Exactly 14 months since it last took the field in an official capacity, the UTM football team began its 2020-21 season preparations with its first practice at Hardy Graham Stadium.
Jason Simpson enters his 15th season at the helm of the Skyhawk football program as the longest tenured head coach in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) presides over a roster that returns 14 starters. UTM is coming off a 7-5 record in 2019 – finishing one game out of first place in the OVC standings with a 6-2 mark in league play.
The Skyhawks return eight starters from an offense that ranked second in the OVC in scoring (30.5 points per game). That includes wide receiver (WR) Colton Dowell, who garnered Preseason All-American first team accolades after tallying 38 receptions, 765 yards and four touchdowns in 2019. Preseason All-OVC honoree Peyton Logan (784 rushing yards, six touchdowns in nine games) and John Bachus III (2,549 passing yards, 18 touchdowns against nine interceptions) are also back for UTM.
After leading the OVC in scoring defense (19.5 points allowed per game) in 2019, the Skyhawks bring back six starters on that side of the ball. That includes senior safety JaQuez Akins (92 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, six pass breakups) and redshirt senior defensive lineman Austin Pickett (38 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks) – each of whom garnered Preseason All-OVC mentions.
UTM’s abbreviated seven-game slate begins with a home matchup against Eastern Illinois on Feb. 21. The Skyhawks additionally host Jacksonville State (March 14), Southeast Missouri (April 3) and Tennessee Tech (April 11) at Hardy Graham Stadium this spring while making short trips to Murray State (Feb. 28), Austin Peay (March 21) and Tennessee State (March 28).
A limited number of season tickets and Champions Club memberships are on sale now. Call the Skyhawk Ticket Office at (731) 881-7207 for more information.
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