After the recent news of UTM landing former Utah State running back Abou Toure, they continue adding transfer players with the addition of former Ole Miss baseball player, Jake Overbey.
Overbey is a two-sport athlete who will be playing bot football and baseball for the Skyhawks.
While he will compete for the Skyhawks starting quarterback job this fall, his debut on the diamond may be delayed. Because of rules for transferring players he will have to sit out one year before playing baseball for UTM, but there is currently an appeal being filed with the NCAA.
The Skyhawks spent the spring trying to replace their record setting quarterback Derek Carr, but after spring, there was no clear-cut starter. Overby will compete with the likes of Tyler Rice, Jarod Neal, Dylan Favre and Khalid Hagens for the job of replacing Carr.
While many are hoping that this will put an end to the quarterback battle, head coach Jason Simpson was quick to speak on the possibility of Overbey starting.
“It’s way too premature for that. He hasn’t even been involved in an organized practice yet,” Simpson said in an interview with The Jackson Sun. “The thing everybody’s got to remember, he’s two years removed from football.”
Overbey claimed Tennesee’s Division II-A Mr. Football award in both 2009 and 2010. During his sophomore year, he threw for over 3,000 yards and finished the season as a finalist for the award.
Playing shortstop at USJ he batted .409 his senior season and was drafted in 10th round of the MLB draft by the Philadelphia Phillies. However, he chose to play with his brother, Preston Overbey, at Ole Miss.
The Skyhawks will start fall camp on Aug. 2, as they try to fill the remaining starting roles and prepare for their season opener at UT Chattanooga Thursday, Aug. 29, at 6 p.m.
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