Metrius Fleming

• Article
• April 09, 2021

MARTIN, Tenn. – It’s almost surprising how quickly the eight weeks for the 2020-21 Ohio Valley Conference football season have passed by. From ice and snow on the Tucker Stadium turf on the first week to spring weather on the final week, it’s been an interesting ride. Even as soon as this spring slate wraps up, it won’t be long before the Tennessee Tech football team gets back out on the field and gets ready for the next season. But before it gets to that point, the Golden Eagles have one last order of business before a well-deserved break – beat UT Martin.

• Article
• April 01, 2021

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – When Senior Day usually rolls around in football season, the skies are gray, the leaves are falling and the weather has turned cooler. Saturday, as the Tennessee Tech football team honors its 2020-21 senior class, it’s be the exact opposite – sunny, everything is blooming and spring weather in the air. The page on the calendar may be different, but make no mistake – it’s still football, and there’s still plenty to play for. With Tennessee State coming to town on Saturday, the Sergeant York Trophy is once again in play and the matchup stacks up as an intriguing one. The Easter weekend special kicks off at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. Roger Ealey and Buddy Pearson will broadcast the game on 98.5 KISS FM, while Dylan Vazzano and Sam Brooks will provide the call on ESPN+ (subscription required).

• Article
• March 27, 2021

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – As Tennessee Tech heads into its fifth contest of the 2020-21 spring football season, there’s still plenty to play for entering the final three games of the season. First, the Golden Eagles can secure a winning campaign by taking the last three games. Secondly, with victories over Tennessee State and UT Martin, Tech can claim the Sergeant York Trophy for the 2020-21 campaign. Third, the Golden Eagles can continue the progress it has shown over the course of the season. Tech continues the season on Sunday as the Golden Eagles take on Southeast Missouri on Sunday, starting at 2 p.m. Dylan Vazzano will provide the broadcast on 98.5 KISS FM, while the game will also be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required).

• Article
• March 21, 2021

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois took its beating at the hands of the Tennessee Tech football team in 2019 personally. From the onset of the game, the Panthers put pressure on the Golden Eagles as EIU was ready to shed its winless label. The energy on their sideline, the chanting at the Tech players – they remembered. Oh, how they remembered. Before half of the opening quarter had worn away, Eastern Illinois was up by two scores. It then became a mission for the Golden Eagles to chip away. Tech did, climbing back within four points before halftime. But it wasn’t enough as EIU climbed back out by 18 in the third quarter.

• Article
• March 14, 2021

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It came down to the wire on Sunday as Tennessee Tech and Murray State faced off at Tucker Stadium. While the Golden Eagles’ offense missed several notable pieces in the skill positions and in the trenches, the Tech attackers still put up impressive numbers, especially with Willie Miller and Kurt Taylor Jr. putting together breakout games. However, the Racers were able to capitalize on turnovers. Murray State picked off two passes for touchdowns and forced four turnovers. The final interception on a driving Golden Eagle team in position to win the game turned out to seal the deal though as the Racers took a 36-31 victory on Sunday afternoon.

• Article
• March 12, 2021

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Dean Hood era at Murray State is off to a strong start. There’s no question about his ability to win in the Ohio Valley Conference – after all, he had plenty of success as the head coach at Eastern Kentucky. Now as the head jockey in the stable, Hood has the Racers storming out of the gate, picking up victories over UT Martin and Southeast Missouri to open the spring football slate. On Sunday, their focus is on Tennessee Tech.

• Article
• February 28, 2021

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Defensive players got the spotlight on Sunday as Tennessee Tech and Jacksonville State combined for five turnovers in their final Ohio Valley Conference matchup from Burgess-Snow Field at JSU Stadium. The Golden Eagles had five turnovers, the Gamecocks three as both teams were able to convert into 13 points. However, the JSU defense was able to stall the Golden Eagles on the scoreboard as well, taking a 24-10 victory. Tech falls to 1-1 in the spring OVC schedule and will have an open date next Sunday, scheduled for the OVC Basketball Tournament in Evansville, Ind. JSU (4-1, 1-0 OVC) will make up its postponed game at Tennessee State next Sunday.

• Article
• February 26, 2021

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – The last time Tennessee Tech entered a football game ranked in one of the FCS Top 25 polls was November 26, 2011. The game was the Golden Eagles’ first trip to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs facing Central Arkansas. Ten years later, the Golden Eagles are ranked again, earning the No. 23 spot in the latest Stats Perform FCS Top 25. Another interesting thing happened in 2011 – Tech toppled Jacksonville State on the road 21-14, the Golden Eagles’ only victory on the road in the Ohio Valley Conference series between the two teams since the Gamecocks joined the league in 2003. It was just days over 10 years since Tech had last won in Jacksonville when Grant Swallows helped lead the Golden Eagles to a 35-27 victory in 2001. 2001. 2011. 2021? Could it be fate? Coincidence? Who knows?

• Article
• February 21, 2021

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Sunday was certainly worth the wait for the Tennessee Tech football team. It had been nearly 15 months since the last time the Golden Eagles took to the field, and while it took a little time to get the offense going in the 2020-21 season opener against Austin Peay, Tech certainly finished with a flourish. Trailing 14-3 midway through the third quarter, the Golden Eagles rifled off 24 straight points, then held on in a wild finish, knocking off defending Ohio Valley Conference champion Austin Peay 27-21 at Tucker Stadium on Sunday.

• Article
• February 18, 2021

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It’s been a long wait for football season to arrive. Heck, the last game was in the previous decade. But on Sunday, football is back at Tucker Stadium, ending a nearly 15-month drought of gridiron action, as Tennessee Tech plays host to Austin Peay. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Roger Ealey will provide the radio call for 98.5 KISS FM, while Dylan Vazzano and Sam Brooks handle broadcast duties for ESPN+ (subscription required).

• Article
• August 07, 2020

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It’s been a while since Tennessee Tech has been able to have a full team practice. As the team’s newcomers and freshmen took to the Tucker Stadium turf on Friday, it started to feel like football again.  Spring practice was cut short to the COVID-19 pandemic, just days into workouts. From the middle of March until the last days of July, Tucker Stadium was silent. Last week, the returning players took to the field for conditioning and walkthroughs before the full team was able to reunite. 

• Article
• July 24, 2020

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – As the prep work continues towards the 2020 football season, more outlets are releasing their preseason teams. On Friday, it was Phil Steele’s preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference list and Tennessee Tech came away with 12 selections on the three-team roster. Senior defensive lineman Chris Tucker and sophomore kick return specialist Metrius Fleming were first-team selections, while junior quarterback Bailey Fisher, senior offensive lineman Mike Rhoades, senior defensive lineman Henry Karimu and junior outside linebacker Tai Carter were on the second team. Fleming made a repeat performance on the third-team roster at wide receiver, joined by senior tight end Tavin Kilpatrick, senior defensive line Jale’n Gladney, junior linebacker Seth Carlisle, sophomore defensive back Cameron Hudson and senior punter Luke Maynard.

• Article
• July 20, 2020

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – After one of the best seasons in recent program history and putting together the second-best turnaround in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, it isn’t surprising to see a few Tennessee Tech players on the Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference team as the league released its 2020 preseason squad on Monday morning. The Golden Eagles garnered five preseason picks: junior quarterback Bailey Fisher and senior offensive lineman Mike Rhoades on offense, senior defensive end Chris Tucker and junior outside linebacker Tai Carter on defense and sophomore receiver/kick return specialist Metrius Fleming on special teams. The OVC preseason polls – both the media and coach/SID projections – will be announced at a later date.

• Article
• June 24, 2020

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – With just over two months before the scheduled start of the 2020 college football season, preseason polls and teams are starting to roll out. With HERO Sports’ selections on Tuesday night, the Tennessee Tech football team earned a pair of preseason all-Ohio Valley Conference picks as senior defensive lineman Chris Tucker and sophomore return specialist Metrius Fleming were on the website’s roster.