Ohio Valley Conference

Teleconference Audio
Below is embedded audio from this week's OVC Football Coaches media teleconference. For a listing of this week's games and previews scroll down below the audio links.



This Week’s Schedule
 
Thursday, September 3
#25 Eastern Illinois at Western Illinois, 6:00 p.m. (ESPN3)
Valparaiso at #17 Eastern Kentucky, 6:00 p.m. (OVC Digital Network)
Kentucky Wesleyan at Murray State, 6:00 p.m. (OVC Digital Network)

Saturday, September 5
UT Martin at #15 Ole Miss, 11:00 a.m. (SEC Network)
Southeast Missouri at #23 Missouri, 3:00 p.m. (SEC Network)
Mercer at Austin Peay, 4:00 p.m. (OVC Digital Network)
#7 Jacksonville State at #8 Chattanooga, 5:00 p.m. (SoCon Digital Network)
Tennessee Tech at Houston, 7:00 p.m. (ESPN3)

Sunday, September 6
Alabama State at Tennessee State, 6:00 p.m. (OVC Digital Network)

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#25 Eastern Illinois Panthers (0-0, 0-0 OVC)
at Western Illinois Fighting Leathernecks (0-0, 0-0 MVFC)
Thursday, Sept. 3 • 6:00 p.m. CT
Hanson Field (16,368) • Macomb, Ill.
TV:...................................................................... ESPN3
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/wiu/football/media/
Series Record:..................... Western Illinois leads 40-21-4
Last Meeting:.............. Western Illinois won 48-9 (11/39/02)
Kim Dameron at Eastern Illinois:......................... 5-7 (1 yr.)
Kim Dameron Overall:.............................................. same
Bob Nielson at Western Illinois:...................... 9-15 (2 yrs.)
Bob Nielson Overall:.............................. 179-74-1 (22 yrs.)
Eastern Illinois Last Week:.......................................... Idle
Western Illinois Last Week:......................................... Idle
 
GAME NOTES: In-state rivals Eastern Illinois and Western Illinois will meet in the regular season for the first time since 1997 on Thursday night. The former Gateway Conference rivals last played in a FCS Playoff game in 2002 (which WIU won in Tony Romo’s final college game) and begin a two-year home-and-home this season. Western has won the last three games in the series (including the last two by an 89-9 margin) with Eastern last winning at home in 1995 (20-17). The two programs played every year from 1934 to 1997. Eastern Illinois is opening the season on a Thursday night for just the 16th time; the Panthers are 10-5 all-time in those contests.
 
SCOUTING EASTERN ILLINOIS: Eastern Illinois enters its second year under head coach Kim Dameron ranked No. 25 in the FCS Coaches Poll (and unofficially No. 26 in the STATS media poll); it marks the third-straight season the team enters the year nationally-ranked. The Panthers, coming off a 5-7 season, were picked second in the OVC preseason coaches/SID poll and in the media poll. The team returns senior quarterback Jalen Whitlow who earned second-team All-OVC honors last year after accounting for 27 touchdowns (15 passing, 12 rushing). Whitlow is one of 30 players nationally named to the CFPA FCS Player of the Year Watch List. Although only one of the team’s top five receivers return from last year, the Panthers backfield is loaded and should help the EIU offense not miss a beat. Shepard Little is back after rushing for 792 yards and 12 touchdowns despite missing time due to an injury (he gained 1,548 yards from scrimmage the prior season). The backfield also includes several first-year FBS transfers in Korliss Marshall (Arkansas), Devin Church (Illinois) and Jerron Seymour (Vanderbilt). Defensively among the team’s returning players is Preseason All-American linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill who had 97 tackles and three interceptions a season ago.
 
SCOUTING WESTERN ILLINOIS: Western Illinois is coming off a 5-7 season and 3-5 record in the tough Missouri Valley Football Conference in what was the second year under head coach Bob Nielson. The Leathernecks played what was ranked as the fifth-toughest schedule in the nation in 2014 and was picked eighth in the MVFC preseason poll. The team’s schedule looks tough again as all 10 FCS opponents on this year’s slate received votes in the Top 25 preseason polls with eight of those being ranked in the Top 25. Wide receiver Lance Lenoir, Jr. was tabbed a Preseason All-American after hauling in 75 receptions during the 2014 campaign. Lenoir also had seven touchdown catches and averaged 85.8 yards/game (23rd nationally). Junior quarterback Trenton Norvell was one of 30 selected nationally to the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) Player of the Year watch List; a year ago he threw for 2,891 yards and 24 touchdowns. Junior offensive lineman Matt Zobrist was tabbed a preseason All-MVFC pick after helping block for a 1,200-yard rusher and near 3,000-yard passer a season ago. WIU has been tough at home and is 31-4 against non-conference teams at Hanson Field since 1999; they bring a nine-game non-conference home winning streak into this season. The Leathernecks have also won 10 of its last 11 season-opening games against fellow FCS opponents.
 
 
Valparaiso Crusaders (0-0, 0-0 Pioneer)
at #17 Eastern Kentucky Colonels (0-0, 0-0 OVC)
Thursday, Sept. 3 • 6:00 p.m. CT
Roy Kidd Stadium (20,000) • Richmond, Ky.
TV:................................................... OVC Digital Network
Live Stats:........ http://www.sidearmstats.com/eku/football/
Series Record:........................ Eastern Kentucky leads 2-1
Last Meeting:.......... Eastern Kentucky won 18-0 (10/25/47)
Dave Cecchini at Valparaiso:............................. 4-8 (1 yr.)
Dave Cecchini Overall:............................................. same
Dean Hood at Eastern Kentucky:.................. 49-33 (7 yrs.)
Dean Hood Overall:................................................. same
Valparaiso Last Week:................................................ Idle
Eastern Kentucky Last Week:..................................... Idle
 
GAME NOTES: Eastern Kentucky and Valparaiso will kick off the 2015 season on Thursday night in the first meeting between the schools since 1947. The two schools squared off against each other in three consecutive years from 1945 to 1947 and have not played since. The Crusaders won the first meeting in the all-time series by a 7-6 margin while the Colonels won the last two meetings by margins of 12-7 and 18-0. this marks just the fourth time in the 2000s that EKU has opened the season at home (2000, 2005 and 2013 being the other years); EKU has won two of the three previous home openers over that time period.
 
SCOUTING VALPARAISO: Valparaiso, a member of the non-scholarship Pioneer Football League, is projected to finish ninth in the PFL this season in a preseason vote of league head coaches. Valpo is coming off a four-win season in the first season under head coach Dave Cecchini, who was previously the offensive coordinator at Lehigh, where he was an All-American wide receiver during his playing days. The four victories a season ago were the most by the program since the 2007 season. Senior linebacker Alex Green was a Preseason All-PFL selection after tallying 108 tackles a season ago (and earning All-Academic honors as well). He helped key a defense that saw a 156-point defensive improvement from the prior season.
 
SCOUTING EASTERN KENTUCKY: A season ago Eastern Kentucky won nine games and earned an at-large berth to the FCS Playoffs, marking its 21st all-time appearance in the championship (second-most all-time).  This season the Colonels enter the year ranked No. 17 in both major FCS Top 25 polls and were picked second in the OVC media preseason poll and third in the OVC preseason coaches poll. Among the team’s returning players is 2015 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Dy’Shawn Mobley. In his first season with EKU, Mobley rushed for 20 touchdowns (the sixth-highest total nationally) and 1,491 yards (the 12th-most yards nationally) in earning OVC Offensive Player of the Year honors and being named a finalist for the Walter Payton Award. Mobley averaged 138.5 yards/game of total offense and tied an OVC record with six total touchdowns (5 rushing, 1 receiving) in a game. The EKU offense is protected by an offensive line that includes a pair of players on the Preseason All-OVC Team in seniors Trey Shelton and Brett Eyckmans. A season ago the EKU defense ranked second nationally in turnovers gained with 33; this year the team will be bolstered by senior Stanley Absanon who is a Preseason All-OVC selection after intercepting four passes a year ago. The Colonels defensive unit also includes Ohio State transfer Noah Spence, who earned first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2013. This marks the fourth-straight season the Colonels have played a team from the Pioneer Football League (the last three games were all against Morehead State).
 
 
Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers (0-0)
at Murray State Racers (0-0, 0-0 OVC)
Thursday, Sept. 3 • 6:00 p.m. CT
Roy Stewart Stadium (16,800) • Murray, Ky.
TV:................................................... OVC Digital Network
Live Stats: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=91970
Series Record:............................... Murray State leads 3-0
Last Meeting:................ Murray State won 86-29 (10/25/14)
Brent Holsclaw at Kentucky Wesleyan:........ 27-80 (12 yrs.)
Brent Holsclaw Overall:............................................ same
Mitch Stewart at Murray State:...................... First season
Mitch Stewart Overall:.............................................. same
Kentucky Wesleyan Last Week:.................................. Idle
Murray State Last Week:............................................. Idle
 
GAME NOTES: Murray State begins its first season under new head coach Mitch Stewart by hosting Kentucky Wesleyan at “The Track” on Thursday night. The game will be the fourth all-time meeting between the schools and second in as many years. A season ago MSU topped KWC by an 86-29 margin on October 25.  The Racers racked up 720 yards of total offense as Pokey Harris rushed for 176 yards and a touchdown and returned a kickoff for a score while quarterback KD Humphries completed 19-of-23 passes for 293 yards and two scores. Dalton Oliver passed for 336 yards and two touchdowns for the Panthers. Murray State is 61-25-4 all-time in season openers.
 
SCOUTING KENTUCKY WESLEYAN: Kentucky Wesleyan is coming off a 7-4 record last season under head coach Brent Holsclaw; the 7-4 mark tied the best record ever by the program (first established in 1999). This season the Division II Panthers will play three teams from the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) including MSU, East Tennessee State and Davidson. This preseason wide receiver Keelan Cole has been named a Preseason All-American by several different outlets after catching 21 touchdowns as a junior in 2014. A season ago he also had 1,516 receiving yards and was No. 10 in the nation with 170.5 all-purpose yards/game. KWC currently plays as an independent in football as its conference - the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) - is in the process of adding football in 2017.
 
SCOUTING MURRAY STATE: Mitch Stewart, the only new head coach in the OVC this season, takes over the program after five years as an assistant coach (the last four as the team’s offensive coordinator) with the Racers. The 18th head coach in MSU history, Stewart is looking to become the first Racer head coach to win his debut since 2000. Stewart helped the Racers offense rank 15th nationally in total offense (468.3 yards/game) and scoring offense (36.6 points/game) a season ago. He will continue to work with junior quarterback KD Humphries who emerged as the MSU starter a season ago. Humphries led all FCS players in completions/game (26.5) last season while ranking fourth nationally in completion percentage (67.4%), sixth in passing yards/game (290.3) and eighth in total offense (306.5 yards/game). Humphries has seven other offensive starters returning including Preseason All-OVC wide receiver Janawski Davis who caught 63 passes for 909 yards and 13 touchdowns a year ago. While the team will look to improve its defensive rankings from a year ago, they do return Preseason All-OVC linebacker Jonathan Jackson who tallied 135 total tackles (the fourth-most per game nationally last season) in 2014.
 
 
UT Martin Skyhawks (0-0, 0-0 OVC)
at #15 Ole Miss Rebels (0-0, 0-0 SEC)
Saturday, Sept. 5 • 11:00 a.m. CT
Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (59,347) • Oxford, Miss.
TV:............................................................. SEC Network
Live Stats:................................. www.OleMissSports.com
Series Record:............................................. First meeting
Last Meeting:.............................................................. n/a
Jason Simpson at UT Martin:....................... 58-45 (9 yrs.)
Jason Simpson Overall:........................................... same
Hugh Freeze at Ole Miss:............................. 24-15 (3 yrs.)
Hugh Freeze Overall:.................................... 54-22 (5 yrs.)
UT Martin Last Week:................................................. Idle
Ole Miss Last Week:.................................................. Idle
 
GAME NOTES: UT Martin will open the 2015 season on Saturday when it travels to nationally-ranked Ole Miss for the first-ever meeting between the two schools. The Skyhawks are 1-18 all-time against teams from the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) with that one win coming in 2012 when they topped Memphis 20-17. This marks the third-straight FBS opponent from the SEC that the Skyhawks have played; UTM lost to Kentucky and No. 1 Mississippi State a season ago.
 
SCOUTING UT MARTIN: UT Martin begins its 10th season under head coach Jason Simpson who has won 58 total games in his tenure at the school, a mark that ranks 10th in OVC history. After guiding the team to a 5-3 OVC record a season ago, Simpson’s team returns six offensive and seven defensive players this year in addition to six FBS transfers. Included in the returning starters is quarterback Jarod Neal. Last year Neal completed 63.5 percent of his passes for 1,880 yards and 14 touchdowns while also rushing for six touchdowns. Trent Garland (82 carries, 499 yards and three touchdowns) looks to pace the ground attack while William Tanner (38 receptions, 527 yards and four touchdowns) headlines the receiving core. Senior linebacker Nick Dance leads a defensive unit which ranked fourth in the OVC in total defense and third in sacks in 2014. Dance tallied 56 tackles, 5.0 tackles-for-loss and two forced fumbles en route to OVC All-Newcomer honors in his debut season for the Skyhawks. Seniors Walter Evans, Taino Fears-Perez and Marquis Clemons return as the team’s leading tacklers.
 
SCOUTING OLE MISS: Head coach Hugh Freeze led Ole Miss to a berth in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl last year becoming the first Ole Miss coach to lead the program to bowl appearances in their first three years at the helm of the program. Last year the Rebels won nine overall games, including topping No. 1 ranked Alabama and No. 4 Mississippi State, and finished the campaign ranked No. 18 in the AP Top 25 poll. This season the team returns 16 positional starters and is ranked No. 15 in the Coaches Poll and No. 17 in the AP Preseason Top 25. Four Ole Miss players were named  to the Preseason All-SEC first-team including defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche and wide receiver Laquon Treadwell. Nkemdiche was a second-team All-America pick last year when he tallied 35 tackles, 4.0 tackles-for-loss and two sacks while helping Ole Miss lead the nation in scoring defense (16.0 points/game). Treadwell enters this season ranked 13th in school history with 120 career receptions. Despite missing time with an injury last year he had five touchdowns and three 100-yard receiving games; as a freshman in 2013 he had 72 catches and five scores.
 
 
Southeast Missouri State Redhawks (0-0, 0-0 OVC)
at #23 Missouri Tigers (0-0, 0-0 SEC)
Saturday, Sept. 5 • 3:00 p.m. CT
Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium (71,168) • Columbia, Mo.
TV:............................................................. SEC Network
Live Stats: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/statmonitr/?id=97469
Series Record:..................................... Missouri leads 2-0
Last Meeting:........................... Missouri won 52-3 (9/6/08)
Tom Matukewicz at Southeast Missouri:............. 5-7 (1 yr.)
Tom Matukewicz Overall:................................... 6-7 (1 yr.)
Gary Pinkel at Missouri:............................ 113-66 (14 yrs.)
Gary Pinkel Overall:.............................. 186-103-3 (24 yrs.)
Southeast Missouri Last Week:................................... Idle
Missouri Last Week:................................................... Idle
 
GAME NOTES: Southeast Missouri gets its season started on Saturday by traveling to in-state foe Missouri for the third all-time meeting between the programs. Southeast Missouri is 1-19 all-time against teams from the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) including losing its last 14 games against foes from the FBS. The program’s lone win against a FBS team came in 2002, a 24-14 victory over Middle Tennessee. Southeast is 9-15 in season openers since becoming a Division I program. Both head coaches in Saturday’s game previously coached at Toledo, with Gary Pinkel spending 10 years (1991-2000) as the program’s head coach (compiling a 73-37-3 record) and Tom Matukewicz serving as defensive coordinator in 2012-13.
 
SCOUTING SOUTHEAST MISSOURI: After winning just three total games for three-straight seasons, Southeast Missouri took a leap forward in its first year under head coach Tom Matukewicz in 2014. Despite losing several key players to injuries during the year, the new look Redhawks ranked 33rd nationally in total offense (422.5 yards/game) while averaging 32.0 points/game. The squad also topped No. 3 ranked Southeastern Louisiana, marking the highest-ranked opponent the program had ever defeated. Among the team’s returning players are senior wide receiver Paul McRoberts and senior running back DeMichael Jackson who each earned All-OVC honors last year and are on the Preseason All-OVC team this season. McRoberts caught 44 passes for 711 yards and nine touchdowns in seven games while Jackson rushed for 734 yards and five touchdowns in eight contests. After a competition through fall camp the Redhawks named a starting quarterback last week in junior Tay Bender. Bender is a transfer from Iowa Western Community College where he led the team to a 22-2 record over the past two seasons (including throwing for 1,912 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2014). Also back is junior kicker Ryan McCrum who was the only FCS kicker to make four field goals of 50 yards or longer during the regular season in 2014 and who has earned Preseason All-American honors. Defensively the team returns junior linebacker Roper Garrett, a Preseason All-OVC selection, who tallied 96 tackles, 7.5 tackles-for-loss and 3.0 sacks and forced five fumbles (a mark that ranked second nationally) in nine games.
 
SCOUTING MISSOURI: Missouri begins the season, its 15th under head coach Gary Pinkel, ranked No. 23 in the Coaches Poll and No. 24 in the AP Preseason Top 25. The two-time reigning SEC East Champions were 11-3 a season ago and capped the year with a victory over Minnesota in the Orlando Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Day. Among the team’s returning players is quarterback Maty Mauk who passed for 2,648 yards and 25 touchdowns a season ago while also scampering for 373 yards and two additional scores. Also returning is leading rusher Russell Hansbrough who eclipsed the 1,000-yard plateau (1,084) a season ago and scored a team-best 10 rushing touchdowns. On the defensive side of the ball senior linebacker Kentrell Bell is back after leading the team with 122 tackles a season, as is Michael Scherer who added 114 tackles in 2014; both players are on the Butkus Award Watch List entering the season.
 
 
Mercer Bears (0-0, 0-0 Southern)
at Austin Peay Governors (0-0, 0-0 OVC)
Saturday, Sept. 5 • 4:00 p.m. CT
Governors Stadium (7,000) • Clarksville, Tenn.
TV:................................................... OVC Digital Network
Live Stats: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=92062
Series Record:........................................ Mercer leads 1-0
Last Meeting:......................... Mercer won 49-21 (10/11/14)
Bobby Lamb at Mercer:.................................. 16-8 (2 yrs.)
Bobby Lamb Overall:.................................. 83-48 (12 yrs.)
Kirby Cannon at Austin Peay:......................... 1-23 (2 yrs.)
Kirby Cannon Overall:............................... 36-109 (13 yrs.)
Mercer Last Week:..................................................... Idle
Austin Peay Last Week:.............................................. Idle
 
GAME NOTES: Austin Peay and Mercer will meet on the gridiron for the second consecutive year, this time in Clarksville. The teams met on October 11 of last year with the Bears getting off to a 28-0 lead after one quarter. For the Governors it was a breakout game for Otis Gerron who carried the ball 15 times for 196 yard (13.1 ypc), including an 89-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Mickey Macius threw for two touchdowns for APSU while Mercer quarterback John Russ completed 10-of-13 passes for 179 yards and three scores.
 
SCOUTING MERCER: Mercer begins its third year of football after not having a program since the 1941 season. The Bears were 10-2 overall in 2013 and 6-6 a season ago including a 1-6 record in the Southern Conference. This season the team returns 10 offensive starters, all 11 defensive starters and 69 total letterwinners. Among Mercer’s top returning players is junior quarterback John Russ who threw for 2,167 yards and 19 touchdowns a year ago and sophomore running back Alex Lakes who rushed for 1,107 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2014. On defense the Bears look toward junior linebacker Tyler Ward who had 104 total tackles a season ago.
 
SCOUTING AUSTIN PEAY: Austin Peay continues to build its program under third-year head coach Kirby Cannon. Cannon and his team welcomed a newly renovated Governors Stadium last season and this year once again have a young team, but this time around those young players have a year of experience under their belts. The Govs have eight offensive and seven defensive starters back including sophomore running back Otis Gerron. Gerron led APSU in rushing a season ago (596 yards and 112 carries) despite making just four starts. Senior quarterback Trey Taylor won the competition during camp and will begin the season as the Govs signal caller. Taylor, one of four quarterbacks who saw action for the Govs last year, played in seven games and passed for 511 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for another score. On the defensive side of the ball junior Antonio Turner returns after leading the team in tackles (81) a year ago.
 
 
#7 Jacksonville State Gamecocks (0-0, 0-0 OVC)
at #8 Chattanooga Mocs (0-0, 0-0 Southern)
Saturday, Sept. 5 • 5:00 p.m. CT
Finley Stadium (20,668) • Chattanooga, Tenn.
TV:............................................... SoCon Digital Network
Live Stats:........ http://www.sidearmstats.com/utc/football/
Series Record:........................... Chattanooga leads 26-12
Last Meeting:.. Jacksonville State won 26-23 in OT (9/6/14)
John Grass at Jacksonville State:..................... 10-2 (1 yr.)
John Grass Overall:................................................. same
Russ Huesman at Chattanooga:.................... 41-29 (6 yrs.)
Russ Huesman Overall:............................................ same
Jacksonville State Last Week:.................................... Idle
Chattanooga Last Week:............................................ Idle
 
GAME NOTES: A pair of nationally-ranked FCS opponents kickoff the 2015 season in what will be the 39th all-time meeting between the schools. It marks the second-straight season the teams have met when both have been nationally-ranked. A year ago No. 9 Jacksonville State clipped No. 13 Chattanooga 26-23 in overtime at Finley Stadium. In that game Jax State held a 17-7 lead in the second quarter before the second half saw the teams connect on three field goals (and no touchdowns). UTC added a fourth field goal to open overtime before JSU scored the first offensive touchdown since early in the second quarter when Eli Jenkins scored on a 13-yard run. Jenkins passed for 122 yards and rushed for 82 on the night while DaMarcus James added 112 rushing yards. The JSU team was stout on defense in holding the Mocs to just 111 yards of total offense on the night while Keon Williams rushing for 62 yards for Chattanooga. Overall three of the past four matchups in the series have been determined by four points or less while JSU winning all three of those close matchups. This year marks the ninth time in the last 10 years that JSU has opened the season on the road.
 
SCOUTING JACKSONVILLE STATE: Last season in his first year as head coach John Grass led the Gamecocks to a perfect 8-0 Conference record, 10-2 overall mark, Top 10 national ranking and a berth in the FCS Playoffs. In the process Jacksonville State won its fourth overall OVC Championship and first since the 2011 season. This year the team returns an experienced squad that includes nine offensive and seven defensive starters. Among the returning players is junior quarterback Eli Jenkins who is 17-3 as JSU’s starting quarterback over the past two seasons. Last year Jenkins threw for 1,870 yards and 12 touchdowns and rushed for 698 yards and six scores in leading the Jax State offensive attack. Despite the loss of All-American DaMarcus James at running back (1,151 yards and 14 touchdowns), JSU does return Troymaine Pope who rushed for 715 yards and six scores and Miles Jones who added 630 yards and seven scores on the ground, giving the Gamecocks plenty of options in the backfield. The team should also be strong on defense as three of its defensive linemen were named Preseason All-OVC including senior Devaunte Sigler who was tabbed the OVC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year after being named the 2014 Defensive Player of the Year at the conclusion of last season. Also returning is senior cornerback Jermaine Hough, who along with Sigler is on the STATS FCS National Defensive Player of the Year Watch List.
 
SCOUTING CHATTANOOGA: Chattanooga, the defending Southern Conference champions and 2015 preseason favorites, are ranked No. 8 in both the STATS and FCS Coaches Top 25 polls. The Mocs finished last year ranked No. 8 which was an all-time program best as the team was 10-4 overall, 7-0 in the SoCon and advanced to the quarterfinals of the FCS Playoffs. The team returns seven starters on offense, including two-time Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Year and preseason All-American senior quarterback Jacob Huesman. Huesman passed for 2,731 yards and 23 touchdowns and rushed for 1,009 yards and 14 additional scores a year ago and is a candidate for the STATS FCS Offensive Player of the Year Award this season.  The Mocs defense has five preseason first-team all-conference picks among its seven returning starters.  Sophomore Lucas Webb tied for the SoCon lead with six picks in 2014, while senior defensive lineman Josh Freeman (33 tackles, 7.5 tackles-for-loss, 4.0 sacks) anchors the front line.
 
 
Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (0-0, 0-0 OVC)
at Houston Cougars (0-0, 0-0 AAC)
Saturday, Sept. 5 • 7:00 p.m. CT
TDECU Stadium (40,000) • Houston, Texas
TV:...................................................................... ESPN3
Live Stats:.......................................... http://bit.ly/1NYiEj5
Series Record:............................................. First meeting
Last Meeting:.............................................................. n/a
Watson Brown at Tennessee Tech:................ 38-53 (8 yrs.)
Watson Brown Overall:......................... 132-204-1 (30 yrs.)
Tom Herman at Houston:............................... First season
Tom Herman Overall:............................................... same
Tennessee Tech Last Week:........................................ Idle
Houston Last Week:................................................... Idle
 
GAME NOTES: Tennessee Tech opens the 2015 season with a trip to take on Houston for the first-time in program history. The Golden Eagles are 2-31 all-time against teams from the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) with both wins coming in the late 1970s.
 
SCOUTING TENNESSEE TECH: Tennessee Tech head coach Watson Brown begins his ninth season in Cookeville and 31st overall as a head coach in 2015. The 2011 OVC Coach of the Year has 51 returning letterwinners from last year’s squad that won four Conference games, its highest total since winning the League championship in 2011. After missing most of last year with an injury and receiving a medical hardship, fifth-year senior linebacker Tra’Darius Goff returns and was named a Preseason All-OVC selection. In his last full season (2013) he led the team with 101 tackles while also registering 8.5 tackles-for-loss, 3.0 sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Also back is senior Ladarius Vanlier, a preseason All-American who is one of the most versatile players in the OVC. Last season Vanlier was one of just four players in the FCS with both a kickoff and punt return for a touchdown and one of just five players nationally with multiple punt return touchdowns (2). He also rushed for 494 yards and five touchdowns and caught 21 passes for 130 yards for the Golden Eagles. Junior Jared Davis takes over as the starting quarterback last season after passing for 770 yards and four touchdowns in a mixed role last year (which included starting the season opener).
 
SCOUTING HOUSTON: Houston was tabbed second in the West Division of the American Athletic Conference in a preseason poll of league media. Last season the team was 8-5 overall and 5-3 in The American including beating league champion Memphis during the season and topping Pitt in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl. This season the program is under the direction of first-year head coach Tom Herman who spent the previous three years as the Offensive Coordinator at Ohio State where he helped the Buckeyes to the 2015 College Football Championship. This year the team returns 31 letterwinners including Kenneth Farrow who rushed for 1,037 yards and 14 touchdowns last season and who has been named to numerous preseason award watch lists including the Walter Camp, Doak Walker and Earl Campbell lists. Also back is quarterback Greg Ward Jr. who passed for 2,010 yards and 12 touchdowns and rushed for 573 yards and six touchdowns in starting the final eight games after starting the first five contests at wide receiver (where he caught 15 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown).
 
 
Alabama State Hornets (0-0, 0-0 SWAC)
at Tennessee State Tigers (0-0, 0-0 OVC)
Sunday, Sept. 6 • 6:00 p.m. CT
Nissan Stadium (69,143) • Nashville, Tenn.
TV:................................................... OVC Digital Network
Live Stats:........................................ http://bit.ly/1E1ay9d
Series Record:......................... Tennessee State leads 7-2
Last Meeting:................ Alabama State won 27-21 (9/6/14)
Brian Jenkins at Alabama State:..................... First season
Brian Jenkins Overall:................................... 46-14 (5 yrs.)
Rod Reed at Tennessee State:...................... 32-67 (5 yrs.)
Rod Reed Overall:................................................... same
Alabama State Last Week:.......................................... Idle
Tennessee State Last Week:....................................... Idle
 
GAME NOTES: Alabama State travels to Tennessee State as the two teams compete in the 17th annual John Merritt Classic (JMC) at the newly named Nissan Stadium (formerly LP Field). Tennessee State is 11-5 all-time in the JMC including a victory over Edward Waters a year ago; overall TSU has scored victories in five of the last seven JMC contests. TSU and ASU squared off in the first two John Merritt Classics (1999 and 2000) with Tennessee State winning both games (41-8 and 30-13). Overall this marks the second-straight season the teams have played during the regular season after not competing on the gridiron from 2000-13. Alabama State won last year’s contest 27-21 in Montgomery. In that game the Hornets did go ahead 27-8 after the third quarter before a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns cut the final margin to six. Michael German passed for 340 yards and two touchdowns for TSU while Tom Smith added 70 rushing yards for the Tiger attack. Alabama State was led by Malcolm Cyrus who rushed for 170 yards and also caught three passes including a 70-yard touchdown.
 
SCOUTING ALABAMA STATE: Alabama State is coming off a 7-5 season that saw the team finish second in the SWAC East Division. Overall it marked the fifth-straight season the program had won seven or more games, a first in ASU program history. This year the team begins its first season under new head coach Brian Jenkins who was previously the head coach at Bethune-Cookman. Jenkins who eight or more games in all five of his seasons at Bethune-Cookman and made three FCS Playoff appearances. Alabama State, tabbed fourth in the SWAC East Division Preseason Poll, returns All-American linebacker Kourtney Berry who tallied 128 tackles, 12.5 tackle-for-loss, 3.0 sacks, seven quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and three fumbles recoveries a season ago. This year he is on the STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year Watch List. On offense the team returns a pair of offensive lineman (Damian Love and Jylan Ware) who were preseason All-SWAC picks and who helped ASU rank second in the SWAC in rushing offense (2,733 yards) a season ago.
 
SCOUTING TENNESSEE STATE: Tennessee State returns 58 players from last year’s team that was 6-6 overall, including five offensive and three defensive starters. A season ago Rod Reed’s team ranked 11th nationally in total defense (303.3 yards/game) in addition to forcing 25 total turnovers, which was the 29th best total in the country. Among the team’s returning players is Preseason All-OVC selection Gabe Terry who had 11.5 sacks last season in his first year in a TSU uniform. Also returning is senior defensive back Bernell Brooks who had two interceptions and six pass breakups a season ago. Offensively the team will have a new signal caller as redshirt freshman O’Shay Ackerman-Carter was named the starter following the team’s fall camp. He combined to throw for 2,607 yards and 36 touchdowns during his junior and senior years of high school. He will be backed up by junior Ronald Butler who saw time as a starter as a freshman in 2013 (throwing for 1,405 yards and 13 touchdowns) but was the backup last season, passing for 420 yards and a touchdown in limited action.