2024 UT Martin Skyhawks football team explained

Year:	2024
Team:	UT Martin Skyhawks
Sport:	football
Conference:	Big South–OVC football
Short Conf:	Big South–OVC
Statsrank:	23
Fcscoachrank:	20
Record:	9–4
Conf Record:	6–2
Head Coach:	Jason Simpson
Hc Year:	19th
Off Coach:	Kevin Bannon
Oc Year:	9th
Def Coach:	Brandon Butcher
Dc Year:	2nd
Stadium:	Graham Stadium
Champion:	Big South–OVC co-champion
Bowl:	NCAA Division I playoffs

The 2024 UT Martin Skyhawks football team will represent the University of Tennessee at Martin as a member of the Big South-OVC Football Association during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by 19th-year head coach Jason Simpson, the Skyhawks will play home games at Graham Stadium in Martin, Tennessee.

Preseason

Preseason poll

The Big South-OVC Conference released their preseason poll on July 17, 2024. The Skyhawks were picked to finish first in the conference.^[1]

1	UT Martin	61 (5)
2	Eastern Illinois	53 (2)
3	Southeast Missouri State	51 (2)
4	Tennessee State	41
5	Gardner-Webb	740
6	Charleston Southern	27
7	Tennessee Tech	24
8	Lindenwood	18
9	Western Illinois	9

Preseason All–Big South-OVC Teams

The Big South-OVC announced the 2024 preseason all-conference football team selections on August 2, 2024. UTM had a total of thirteen players selected.^[2]

Offense

1st Team

• Narkel LeFlore – Running back, SR
• DeVonte Tanksley – Wide receiver, SR
• Drake Carroll – Offensive lineman, SR

2nd Team

• Kinkead Dent – Quarterback, SR
• Zoe Roberts – Wide receiver, SR
• Josiah Tingley – Offensive lineman, JR
• Vance Van Every – Offensive lineman, SR

Defense

1st Team

• Jaylon Sharpe – Linebacker, SR
• Oshae Baker – Defensive back, SR
• JaMichael McGoy Jr. – Defensive back, JR

2nd Team

• Josh Hastings – Defensive back, SR

3rd Team

• Charles Perkins – Defensive lineman, SO

Special Teams

1st Team

• Narkel LeFlore – Kick returner and all-purpose, SR

2nd Team

• Oshae Baker – Punt returner, SR
• Colton Peoples – Long snapper, SR

Transfers

Outgoing

Jordan Castleberry	RB	Akron
DJ Nelson	TE	Alabama A&M
Cornelious Brown IV	QB	Alabama A&M
David Stewart	OLB	Chattanooga
Giovanni Davis	DL	FIU
Aidan Laros	K/P	Kentucky
Sam Franklin	RB	Oklahoma
Brett Kuczynski	LB	Stetson
Daylan Dotson	DL	UCF
Austin Bray	TE	Youngstown State

Incoming

Dashaun Davis	WR	Appalachian State
Deshawn McKnight	DL	Appalachian State
Chris Rhodes	DB	Arkansas
Jai’Lun Hampton	OL	Charlotte
Doug Newsome	DB	Charlotte
Mario Eugenio	DL	Cincinnati
Xavier McIver	DL	East Carolina
Julian Calvez	QB	Grambling State
Keyshawn Johnson	DL	Grambling State
Edward Smith	WR	Grambling State
Tyler Dostin	TE	Kent State
Kaiya Sheron	QB	Kentucky
Preston Yarber	OL	Lamar
Elijah Bowser	OL	Louisiana Tech
Bryce Bailey	WR	Middle Tennessee
Dolapo Egunjobi	OL	North Dakota
Robert Johnson	DB	North Texas
Jamarii Robinson	WR	Northern Colorado
Hyatt Timosciek	TE	Northern Illinois
Devin Queen	WR	Old Dominion
Scottie Alexander	WR	Tulsa
Jaden Moore	LB	Tulsa
Patrick Smith	RB	Vanderbilt
Rashad Raymond	RB	VMI

^{[3] [4] [5]}

Schedule

^{[6] [7]}

Game summaries

at No. 18 (FBS) Kansas State

See also: 2024 Kansas State Wildcats football team.

Statistics	UTM	KSU
First downs	8	20
Total yards	134	449
Rushing yards	36	283
Passing yards	98	166
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	10-17-0	16-25-1
Time of possession	33:30	26:30

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UT Martin	Passing	Kinkead Dent	7/14, 87 yards
Rushing	Patrick Smith	9 carries, 23 yards
Receiving	Trevonte Rucker	1 reception, 45 yards
Kansas State	Passing		14/24, 153 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing	D.J. Giddens	13 carries, 128 yards
Receiving	Jayce Brown	5 receptions, 71 yards

at Southeast Missouri State

See also: 2024 Southeast Missouri State Redhawks football team.

Statistics	UTM	SEMO
First downs	22	24
Total yards	470	365
Rushing yards	193	-11
Passing yards	277	376
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	23–33–0	34–64–0
Time of possession	38:13	21:47

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UT Martin	Passing	Kinkead Dent	23/33, 277 yards, 4 TD
Rushing	Patrick Smith	26 carries, 148 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	DeVonte Tanksley	7 receptions, 113 yards
Southeast Missouri State	Passing	Paxton DeLaurent	34/63, 376 yards, 6 TD
Rushing	Payton Brown	2 carries, 3 yards
Receiving	Dorian Anderson	8 receptions, 127 yards, 2 TD

vs. North Alabama

See also: 2024 North Alabama Lions football team.

Statistics	UNA	UTM
First downs	16	21
Total yards	377	416
Rushing yards	122	193
Passing yards	255	223
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	14-33-3	18-35-2
Time of possession	27:48	32:12

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
North Alabama	Passing	DC Tabscott	6/13, 149 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing	Dennis Moody	6 carries, 53 yards
Receiving	Takairee Kenebrew	5 receptions, 173 yards, 2 TD
UT Martin	Passing	Kaiya Sheron	14/18, 170 yards, 1 TD
Rushing	Patrick Smith	15 carries, 123 yards, 2 TD
Receiving	Trevonte Rucker	6 receptions, 83 yards, 2 TD

vs. Missouri State

See also: 2024 Missouri State Bears football team.

Statistics	MOST	UTM
First downs	19	19
Total yards	403	308
Rushing yards	15	95
Passing yards	388	213
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	26–34–0	20–28–0
Time of possession	30:06	29:54

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Missouri State	Passing	Jacob Clark	26/33, 388 yards, 3 TD
Rushing	Jacardia Wright	16 carries, 22 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	Lance Mason	3 receptions, 94 yards
UT Martin	Passing	Kaiya Sheron	20/27, 213 yards, 2 TD
Rushing	Patrick Smith	16 carries, 63 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	Trevonte Rucker	6 receptions, 73 yards

at Kennesaw State (FBS)

See also: 2024 Kennesaw State Owls football team.

Statistics	UTM	KENN
First downs	16	13
Total yards	292	215
Rushing yards	160	66
Passing yards	132	149
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	13–23–1	17–35–2
Time of possession	31:11	28:49

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UT Martin	Passing	Kinkead Dent	13/23, 132 yards, INT
Rushing	Patrick Smith	24 carries, 123 yards, 2 TD
Receiving	Tyler Dostin	3 receptions, 41 yards
Kennesaw State	Passing	Davis Bryson	16/34, 132 yards, 2 INT
Rushing	Davis Bryson	6 carries, 27 yards
Receiving	Blake Bohannon	4 receptions, 54 yards

vs. Gardner–Webb

See also: 2024 Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs football team.

Statistics	GWEB	UTM
First downs	17	21
Total yards	303	402
Rushing yards	146	235
Passing yards	157	167
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	15–24–1	15–25–0
Time of possession	29:21	30:39

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Gardner–Webb	Passing	Tyler Ridell	10/14, 145 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing	Edward Saydee	17 carries, 112 yards
Receiving	Giovanni Adopte	3 receptions, 52 yards
UT Martin	Passing	Kinkead Dent	15/23, 167 yards, 1 TD
Rushing	Patrick Smith	15 carries, 128 yards, 3 TD
Receiving	Tyler Dostin	3 receptions, 66 yards, 1 TD

at Western Illinois

See also: 2024 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team.

Statistics	UTM	WIU
First downs	27	18
Total yards	541	294
Rushing yards	306	40
Passing yards	235	254
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	20–28–1	27–49–0
Time of possession	32:09	27:51

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UT Martin	Passing	Kinkead Dent	16/21, 194 yards, 2 TD
Rushing	Patrick Smith	17 carries, 145 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	Max Dowling	3 receptions, 88 yards, 2 TD
Western Illinois	Passing	Nathan Lamb	20/33, 158 yards
Rushing	Cameren Smith	13 carries, 27 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	Tristin Duncan	4 receptions, 45 yards

vs. Eastern Illinois

See also: 2024 Eastern Illinois Panthers football team.

Statistics	EIU	UTM
First downs	23	20
Total yards	396	460
Rushing yards	48	212
Passing yards	348	248
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	36–54–3	16–23–0
Time of possession	32:16	27:44

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Eastern Illinois	Passing	Pierce Holley	36/54, 348 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT
Rushing	MJ Flowers	14 carries, 49 yards
Receiving	Cooper Willman	11 receptions, 143 yards, 1 TD
UT Martin	Passing	Kinkead Dent	16/22, 248 yards, 3 TD
Rushing	Patrick Smith	13 carries, 87 yards, 2 TD
Receiving	Max Dowling	3 receptions, 70 yards, 2 TD

at No. 25 Tennessee State

See also: 2024 Tennessee State Tigers football team and Sgt. York Trophy.

Statistics	UTM	TNST
First downs	22	25
Total yards	370	354
Rushing yards	104	42
Passing yards	266	312
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	18–27–1	33–54–2
Time of possession	30:35	29:25

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UT Martin	Passing	Kinkead Dent	18/27, 266 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT
Rushing	Patrick Smith	16 carries, 73 yards
Receiving	Tyler Dostin	4 receptions, 87 yards
Tennessee State	Passing	Draylen Ellis	33/53, 153 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing	Draylen Ellis	5 carries, 29 yards
Receiving	Jalal Dean	11 receptions, 118 yards, 1 TD

at Charleston Southern

See also: 2024 Charleston Southern Buccaneers football team.

Statistics	UTM	CHSO
First downs	21	12
Total yards	491	209
Rushing yards	237	94
Passing yards	254	115
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	13–26–0	14–27–3
Time of possession	33:06	26:17

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UT Martin	Passing	Kinkead Dent	13/26, 254 yards, 2 TD
Rushing	Patrick Smith	15 carries, 123 yards
Receiving	DeVonte Tanksley	5 receptions, 128 yards, 2 TD
Charleston Southern	Passing	Rob McCoy Jr	12/23, 97 yards, 3 INT
Rushing	Autavius Ison	14 carries, 42 yards
Receiving	Noah Jennings	6 receptions, 52 yards

vs. Tennessee Tech

See also: 2024 Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles football team and Sgt. York Trophy.

Statistics	TNTC	UTM
First downs	13	9
Total yards	247	185
Rushing yards	107	43
Passing yards	140	142
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	16–31–1	13–32–2
Time of possession	33:14	26:46

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Tennessee Tech	Passing	Dylan Laible	15/29, 128 yds, 1 INT
Rushing	Jalen Mitchell	11 carries, 62 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	D.J. Linkins	3 receptions, 56 yards
UT Martin	Passing	Kinkead Dent	13/32, 142 yds, 2 INT
Rushing	Kinkead Dent	13 carries, 20 yards
Receiving	Trevonte Rucker	2 receptions, 51 yards

vs. Lindenwood

See also: 2024 Lindenwood Lions football team.

Statistics	LIN	UTM
First downs	21	20
Total yards	425	445
Rushing yards	98	173
Passing yards	327	272
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	27–45–2	18–27–1
Time of possession	30:44	29:16

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Lindenwood	Passing	Nate Glantz	27/45, 327 yards, 2 INT
Rushing	Nate Glantz	17 carries, 42 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	Jeff Caldwell	7 receptions, 78 yards
UT Martin	Passing	Kinkead Dent	18/27, 272 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
Rushing	Patrick Smith	15 carries, 80 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	Trevonte Rucker	5 receptions, 87 yards, 2 TD

at No. 19 New Hampshire (NCAA Division I Playoff–First Round)

See also: 2024 New Hampshire Wildcats football team.

Statistics	UTM	UNH
First downs	22	6
Total yards	482	124
Rushing yards	236	53
Passing yards	246	71
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	17–27–0	14–35–1
Time of possession	38:03	19:46

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UT Martin	Passing	Kinkead Dent	17/26, 246 yds
Rushing	Patrick Smith	15 carries, 71 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	Trevonte Rucker	9 receptions, 88 yards
New Hampshire	Passing	Seth Morgan	14/35, 71 yds, 1 INT
Rushing	Caleb Mead	5 carries, 36 yards
Receiving	Caleb Burke	3 receptions, 23 yards

at No. 1 Montana State (NCAA Division I Playoff–Second Round)

See also: 2024 New Hampshire Wildcats football team.

Statistics	UTM	MTST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UT Martin	Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Montana State	Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Conference awards and honors

Skyhawk players received player of the week recognition four times during the season.

Weekly awards

Weekly honors!style=""

Honors	Player	Position	Date Awarded	Ref.
nowrap	BS-OVC Special Teams Player of the Week	Jaren Van Winkle	K/P	September 16, 2024	^[8]
nowrap	BS-OVC Co-Defensive Player of the Week	Oshae Baker	S	September 30, 2024	^[9]
nowrap	BS-OVC Defensive Player of the Week	Jaylon Sharpe	LB	October 28, 2024	^[10]
BS-OVC Special Teams Player of the Week	Jaren Van Winkle	K/P	November 11, 2024	^[11]

Postseason All–Big South-OVC Teams

The Big South-OVC Conference announced the 2024 all-conference football team selections on November 26, 2024. UT Martin had a total of twelve players selected.^[12]

Offense

1st Team

• Patrick Smith – Running back, SR
• Vance Van Every, Offensive lineman, GR
• Drake Carroll, Offensive lineman, GR

2nd Team

• Charles Perkins, Defensive lineman, R-SO
• Christian Dowell, Defensive lineman, SR
• Jaylon Sharpe, Linebacker, GR
• Tevin Shipp, Linebacker, GR
• Oshae Baker, Defensive back, SR
• JaMichael McGoy Jr., Defensive back, R-JR

Defense

1st Team

• Trevonte Rucker, Wide receiver, SR
• Max Dowling, Tight end, R-SO
• Josiah Tingley, Offensive lineman, GR

2nd Team

• Chris Hunter Jr., Linebacker, GR

Special Teams

1st Team

• Oshae Baker, Punt returner, SR

2nd Team

• Colton Peoples, Long snapper, JR

Notes and References

1. Web site: UT Martin Voted 2024 Preseason Big South-OVC Football Association Favorite . www.bigsouthovcfootball.com . July 17, 2024 . 20 November 2024 . en.
2. Web site: Phil Steele Tabs Oshae Baker To All-American Squad; 13 Skyhawks Earn All-Conference Honors . utmsports.com . 5 August 2024 . 20 November 2024 . en.
3. Web site: 2024 FCS-to-FCS Transfers . herosports . en.
4. Web site: 2024 FBS-to-FCS Transfers . herosports . en.
5. Web site: 2024 FCS-to-FBS Transfers . herosports . en.
6. Web site: 2024 UT Martin Football Schedule . FBSchedules . 27 June 2024.
7. Web site: 2024 Football Schedule . UTM Athletics . 27 June 2024.
8. Web site: Football Players of the Week - September 16 . Big South-OVC . December 1, 2024 . September 16, 2024.
9. Web site: Football Players of the Week - September 30 . Big South-OVC . December 1, 2024 . September 30, 2024.
10. Web site: Football Players of the Week - October 28 . Big South-OVC . December 1, 2024 . October 28, 2024.
11. Web site: Football Players of the Week - November 11 . Big South-OVC . December 1, 2024 . November 11, 2024.
12. Web site: 2024 Big South-OVC All-Conference Teams and Award Winners Announced . Big South-OVC Conference . November 27, 2024 . November 26, 2024.