11/9/2026 9:00:00 AM | Football
MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin football tandem of place kicker Brandon Sims (Special Teams) and quarterback Tate Surber (Rookie) earned Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week honors following the team's road victory at Charleston Southern.
Sims played a big role in the Skyhawk's road victory, scoring eight of the team's 20 points courtesy of a perfect kicking afternoon. The Jacksonville, Ill. native made 2-of-2 field goal attempts and both point after attempts in the win. He got on the board in the first quarter with a pair of PATs following a rushing touchdown by Surber and a pick-six by LaMarion Pierce. He later put the game on ice when he booted a 43-yard field goal to give the Skyhawks a seven-point lead with 6:53 to play in the game before extending the margin out to a two-score advantage with a 41-yard field goal late in the game. The two field goals were the longest of his collegiate career.
Surber was efficient under center for the Skyhawks, completing 14-of-16 passes for 88 yards without an interception while adding a four-yard rushing touchdown on the second drive of the game. The McKenzie, Tenn. native was highly efficient in the pass game, completing 87.5 percent of his pass attempts, ranking as the third-best mark in UT Martin single-game history. Surber currently ranks second in the OVC in completion percentage (62.4 percent) on the season.
UT Martin returns to action this weekend when hosting Lindenwood on Saturday, Nov. 14. Kickoff of the Military Appreciation Game and Senior Day is slated for 2 p.m.
Sims played a big role in the Skyhawk's road victory, scoring eight of the team's 20 points courtesy of a perfect kicking afternoon. The Jacksonville, Ill. native made 2-of-2 field goal attempts and both point after attempts in the win. He got on the board in the first quarter with a pair of PATs following a rushing touchdown by Surber and a pick-six by LaMarion Pierce. He later put the game on ice when he booted a 43-yard field goal to give the Skyhawks a seven-point lead with 6:53 to play in the game before extending the margin out to a two-score advantage with a 41-yard field goal late in the game. The two field goals were the longest of his collegiate career.
Surber was efficient under center for the Skyhawks, completing 14-of-16 passes for 88 yards without an interception while adding a four-yard rushing touchdown on the second drive of the game. The McKenzie, Tenn. native was highly efficient in the pass game, completing 87.5 percent of his pass attempts, ranking as the third-best mark in UT Martin single-game history. Surber currently ranks second in the OVC in completion percentage (62.4 percent) on the season.
UT Martin returns to action this weekend when hosting Lindenwood on Saturday, Nov. 14. Kickoff of the Military Appreciation Game and Senior Day is slated for 2 p.m.
Players Mentioned
Sunday, November 08
Saturday, October 31
Tuesday, October 27
Tuesday, October 20