UT Martin head coach Jason Simpson announced the new signees to the University of Tennessee Martin Football team during a press conference on Wednesday.
Simpson’s class consists of 14 offensive players and 11 defensive players. Of the total 25 new commits, twelve of them are from the state of Tennessee, five from Florida, four from Mississippi and one from Texas, South Carolina, Kansas and Alabama. Six of the 25 commits have already committed to the Skyhawks, signing with UTM back at Mid-Year Signing Day in December.
Entering his tenth season as head coach of the Skyhawks, Simpson was confident in his class this year.
“It’s more rewarding than it is a relief because you got 25 guys coming to your program that chose us,” said Simpson. “We chose them and they chose us, and that’s a neat feeling. That is a very rewarding feeling.”
Below are a list of the 25 new signees to the UTM football team.
Early signees are marked with an *
Olandrious Booker *– OL
- 6-5, 350, Jr.
- Hometown: Lambert, Mississippi
- Previous School: Hinds Community College
- Earned Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges all-state honorable mention accolades as a sophomore at Hinds. Blocked for an offense that ranked 25th in the nation in scoring (28.9 ppg)
Jamie Bowe* – RB
- 5-11, 195, Fr.
- Hometown: Spartanburg, South Carolina
- Previous School: Fork Union Military Academy
- Tallied 19 carries for 1,122 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior in 2012. He also earned Region II-4A all-region accolades his senior year
Parrish Huddleston* – DL
- 6-0, 290, Sr.
- Hometown: Dorsey, Mississippi
- Previous School: UAB
- Played in 11 games for the Blazers last year where he made 16 tackles, including three tackles for loss, two sacks and one while blocking a kick.
Dan Jensen* – OL
- 6-4, 305, Jr.
- Hometown: Wamego, Kansas
- Previous School: Butler Community College
- Blocked for an offense that piled up 474.7Â yards and 45.3 points per game last season.
Chance Key* – TE
- 6-5, 225, Fr.
- Hometown: Brilliant, Alabama
- Previous School: Brilliant High School
- Played quarterback at Brilliant High School where he led the Tigers to a 7-5 record and a second round playoff appearance in 2013. His offense averaged 26.8 points per game. Coach Simpson mentioned in his press conference that he is planning to move him to tight end.
Tyrone Patterson* – OL
- 6-2, 315, Jr.
- Hometown: Gautier, Mississippi
- Previous School: Jones County JC
- Started every game at offensive tackle for Jones County JC in 2014. He also earned second team All-Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges honors.
Isaac Chapman – OL
- 6-4, 305, Fr.
- Hometown: Oak Ridge, Tennessee
- Previous School: Oak Ridge High School
- Played guard for an Oak Ridge team that averaged 37 points and 297 yards per game. He also represented Tennessee in the Kentucky-Tennessee National Guard Border Bowl. Was named a 5A Preseason all-state honoree by the Chattanoogan and Knoxville News Sentinel second team All-Prep/Xtra selection.
Colton Sander – OL
- 6-6, 320, Fr.
- Hometown: Oviedo, Florida
- Previous School: Oviedo High School
- Helped guide the Lions to a 7-4 record his senior season.
Wilfred Taylor – WR
- 5-8, 160, Fr.
- Hometown: Daytona Beach, Florida
- Previous School: Mainland High School
- Recorded 66 receptions for 1,047 yards and nine touchdowns his senior season. Taylor was also named Class 6A all-state honorable mention selection by the Associated Press.
Joey Cave – OL
- 6-5, 275, Fr.
- Hometown: Knoxville, Tennessee
- Previous School: Hardin Valley Academy
- Played on offensive and defensive line for the Hawks. During his senior season, Cave recorded 58 tackles, four tackles for loss, three sacks and a fumble recovery. Cave also earned All-Region 4AAA accolades his senior year.
Jaylon Moore – WR
- 6-2, 180, Fr.
- Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee
- Previous School: Mitchell High School
- Recorded 53 receptions for 1,147 recieving yards and 15 touchdowns his senior season. Moore also earned first team All-District 16A accolades and Class 2A all-state honors by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association
Austin Newsom – DL
- 6-5, 325, Fr.
- Hometown: Charlotte, Tennessee
- Previous School: Creek Wood High School
- Newsom was an all-district ofensive lineman and participated in the 2014 Offense Defense All-American Game in Orlando, Florida. Newsome also played on defense where he
Terry Fultz – DL
- 6-6, 250, Fr.
- Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee
- Previous School: Ridgeway High School
- Fultz earned Class 5A first team all-state defensive lineman accolades by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association in 2013. Fultz also guided Ridgeway to a 12-2 record last year and was highlighted as a “Best of the Preps” honoree by the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
Brandon Anderson – DB
- 5-10, 180, Fr.
- Hometown: Frisco, Texas
- Previous School: Centennial High School
- Recorded 122 tackles his senior season at Centennial, including two 20-plus tackle games and six double-digit tackle games.
Donald Cofield Jr. – OL
- 6-3, 300, Fr.
- Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee
- Previous School: Whitehaven High School
- Helped the Whitehaven Tigers to a 14-1 record. Cofield Jr. also earned Memphis Commercial Appeal first team All-District 16AAA defensive tackle honors last season.
Kevin Prather Jr. – LB
- 6-1, 200, Fr.
- Hometown: Murfreesboro, Tennessee
- Previous School: Oakland High School
- Tallied 119 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. He also earned Class 6A all-state honors by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association and was named District 7AAA Defensive MVP twice.
Malik Harris – LB
- 6-2, 215, Fr.
- Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
- Previous School: Maplewood High School
- Recorded 105 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, eight sacks, four forced fumbles and 30 quarterback hurries in his senior season. Harris also earned Metro Coaches Association all-city team honors in 2014 and was named a top metro recruit by the Tennessee Tribune.
Lonnie Underwood – RB
- 5-10, 195, Fr.
- Hometown: Lake City, Florida
- Previous School: Columbia High School
- Rushed for over 1,100 yards and more than 20 touchdowns his senior season. He was also named Class 6A second team all-state by the Associated Press.
Christopher Turner Jr. – TE
- 6-5, 250, Fr.
- Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee
- Previous School: KIPP Collegiate School
- Earned All-District 16A honors by the Memphis Commercial Appeal for both tight end and linebacker his senior season.
Kyle Akin – QB
- 6-2, 200, Fr.
- Hometown: Jackson, Tennessee
- Previous School: Trinity Christian Academy
- Ended his high school career for the TCA Lions as the TSSAA all-time leader in career passing yards (11,131). Akin was named All-West Player of the Year by the Jackson Sun and won the Tennessee Titans Mr. Football Class A Back of the Year. Led the Lions to two District 15-A championships and two Class 2A state semifinal berths.
Rakeem Battle – DB
- 5-10, 170, So.
- Hometown: Lake City, Florida
- Previous School: Southwest Mississippi Community College
- Recorded 23 tackles and three pass breakups his freshman year at SWCC. Battle also earned Class 6A all-state third team honors in 2013.
Koreyon Jordan – LB
- 6-2, 225, Fr.
- Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
- Previous School: Pearl-Cohn High School
- Recorded 110 tackles, eight tackles for loss, seven sacks, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries his senior year. Jordan was also named a top metro recruit by the Tennessee Tribune and earned Metro Coaches Association all-city team honors in 2014.
Julian Crutchfield – DL
- 6-5, 265, Fr.
- Hometown: Lebanon, Tennessee
- Previous School: Lebanon High School
- Crutchfield earned All-District 9AAA accolades after leading his team in tackles for loss and sacks. Played both defensive end and tight end for Lebanon. Crutchfield also participated in the Toyota East-West Tennessee All-Star game.
Anthony Pearson – DB
- 6-0, 175, Fr.
- Hometown: Vero Beach, Florida
- Previous School: Vero Beach High School
- Recorded eight interceptions last season and was selected as a Scripps Super 11 honoree.
Preston Baker – RB
- 5-10, 215, Jr.
- Hometown: Starkville, Mississippi
- Previous School: East Mississippi Community College
- Rushed 119 times for 615 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. He also caught 21 passes for 227 yard and three touchdowns. Helped led East Mississippi CC to back-to-back NJCAA national championships and a perfect 24-0 record.
Photo Credit/Jared Peckenpaugh
