Six Skyhawks Named to OVC Offensive Players to Watch List
7/14/2026 1:00:00 PM | Football
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – In lead up to Ohio Valley Conference Football Media Day on Friday, July 17, the league announced its Offensive Players to Watch for the 2026 season. Highlighting the list were six members of the University of Tennessee at Martin football program.
Featured on the offensive side of the ball is running back Tommy Ansley, wide receiver Phaizon Wilson, tight end Kaleb Costner, offensive lineman Travis Gray, all-purpose performer Chris Franklin and place kicker Brandon Sims.
The 2026 OVC Football Media Day presented by Shaw Sports Turf will be held on Friday, July 17 on the property of the Hilton BNA Nashville Airport. OVC Football Media Day will feature head coaches and student-athletes from OVC football programs previewing the upcoming season, participating in media interviews, and helping build excitement for another year of conference action.
2026 OVC Football Preseason Offensive Players to Watch
QUARTERBACK
Cole LaCrue (Jr.), Eastern Illinois
Cole Pennington (Sr.), Gardner-Webb
Daylin Lee (Sr.), Tennessee State
Cason Carswell (So.), Western Illinois
RUNNING BACK
Hakeem Watters (So.), Charleston Southern
Charles Kellom (Sr.), Eastern Illinois
Carson Gresock (Sr.), Gardner-Webb
Steve Hall (R-Jr.), Lindenwood
Khyair Spain (Jr.), Southeast Missouri
Zack Simmons-Brown (So.), Tennessee State
Tommy Ansley (Jr.), UT Martin
Ihson Jackson-Anderson (Sr.), Western Illinois
WIDE RECEIVER
Mekhi Campfield (Sr.), Charleston Southern
Landers Green (Sr.), Eastern Illinois
Jalile Bost (Jr.), Gardner-Webb
Jalen Smith (R-Jr.), Lindenwood
Jobe Bryant (So.), Southeast Missouri
Cam Bulluck (So.), Tennessee State
Phaizon Wilson (R-Sr.), UT Martin
Christian Anaya (Sr.), Western Illinois
TIGHT END
Kaden Strickland (Grad.), Charleston Southern
Alex Ginnever (Sr.), Eastern Illinois
Collin Carroll (Jr.), Gardner-Webb
Aaron Duncan (So.), Tennessee State
Kaleb Costner (Grad.), UT Martin
David Hargro (Sr.), Western Illinois
OFFENSIVE LINE
Ethan Hunt (Grad.), Charleston Southern
Rahfeeq Katumbusi (So.), Eastern Illinois
Will Fitzpatrick (Jr.), Gardner-Webb
Andrew Swingle (R-So.), Lindenwood
Rashad Turner (Sr.), Southeast Missouri
Breon Brown (So.), Tennessee State
Travis Gray (R-Sr.), UT Martin
James Durand (Jr.), Western Illinois
ALL-PURPOSE
Max Loveall (So.), Eastern Illinois
Anthony Taylor (So.), Tennessee State
Chris Franklin (R-Jr.), UT Martin
Kennedy McGill (Sr.), Western Illinois
PLACEKICKER
Drew Schiller (So.), Eastern Illinois
Andrew Bontekoe (So.), Gardner-Webb
Will Graham (R-Jr.), Lindenwood
Justin Keller (Sr.), Southeast Missouri
Brandon Sims (So.), UT Martin
Britton Watts (So.), Tennessee State
The OVC Preseason Defensive Players to Watch will be released on Wednesday, July 15 with the OVC Preseason Poll scheduled for release on Thursday, July 16.
Featured on the offensive side of the ball is running back Tommy Ansley, wide receiver Phaizon Wilson, tight end Kaleb Costner, offensive lineman Travis Gray, all-purpose performer Chris Franklin and place kicker Brandon Sims.
The 2026 OVC Football Media Day presented by Shaw Sports Turf will be held on Friday, July 17 on the property of the Hilton BNA Nashville Airport. OVC Football Media Day will feature head coaches and student-athletes from OVC football programs previewing the upcoming season, participating in media interviews, and helping build excitement for another year of conference action.
2026 OVC Football Preseason Offensive Players to Watch
QUARTERBACK
Cole LaCrue (Jr.), Eastern Illinois
Cole Pennington (Sr.), Gardner-Webb
Daylin Lee (Sr.), Tennessee State
Cason Carswell (So.), Western Illinois
RUNNING BACK
Hakeem Watters (So.), Charleston Southern
Charles Kellom (Sr.), Eastern Illinois
Carson Gresock (Sr.), Gardner-Webb
Steve Hall (R-Jr.), Lindenwood
Khyair Spain (Jr.), Southeast Missouri
Zack Simmons-Brown (So.), Tennessee State
Tommy Ansley (Jr.), UT Martin
Ihson Jackson-Anderson (Sr.), Western Illinois
WIDE RECEIVER
Mekhi Campfield (Sr.), Charleston Southern
Landers Green (Sr.), Eastern Illinois
Jalile Bost (Jr.), Gardner-Webb
Jalen Smith (R-Jr.), Lindenwood
Jobe Bryant (So.), Southeast Missouri
Cam Bulluck (So.), Tennessee State
Phaizon Wilson (R-Sr.), UT Martin
Christian Anaya (Sr.), Western Illinois
TIGHT END
Kaden Strickland (Grad.), Charleston Southern
Alex Ginnever (Sr.), Eastern Illinois
Collin Carroll (Jr.), Gardner-Webb
Aaron Duncan (So.), Tennessee State
Kaleb Costner (Grad.), UT Martin
David Hargro (Sr.), Western Illinois
OFFENSIVE LINE
Ethan Hunt (Grad.), Charleston Southern
Rahfeeq Katumbusi (So.), Eastern Illinois
Will Fitzpatrick (Jr.), Gardner-Webb
Andrew Swingle (R-So.), Lindenwood
Rashad Turner (Sr.), Southeast Missouri
Breon Brown (So.), Tennessee State
Travis Gray (R-Sr.), UT Martin
James Durand (Jr.), Western Illinois
ALL-PURPOSE
Max Loveall (So.), Eastern Illinois
Anthony Taylor (So.), Tennessee State
Chris Franklin (R-Jr.), UT Martin
Kennedy McGill (Sr.), Western Illinois
PLACEKICKER
Drew Schiller (So.), Eastern Illinois
Andrew Bontekoe (So.), Gardner-Webb
Will Graham (R-Jr.), Lindenwood
Justin Keller (Sr.), Southeast Missouri
Brandon Sims (So.), UT Martin
Britton Watts (So.), Tennessee State
The OVC Preseason Defensive Players to Watch will be released on Wednesday, July 15 with the OVC Preseason Poll scheduled for release on Thursday, July 16.
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