn., native also notched 3.0 tackles for loss while adding seven quarterback hurries and a pair of pass breakups. His best games this season came against Missouri State and Tennessee Tech when he recorded four tackles each – including a season-best 2.0 TFLs against the Golden Eagles.
Sharpe elevated his second team all-conference selection to a first team designation with a big year at the linebacker position. The Charlotte, N.C. native led the team with 75 total tackles while sharing the Big South-OVC lead with 14.5 tackles for loss on the season. He secured two sacks on the season while tallying two interceptions, three pass breakups, three quarterback hurries and fumble recovery. He posted a career-high 14 tackles against Tennessee Tech while tallying multiple TFLs in five contests – including a season-best 3.0 TFLs in wins over North Alabama and Gardner-Webb. He also added interceptions against Eastern Illinois – which he returned 72 yards for a touchdown – while adding another pick against Lindenwood.
Shipp earned his first all-conference honor to cap off a decorated Skyhawk career. The Smyrna, Tenn. native recorded 75 total tackles – including 35 solo stops – while notching 5.5 tackles for loss. He posted three interceptions – including a pair returned for touchdowns against North Alabama (34 yards) and Charleston Southern (35 yards). Additionally, he tallied six pass breakups, two quarterback hurries and 1.5 sacks on the season. His best game came against Kennesaw State when he tallied a career-high 12 tackles while also eclipsing double figures against Lindenwood with 10 total tackles.
As a consensus preseason All-American, Baker lived up to his billing in his final season in a Skyhawk uniform. The Sanford, Fla. star excelled as both a safety and punt return specialist – earning first team honors at both positions. In the secondary, he posted 48 total tackles – including one tackle for loss. He added seven pass breakups and three interceptions to rank seventh in the Association. During his final season he set a pair of program records with 35 career pass breakups and 44 passes defended. As a punt returner, he tallied 16 returns for 220 yards – averaging 13.8 yards per return – leading the Association in both categories.
McGoy is another Skyhawk who added back-to-back all-conference honors after garnering a second team selection last season. Hailing from Chattanooga, Tenn., he ranked as the best cornerback in the Association and one of the best in the country when it came to passes defended. In addition to his 38 tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss on the season, he set a new single-season record with 17 pass breakups with led the Big South-OVC and ranked second nationally. On top of his pass breakups, he inflated his passes defended mark with two interceptions, coming against North Alabama and Lindenwood to rank third nationally with 19 passes defended.
Rucker showed big play potential for the Skyhawks on the way to his first all-conference recognition. Hailing from Ocala, Fla, the wide receiver tallied 44 receptions for 662 yards while adding six interceptions to rank fifth in the Association. He averaged 15.0 yards per reception and led the team in receiving yards. The bulk of his production came in key games as he recorded two touchdowns in three different games – tallying multiple touchdown receptions against Southeast Missouri, North Alabama and Lindenwood.
Dowling garnered his first all-conference honor after ranking second in the Association with five touchdowns on the season. A native of Buffalo, N.Y., he played in all 12 games for the Skyhawks while recording 21 receptions for 261 yards and five touchdowns. On his receptions, he averaged 12.4 yards per catch along with a season-long 48-yard reception. He posted a big two-week span in mid-October as he recorded multiple touchdown receptions in back-to-back contests against Western Illinois and Eastern Illinois.
Tingley garnered his first all-conference recognition from the Big South-OVC after starting in all 12 games for the Skyhawks at left guard this season. The Cordova, Tenn. native has been a member of an offensive line group which blocked for four 1,000-yard rushers the past four seasons. The former walk-on has continued to elevate his play by seeing action on 725 snaps and grading out at 81 percent or better. He was a two-time BossHog of the Week and tallied 72 knockdowns. Personally, he was responsible for just two sacks on the year while the offense rushed for 5.2 yards per carry during league play.
Hunter posted a big final season in a Skyhawk uniform on the way to his first all-conference recognition. The linebacker ranked third on the team with 72 total tackles while notching 7.0 tackles for loss – including half a sack. Along with his work in the open field, he proved to be deadly in the passing game as he led the Big South-OVC and ranked seventh nationally with five interceptions. Additionally, he added five pass breakups and four quarterback hurries. While tallying interceptions against Kansas State, North Alabama and Kennesaw State, his best game came against Tennessee State when he recorded two interceptions inside the opponent's 10-yard line.
Peoples earned all-conference second team honors after serving as the team's long snapper on both field goal, point after attempts and punts for two seasons. On the receiving end of his snaps, the Skyhawks made 10-of-16 field goal attempts and 47-of-50 PATs while averaging 39.9 yards per punt attempt – including 17 inside the 20-yard line. He has also recorded three tackles on the season.
The Skyhawks will return to action this weekend when competing in the 2024 NCAA Division I Football Championship when traveling to No. 16 seeded New Hampshire on Saturday, Nov. 30.
2024 BIG SOUTH-OVC FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION AWARDS
Offensive Player of the Year: Paxton DeLaurent (QB, Sr.), Southeast Missouri
Defensive Player of the Year: Bryce Norman (LB, Sr.), Southeast Missouri
Special Teams Player of the Year: Gilbert Brown (P, Jr.), Charleston Southern
Offensive Freshman of the Year: Steve Hall (RB, R-Fr.), Lindenwood
Defensive Freshman of the Year: Sanders Ellis (LB, Fr.), Tennessee State
Coach of the Year: Eddie George, Tennessee State
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
QB – Paxton DeLaurent, Sr., Southeast Missouri
RB – Patrick Smith, Sr., UT Martin
RB – Steve Hall, R-Fr., Lindenwood
RB – MJ Flowers, R-So., Eastern Illinois
WR – Jeff Caldwell, Jr., Lindenwood
WR – Matthew Henry, Jr., Western Illinois
WR – Dorian Anderson, Sr., Southeast Missouri
WR – Cooper Willman, Sr., Eastern Illinois
TE – Camden Overton, Jr., Gardner-Webb
OL – Vance Van Every, Grad., UT Martin
OL – Drake Carroll, Grad., UT Martin
OL – Donnell Wilson, Grad., Tennessee Tech
OL – Gareth Warren, Sr., Lindenwood
OL – Kobe Sixkiller, Sr., Southeast Missouri
OL – Connor Meadows, R-So., Tennessee State
DEFENSE
DL – Daniel Rickert, Jr., Tennessee Tech
DL – Charles Perkins, R-So., UT Martin
DL – Darrius Bell, R-Sr., Charleston Southern
DL – Christian Dowell, Sr., UT Martin
DL – Nicholas Oliveira-Chace, Sr., Eastern Illinois
LB – Bryce Norman, Sr., Southeast Missouri
LB – Jaylon Sharpe, Grad., UT Martin
LB – Tevin Shipp, Grad., UT Martin
LB – Vincent King, Sr., Lindenwood
LB – Cayman Spaulding, So., Tennessee Tech
DB – Oshae Baker, Sr., UT Martin
DB – Boogie Trotter, Jr., Tennessee State
DB – Khalani Riddick, Sr., Southeast Missouri
DB – Tim Coutras, Sr., Tennessee Tech
DB – JaMichael McGoy Jr., R-Jr., UT Martin
SPECIALISTS
PK – DC Pippin, Sr., Southeast Missouri
P – Gilbert Brown, Jr., Charleston Southern
LS – Turner McLaughlin, Fr., Tennessee Tech
KR – CJ Evans, R-Sr., Tennessee State
PR – Oshae Baker, Sr., UT Martin
AP – Cooper Willman, Sr., Eastern Illinois
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
QB – Nathan Lamb, Sr., Western Illinois
RB – Autavius Ison, So., Charleston Southern
RB – Jalen Mitchell, Grad., Tennessee Tech
RB – Cameren Smith, Sr., Western Illinois
WR – Karate Brenson, R-Jr., Tennessee State
WR – Tristan Smith, Jr., Southeast Missouri
WR – Cam Pedro, So., Southeast Missouri
WR – Trevonte Rucker, Sr., UT Martin
TE – Max Dowling, R-So., UT Martin
OL – Josiah Tingley, Grad., UT Martin
OL – Drew Wilder, R-Jr., Eastern Illinois
OL – Isaiah Foote, Sr., Western Illinois
OL – Cameron Cooper, Sr., Lindenwood
OL – Ryan Merklinger, Sr., Western Illinois
OL – Carter Guillaume, Fr., Southeast Missouri
DEFENSE
DL – Eriq George, So., Tennessee State
DL – McCoy Casey, Jr., Southeast Missouri
DL – Theron Gaines, Jr., Tennessee Tech
DL – Myles Parker, So., Tennessee Tech
DL – Nasim Cairo, Jr., Southeast Missouri
LB – Anthony Shockey, Grad., Eastern Illinois
LB – Trevor Moffitt, R-Jr., Gardner-Webb
LB – Ahmad Nelson, Sr., Tennessee State
LB – Chris Hunter Jr., Sr., UT Martin
LB – Aaron Swafford, Jr., Tennessee Tech
DB – Jalen McClendon, R-Jr., Tennessee State
DB – Caldra Williford, So., Tennessee Tech
DB – Justus Johnson, Jr., Southeast Missouri
DB – Ja'Kobe North, Grad., Charleston Southern
DB – Ty Leonard, Sr., Southeast Missouri
SPECIALISTS
PK – Logan Seibert, Sr., Lindenwood
P – Jacob Horvath, So., Eastern Illinois
LS – Colton Peoples, Jr., UT Martin
KR – Tremel Jones, R-Jr., Tennessee Tech
PR – Khalani Riddick, Sr., Southeast Missouri
AP – CJ Evans, R-Sr., Tennessee State
