At 4-3 (2-1 in OVC play) and on a three game win streak, the Skyhawks are in great position to pursue another OVC championship this season after winning the last three years. In pursuit of this accomplishment, the Skyhawks, now ranked 25th in the Stats Perform Top 25 poll, are putting up big numbers that deserve to be highlighted.
Team
First is the team. The Skyhawks and coach Simpson, the run heavy team that they are, currently sit at 1st in the OVC in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns with 172.9 yards per game and 15 rushing touchdowns. Led by running back Patrick Smith and a veteran offensive line corps of LT Jason Eaton-LG Joshua Tingley-C Vance Van Every-RG Drake Carroll-RT Elijah Bowser. Four out of five of which are graduate players.
The Skyhawks also boast the second-best scoring offense in the OVC averaging 31.3 ppg while being first in time of possession in the OVC, averaging 32 minutes per game with the ball. Coach Simpson runs an offense some coaches can only dream of. Controlling the tempo of the game while still putting up points at an elite rate opens up a lot of winning opportunities for the Skyhawks.
Defensively, the Skyhawks have been in the upper echelon of teams especially in run defense. UT Martin is home to the 6th best run defense in the nation for the FCS level allowing only 94.3 yards per game to opponents on the ground. Led by Mid-season All American Jaylon Sharpe, who has taken his game to another level this season, the Skyhawks have stifled any attempts at moving the ball on the ground this season.
Individual
On an individual level, many Skyhawks are showing out this season and popping on stat sheets week in and week out.
Linebacker- Jaylon Sharpe
Sharpe, who transferred to Martin three years ago from his hometown Charlotte 49ers, had been outstanding for the Skyhawks last year, but has kicked his performance up a notch so far this season, recently being named a midseason FCS All-American, with a stat line of 38 tackles and an OVC leading and 7th nationally 11 TFL (tackles for loss). At his current rate, Sharpe is set to more than double his TFL total of 6.5 last year. Sharpe’s best game this season came against Northern Alabama where Sharpe tallied eight tackles with three tackles for loss. Sharpe has really seemed to find his stride recently with back-to-back seven tackle games adding on a pass break up against Gardner-Webb.
Safety- Oshae Baker
Baker, who was named a consensus FCS All-American in the preseason, has lived up to his billing so far and was recently named third team FCS Midseason All-American. A stat line of 30 tackles, 2nd in the OVC two interceptions, one of which he returned 63 yards for a touchdown, and four PBUs (pass breakups). While impressive, this still doesn’t tell the whole story. Baker’s ability to cover large areas of the field while also being a threat to take the ball away at any time keeps him in the back of opposing quarterbacks’ minds 24/7. Baker also leads the OVC in punt return yards per return with 15.1. Meaning he’s a threat to your endzone at all times despite not playing offense.
Running back- Patrick “Cheeks” Smith
Smith, a transfer from Vanderbilt, has been the engine of the Skyhawk offense this season. Leading the OVC in all rushing categories with 749 yards (6th in FCS) on 6.1 yards per carry and ten touchdowns (6th in FCS), Smith has taken advantage of every opportunity he’s received this year, going over 120 yards rushing in five out of seven games so far this season. Smith’s best game so far came against Gardner-Webb where Smith notched three touchdowns and 128 yards on 15 carries.
Corner- JaMichael McGoy Jr.
McGoy Jr. has been a standout corner for the Skyhawks to go along with star Oshae Baker. McGoy Jr. currently ranks 1st in the OVC and 4th in the FCS with nine pass breakups to go along with his 17 tackles, a strip sack and an interception so far this season. McGoy Jr. who was an OVC second team member last season, looks on track to do the same or even better this year if he keeps up his current production. His best game so far has been against North Alabama where he tallied four tackles, a strip sack and an interception.
Linebacker- Chris Hunter Jr.
Tied for 1st in OVC and 5th in FCS with three interceptions to go along with 36 tackles and four tackles for loss. Hunter Jr. has been improving at a steady pace every year since he arrived in Martin in 2020, and this year doesn’t seem to be an exception. Hunter Jr. is on pace to beat all of his totals from last season and has been an integral part of the run and pass defense for the Skyhawks this season. His best game came against Kennesaw State where Hunter Jr. totaled six tackles, a tackle for loss, a QB hit and the game sealing interception.
Other Notables
Receiver- Trevonte Rucker
5th in the OVC in receiving touchdowns with four and 7th in the OVC in receiving yards with 335.
Quarterback- Kinkead Dent
3rd in passing touchdowns in the OVC with eight despite missing a game.
