Tech picked sixth in '09 OVC race, Seivers earns preseason all-OVC
The Golden Eagles are picked to finish sixth in the 2009 OVC race, in a preseason poll of the league's Coaches and Sports Information Directors. Charlie Seivers earned preseason all-OVC recognition.
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. -- In a balanced vote that saw five of the
eight eligible teams receive at least one first-place vote,
two-time defending champion Eastern Kentucky University has been
picked as the 2009 Ohio Valley Conference preseason football
favorite in a vote of league head coaches and sports information
directors.
The Colonels received 10 first-place votes to take home the
preseason honor for the third time in the last five years. UT
Martin, 2006 co-champions, was picked to finish second and received
four first-place votes. Eastern Illinois was third with two
first-place votes followed by Tennessee State and Murray State who
each received one first-place vote. The preseason poll was rounded
out by Tennessee Tech being picked sixth and Austin Peay and
Southeast Missouri tying for seventh place. Jacksonville State, who
is not eligible for the OVC Championship this year, was not
included in the poll.
Eastern Kentucky, who has won a record 20 OVC Championships, was
picked first in the preseason poll for the 17th time since 1979.
The Colonels were 7-1 in the OVC a year ago (losing only at
Tennessee State) and are a combined 15-1 in the league over the
past two seasons. Second-year head coach Dean Hood has seven
offensive and five defensive starters back from last year’s
team that lost to eventual national champion Richmond in the first
round of the FCS Playoffs. Among those starters is preseason
All-OVC and All-American selection Derek Hardman, a three-year
starter for the program. He will be a key component on an offensive
line that will block for senior running back C.J. Walker, the
leading returning rusher in the OVC. Walker carried the ball 147
times for 706 yards (58.8 yards/game) and seven touchdowns a year
ago. On defense, preseason All-OVC defensive end Chris Hall had 49
tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss and six sacks a season ago and will
be a major force on the defensive line. Although the team lost two
All-OVC performers in the secondary, sophomore Jeremy Caldwell
returns to bolster that unit. Caldwell had three interceptions and
58 tackles as a freshman in 2008.
UT Martin came within a blocked 45-yard field goal attempt of
claiming its second OVC Championship in three seasons a year ago,
losing to eventual champion Eastern Kentucky by two points on the
final weekend of the season. No Skyhawk football coach has been as
successful in his first three seasons as Jason Simpson (21
victories), and this season Simpson has six offensive starters back
from a team that was fourth nationally in scoring offense (37.33
points/game) and 16th in total offense (405.58 yards/game) last
season. That offense will be keyed by OVC Offensive Player of the
Year Cade Thompson who passed for 2,680 yards and 24 touchdowns in
his second year with UT Martin after transferring from South
Carolina. Those numbers also earned him 2009 OVC Preseason
Offensive Player of the Year accolades. Thompson had plenty of
weapons to throw to last year, completing passes to 16 different
receivers. One of his favorite targets - preseason All-OVC pick
Mike Hicks - is among the returning players he will throw to this
season. Hicks caught a team-best 66 balls last season, racking up
894 yards and 12 touchdowns in 12 games. But UTM can also establish
the run, as evident by preseason All-OVC pick Brandyn Young. Young
carried the ball 143 times for 702 yards and 12 scores as a junior
in 2008. A big part of the offense success can be attributed to
senior offensive tackle Joe Gibbs, an All-OVC selection a year
ago.
Eastern Illinois began last season in search of its fourth
straight FCS playoff appearance but struggled to a 5-7 overall (3-5
OVC) record. But under the direction of the OVC Dean of Coaches Bob
Spoo, the Panthers are picked third this season as they look to
rebound. Spoo, entering his 22nd season with the program, will
matchup with Penn State legend Joe Paterno on Oct. 10 when the
teams meet in Happy Valley. The two coaches are among the top five
longest tenured active coaches at the Division I level. The Panther
offense returns seven players this season including All-American
guard Chaz Millard. Millard has been a key part of the success of
the Panther offense, including blocking for a 1,000-yard rusher a
year ago. This season he will help protect senior quarterback Bodie
Reeder (1,931 yards, 13 touchdowns last season) and a talented
group of young running backs. Defensively, junior cornerback Rashad
Haynes enters the season ranked sixth on the NCAA list for career
interceptions (9) among active players.
Tennessee State started last season 6-1 and were eventually 8-2 as
the squad climbed as high as 18th in the national rankings. The
Tigers would, however, lose its final two games of the year to fall
to 8-4 overall and 5-3 in the Conference. Despite eight Division I
victories, TSU was left out of the playoff picture but will try to
get there this season with 42 returning lettermen. Fifth-year head
coach James Webster will have the biggest voids to fill on offense,
where three players ended up on NFL rosters (including All-American
running back Javarris Williams) and three-year starting quarterback
Antonio Heffner graduated. The quarterback race this season will be
between junior Dominic Grooms (26-of-35 for 236 yards and three
touchdowns in limited action last year) and Calvin McNairl
(37-of-75 for 601 yards and a touchdown in 2007) who redshirted
last season. Among the talent returning on defense is junior
defensive back Eugene Clifford, who was an All-OVC selection last
year after registering 61 tackles and three interceptions, and
sophomore linebacker Rico Council, who had a team-best 67 tackles
in 2008.
Picked eighth at the beginning of last season, Murray State showed
its rebuilding process is right on track as head coach Matt Griffin
led the Racers to a 4-4 Conference record and fifth place finish in
his third year with the team. MSU had success with its defensive
unit, which had two of the top defensive players nationally.
Linebacker Nathan Williams (who has since graduated) led all
divisions of college football with 179 tackles while Austen Lane
(who will be a senior this season) totaled 12.0 sacks, which ranked
him fourth nationally (1.00/game). Lane’s breakout season
caught the eye of the national media and professional scouts, as
Consensus Draft Services (CDS) named him the FCS Preseason National
Defensive Player of the Year heading into this season. Lane was
also tabbed the OVC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year while
also being included on numerous preseason All-American teams. He is
one of nine defensive starters returning for Murray State this
season. Nine offensive starters also return, including Preseason
All-OVC wide receiver selection Derrick Townsel (53 catches for 667
yards and three touchdowns in only 9 games) and junior quarterback
Jeff Ehrhardt (1,885 yards and 11 touchdowns).
Now entering year three, Tennessee Tech head coach Watson Brown
would like to see his team make a leap of improvement like Murray
State did last season. The Golden Eagles won just one Conference
game a season ago but has 18 total starters back on both sides of
the ball and high expectations for 2009. Among the offensive
returners is sophomore wide receiver Tim Benford, last
season’s OVC Freshman of the Year. Benford led the OVC with
68 receptions and tied the Tech single-season record with 10
touchdowns. He will catch those passes from senior quarterback Lee
Sweeney (1,644 yards, 9 touchdowns), who will be attempting to set
many Tennessee Tech career passing marks in 2009. One of the
team’s top offensive weapons is junior Henry Sailes, who not
only led the team in rushing last season (433 yards, 4 touchdowns)
but was second on the squad (to Benford) with 47 catches. Sailes
also showed his versatility by averaging 28.1 yards per kickoff
return (16 attempts). Among the nine defensive starters returning
is junior defensive lineman Charlie Seivers (65 tackles, 5.0 sacks)
a preseason All-OVC selection.
Since returning to scholarship football (2006), Austin Peay will
have its first scholarship recruiting class graduate this season.
Now in its third year back in the OVC, Rick Christophel’s
team looks to improve on its 2-9 overall record (2-6 OVC) from last
season. One area where the Governors should be strong is on defense
where nine starters are back including preseason All-OVC selections
Daniel Becker (102 tackles, 3.0 sacks, 2 interceptions) and Kevis
Buckley (40 tackles, 6 interceptions). Also returning is electric
playmaker Terrence Holt, who has set the OVC single-season record
for kick return yardage in each of his first two seasons in the
league. Last year he averaged 24.7 yards/return including a long of
77. Also returning is sophomore running back Ryan White, who rushed
for a team-high 600 yards as a freshman.
Southeast Missouri has 15 total starters returning from a year
ago. The Redhawks have several key offensive players back in the
fold including preseason All-OVC selection Walter Peoples (65
catches, 903 yards, 6 touchdowns in 2008) and fellow receiver Miles
Edwards (31 catches, 432 yards, 3 touchdowns). The offense will be
directed by sophomore quarterback Matt Scheible, who threw for five
touchdowns and ran for two others in limited time a season ago.
Southeast does have one of the top punters in FCS football in
senior Doug Spada. Spada has earned All-American honors each of the
last two seasons, including last season when he was third in the
country in punting (44.7 yards/punt) and had 15 punts of 50 or more
yards. Spada also handles the placekicking duties for the
Redhawks.
Due to a postseason ban by the NCAA (occasion three historic
penalty of the Academic Progress Rate), in accordance with OVC
by-laws Jacksonville State is not eligible for the OVC Championship
this season. The Gamecocks will still play a full Conference
schedule with wins and losses counting and will be eligible to be
ranked in national polls. Despite not having the opportunity to
participate in the postseason, Jax State should have a good team in
2009. The squad is led by senior quarterback Ryan Perrilloux who
passed for 2,318 yards and 19 touchdowns and rushed for 368 yards
and seven scores in his first season with the team after
transferring from LSU. His athleticism should make JSU a threat on
every offensive possession. Defensively the team returns two
players who have garnered preseason All-American status, linebacker
Alexander Henderson (103 tackles) and defensive back Carnell Clark
(66 tackles, two interceptions).
Preseason Predicted Order of Finish
1. Eastern Kentucky (10 first-place votes) - 105
2. UT Martin (4) - 92
3. Eastern Illinois (2) - 89
4. Tennessee State (1) - 74
5. Murray State (1) - 61
6. Tennessee Tech - 35
7. Austin Peay - 33
Southeast Missouri - 33
*Note: JSU is not eligible for the Conference title and therefore
is not ranked.
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year:
Cade Thompson, UT Martin
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year:
Austen Lane, Murray State
Preseason All-OVC Team
OFFENSE
QB - Cade Thompson, UT Martin
RB - Brandyn Young, UT Martin
RB - C.J. Walker, Eastern Kentucky
WR - Mike Hicks, UT Martin
WR - Derrick Townsel, Murray State
WR - Walter Peoples, Southeast Missouri
TE - DeAngelo Nelson, Murray State
C - Reggie Wade, Jacksonville State
OG - Chaz Millard, Eastern Illinois
OG - Eric Ornella, Murray State
OT - Derek Hardman, Eastern Kentucky
OT - Joe Gibbs, UT Martin
SPECIAL TEAMS
RS - Terrence Holt, Austin Peay
K - Kienan Cullen, Murray State
P - Doug Spada, Southeast Missouri
DEFENSE
DL - Austen Lane, Murray State
DL - Brandt Thomas, Jacksonville State
DL - Chris Hall, Eastern Kentucky
DL - Charlie Seivers, Tennessee Tech
LB - Alexander Henderson, Jacksonville State
LB - Daniel Becker, Austin Peay
LB - Josh Bey, UT Martin
DB - Kevis Buckley, Austin Peay
DB - Carnell Clark, Jacksonville State
DB - Eugene Clifford, Tennessee State
DB - Taylor Lanigan, Murray State
