Six Skyhawks Named to OVC Defensive Players to Watch List
7/15/2026 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 Defensive 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 defensive side of the ball is defensive lineman Broderick Tommie, Jr., linebacker Jamarcus Smith, defensive back Trey Cotton, punter Max Zuluaga, punt return specialist Deuce Oliver and long snapper Hayden King.
The 2026 OVC Football Media Day presented by Shaw Sports Turf will be held on Friday 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 Defensive Players to Watch
DEFENSIVE LINE
CJ Landrum (Jr.), Charleston Southern
Aidan Archibald (So.), Eastern Illinois
AJ Mebane (Jr.), Gardner-Webb
Andrew Zook (R-Jr.), Lindenwood
McCoy Casey (Sr.), Southeast Missouri
Bryce Gray (So.), Tennessee State
Broderick Tommie, Jr. (R-Jr.), UT Martin
Keshawn Harrington-McKinney (Jr.), Western Illinois
LINEBACKER
Steve Zayachkowsky (Sr.), Charleston Southern
Ja'Wuan Nickson (Sr.), Eastern Illinois
Tre Yanez (Jr.), Gardner-Webb
Jacob Waller (R-Sr.), Lindenwood
Cole Dutkovich (Sr.), Southeast Missouri
Sammy Taylor (Jr.), Tennessee State
Jamarcus Smith (R-Jr.), UT Martin
Nick Reinicke (Jr.), Western Illinois
DEFENSIVE BACK
Anthony Paulk (R-So.), Charleston Southern
Saipeti Maiava Jr. (Sr.), Eastern Illinois
Josiah Harris (Sr.), Gardner-Webb
Carter Johnson (So.), Lindenwood
Adrian Patterson (Sr.), Southeast Missouri
Syncere Safeeullah (Jr.), Tennessee State
Trey Cotton (So.), UT Martin
Don Paul Keith (So.), Western Illinois
PUNTER
Aidan Bonde (Jr.), Gardner-Webb
Davion Moore (So.), Tennessee State
Max Zuluaga (R-So.), UT Martin
Luke Droegemueller (Sr.), Western Illinois
KICK RETURN SPECIALIST
Quay Kindell (R-Jr.), Charleston Southern
Jacarre Fleming (So.), Eastern Illinois
CJ Bennett (So.), Lindenwood
Jaden Jones (So.), Tennessee State
Israel Hiraldo (So.), Western Illinois
PUNT RETURN SPECIALIST
Quay Kindell (R-Jr.), Charleston Southern
Devin Whitlock (Jr.), Eastern Illinois
CJ Bennett (So.), Lindenwood
Jobe Bryant (So.), Southeast Missouri
Anthony Taylor (So.), Tennessee State
Deuce Oliver (R-So.), UT Martin
LONG SNAPPER
Ross Rambo (R-So.), Charleston Southern
Jacob Mull (So.), Gardner-Webb
Steven Nelson (So.), Tennessee State
Hayden King (R-Jr.), UT Martin
Ben Bergfeld (Jr.), Western Illinois
The OVC Preseason Poll is scheduled for release on Thursday, July 16.
Featured on the defensive side of the ball is defensive lineman Broderick Tommie, Jr., linebacker Jamarcus Smith, defensive back Trey Cotton, punter Max Zuluaga, punt return specialist Deuce Oliver and long snapper Hayden King.
The 2026 OVC Football Media Day presented by Shaw Sports Turf will be held on Friday 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 Defensive Players to Watch
DEFENSIVE LINE
CJ Landrum (Jr.), Charleston Southern
Aidan Archibald (So.), Eastern Illinois
AJ Mebane (Jr.), Gardner-Webb
Andrew Zook (R-Jr.), Lindenwood
McCoy Casey (Sr.), Southeast Missouri
Bryce Gray (So.), Tennessee State
Broderick Tommie, Jr. (R-Jr.), UT Martin
Keshawn Harrington-McKinney (Jr.), Western Illinois
LINEBACKER
Steve Zayachkowsky (Sr.), Charleston Southern
Ja'Wuan Nickson (Sr.), Eastern Illinois
Tre Yanez (Jr.), Gardner-Webb
Jacob Waller (R-Sr.), Lindenwood
Cole Dutkovich (Sr.), Southeast Missouri
Sammy Taylor (Jr.), Tennessee State
Jamarcus Smith (R-Jr.), UT Martin
Nick Reinicke (Jr.), Western Illinois
DEFENSIVE BACK
Anthony Paulk (R-So.), Charleston Southern
Saipeti Maiava Jr. (Sr.), Eastern Illinois
Josiah Harris (Sr.), Gardner-Webb
Carter Johnson (So.), Lindenwood
Adrian Patterson (Sr.), Southeast Missouri
Syncere Safeeullah (Jr.), Tennessee State
Trey Cotton (So.), UT Martin
Don Paul Keith (So.), Western Illinois
PUNTER
Aidan Bonde (Jr.), Gardner-Webb
Davion Moore (So.), Tennessee State
Max Zuluaga (R-So.), UT Martin
Luke Droegemueller (Sr.), Western Illinois
KICK RETURN SPECIALIST
Quay Kindell (R-Jr.), Charleston Southern
Jacarre Fleming (So.), Eastern Illinois
CJ Bennett (So.), Lindenwood
Jaden Jones (So.), Tennessee State
Israel Hiraldo (So.), Western Illinois
PUNT RETURN SPECIALIST
Quay Kindell (R-Jr.), Charleston Southern
Devin Whitlock (Jr.), Eastern Illinois
CJ Bennett (So.), Lindenwood
Jobe Bryant (So.), Southeast Missouri
Anthony Taylor (So.), Tennessee State
Deuce Oliver (R-So.), UT Martin
LONG SNAPPER
Ross Rambo (R-So.), Charleston Southern
Jacob Mull (So.), Gardner-Webb
Steven Nelson (So.), Tennessee State
Hayden King (R-Jr.), UT Martin
Ben Bergfeld (Jr.), Western Illinois
The OVC Preseason Poll is scheduled for release on Thursday, July 16.
Players Mentioned
S
/ Football
LS
/ Football
WR
/ Football
LB
/ Football
NT
/ Football
P
/ FootballSaturday, April 18
Friday, April 03
Friday, March 20
Friday, March 13