• 2022 All-OVC Football Teams and Award Winners (PDF)
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. - OVC co-champions Southeast Missouri and UT Martin each took home two of the four major 2022 Ohio Valley Conference football awards in voting conducted by league head coaches and communication directors and announced on Tuesday.
Southeast Missouri senior running back
Geno Hess was named Offensive Player of the Year while his coach,
Tom Matukewicz, was named the OVC Coach of the Year. UT Martin graduate student linebacker
John H. Ford II was tabbed the Defensive Player of the Year while Skyhawks running back
Sam Franklin was named Freshman of the Year.
UT Martin led the way with 23 selection across the three teams, including 13 first-team and seven second-team selections. Southeast Missouri had 15 selections (including 10 first-team picks) while Lindenwood and Eastern Illinois had 12 selections apiece (five of EIU’s picks came on special teams). The All-OVC first-team included seven graduate students, 14 seniors, five juniors, seven sophomores and a freshmen while the second-team included two graduate students, 13 seniors, four juniors, 14 sophomores and four freshmen.
Hess was dominant on the ground, leading the FCS in total touchdowns (21) and rushing touchdowns (19), ranking second in yards per carry (7.62) and third in total rushing yards (1,569). His rushing touchdowns are the fourth-most in OVC history while his rushing total this season was the ninth-most. He accomplished all of that despite having only eight rushing yards in the season-opener at FBS foe Iowa State. Hess broke the OVC single-game rushing record with 317 yards on 26 carries against Murray State in the season finale; he is the only FCS player to break the 300-yard plateau in 2002. He had two other games where he rushed for 200 yards and overall had six games with at least 100 rushing yards. Hess had four rushing touchdowns in two different games and tallied 10 total touchdowns over his final three regular season games, helping Southeast Missouri to its third OVC Championship. Hess now ranks third in OVC career history for rushing touchdowns (51) and ninth in career rushing yards (3,989), the third-most among active FCS players. Hess is the third SEMO player to win the award, joining two other running backs in Henry Harris (2010) and Marquis Terry (2018).
Matukewicz, a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award, was named OVC Coach of the Year for the second time (2018) and overall it marks the fifth time a SEMO head coach has won the award (John Mumford in 1994, Tim Billings in 2002 and Tony Samuel in 2010). Matukewicz led Southeast Missouri to a 9-2 overall record and perfect 5-0 OVC mark as the Redhawks won a share of its third OVC Championship (2010, 2019, 2022). SEMO was 9-1 against FCS opponents including knocking off then nationally-ranked Southern Illinois in September The Redhawks also earned its third playoff berth in the past five years and fourth overall (2010, 2018, 2019, 2022). The team has had five-straight Conference winning seasons, the longest in program history, and have compiled a 26-8 OVC mark over that time. Prior to this run, the team had not had a winning OVC record since 2010 and had not had back-to-back winning OVC campaigns since 2002-03. Nationally, SEMO ranks third in tackles for loss allowed (3.91/game), fourth in punt return defense (1.62 yards/return), fifth in turnovers lost (9), sixth in sacks allowed (0.91/game), seventh in total offense (472.6 yards/game) and fumbles lost (3) and ninth in rushing offense (233.2 yards/game).
Ford was tabbed the OVC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and made that prognostication come true after helping lead UT Martin to a share of its second-straight and third overall OVC Championship. The graduate student tallied 105 tackles, including 10.5 for loss, 5.0 sacks, an interception, two pass breakups, four quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and fumble recovery. He ranked third in the OVC in tackles (9.5/game), second in sacks (0.45/game) and third in tackles for loss (0.95/game). Ford, a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, helped UT Martin rank first nationally in turnovers gained (28) and in the Top 20 nationally in tackles for loss (17th) and sacks (20th). He had double-digit tackles in five games, including a season-high 13 stops in wins over Western Illinois and Murray State. He is the first UT Martin player to be named OVC Defensive Player of the Year.
Franklin was part of a two-headed rushing attack for UT Martin, spelling first-team All-OVC selection Zak Wallace for a change of pace. Franklin ranked fifth in the OVC in total rushing yards (676) despite having almost 25 less carries than any player who ranked ahead of time. He finished the season with 85 rushes to average 8.0 yards/carry, while scoring eight touchdowns. Franklin also caught 12 passes for 55 yards. A finalist for the Jerry Rice Award, Franklin scored a season-best three touchdowns in a win over Lindenwood, and added two scores and a season-high 157 rushing yards against Murray State. He also had 139 yards in a win at Houston Christian. He is the third UTM player to win this award, joining Don Chapman (2004) and John Bachus III (2019).
The All-OVC first-team offense was highlighted by Hess, the Offensive Player of the Year, who was one of four repeat first-team picks. The other three repeat selections were UT Martin redshirt sophomore running back
Zak Wallace (1012 rushing yards, 16 TDs), Southeast Missouri senior offensive lineman
Zach Gieg and UTM senior offensive lineman
Matthan Hatchie. Lindenwood senior
Cade Brister was the quarterback selection after tallying the 10th most yards of total offense in OVC history (3,671). Brister passed for 3,065 yards and 27 scores and ran for 605 yards and 11 more scores in just 10 games and tied the OVC single-game rushing touchdown record (5) in a win at Central Arkansas. The wide receiver picks including Lindenwood senior
Payton Rose (61 catches, 1149 yards, 12 TDs), Southeast Missouri junior
Ryan Flournoy (50 catches, 823 yards, 7 TDs) and senior
Johnny King (65 catches, 774 yards, 6 TDs) and UT Martin grad student
Colton Dowell (67 catches, 1036 yards, 6 TDs), while the tight end selection was UT Martin redshirt freshman
DJ Nelson (21 catches, 267 yards, 6 TDs). Gieg and Hatchie were joined on the offense line by seniors
Nate Korte and
Shyron Rodgers from SEMO, senior
D’Marius Warren and junior
Gavin Olson from UTM and Lindenwood senior
Blake Rogenhofer. All 15 members of the first-team offense were from either Lindenwood, Southeast Missouri or UT Martin.
The first-team defense was highlighted by Ford, the OVC Defensive Player of the Year, who along with senior safety teammate
Deven Sims, were the only repeat first-team selections. The defensive line included UT Martin sophomore
Daylan Dotson (48 tackles, 14.5 TFL, 9.5 sacks), Tennessee State senior
Terray Jones (37 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 4 interceptions) and junior
Terrell Allen (36 tackles, 12.0 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 7 QBH) and Eastern Illinois junior
Cameron Leach (22 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 3.0 sacks). In addition to Ford, the linebacker group included UTM grads
Rob Hicks (an OVC-best 114 tackles) and
TJ Neal (49 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 2.0 sacks, 2 FF), Southeast Missouri’s
Bryce Norman (108 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 FF) and EIU’s
Elijawah Tolbert (70 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 3 INT). In addition to Sims, the defensive back unit included UT Martin graduate corner
Shaun Lewis (40 tackles, 4 INTs), Tennessee Tech grad safety
Josh Reliford (84 tackles, 9.0 TFL, 2 INTs, 2 FF), Lindenwood senior corner
Darion Bolden (42 tackles, 2 INT, 13 PBU) and SEMO nickelback
Lawrence Johnson (76 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 4.0 sacks, 9 PBU).
The first-team specialists included Eastern Illinois junior kicker
Stone Galloway (11-of-12 FGs, 27-of-27 PATs) and sophomore punter
Trey Wilhoit (44.0 yards/punt, Long of 62), Southeast Missouri return specialist
Dalyn McDonald who earned awards as both a kick and punt returner (25.9 yards/kick returner and 8.1 yards/punt return) and UT Martin senior long snapper
Brock Powers.
The All-OVC second-team offense included UT Martin grad quarterback
Dresser Winn (2,928 passing yards, 18 passing and 3 rushing TDs), Tennessee Tech senior running back
David Gist (621 rushing yards, 5 TDs; 195 receiving yards, 4 TDs) and UTM’s Franklin, the OVC Freshman of the Year, in the backfield. The pass catches included Lindenwood senior
Kobe Smith (56 catches, 727 yards, 8 TDs), UTM sophomore
DeVonte Tanksley (53 catches, 653 yards, 1 TD), Murray State sophomore
Taylor Shields (22 catches, 465 yards, 5 TDs), Tennessee State senior
JJ Holloman (33 catches, 353 yards, 1 TD) and SEMO senor tight end
Will Weidemann (12 catches, 150 yards). The second-team offense line included UTM junior
Lamar Morgan and redshirt freshman
Jared Russell, Lindenwood sophomores
Ethan Johnson and
Gareth Warren, Tennessee Tech sophomore
Nate Hodnett, Murray State senior
Levi Nesler and Eastern Illinois junior
Chad Strickland.
The second-team defense included a pair of Lindenwood defensive linemen in junior
Sterlin Williams (40 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 2 FF) and freshman
Kobe McClendon (37 tackles, 7.0 TFL, 3.0 sacks), Southeast Missouri junior
Steven Lewis (33 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 3 PBU) and Tennessee Tech senior
Kail Dava (24 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks). The linebackers were Southeast Missouri senior
Keandre Booker (24 tackles, 7.0 TFL, 4.0 sacks), Eastern Illinois sophomore
Colin Bohanek (73 tackles, 7.0 TFL, 2 INT, 2 FF), Murray State senior
Eric Samuta (74 tackles, 2.0 TFL, 5 QBH) and sophomore
Cade Shupperd (39 tackles, 9.0 TFL, 5.0 sacks), Tennessee State seniors
Jahsun Bryant (80 tackles, 5.0 TFL, 2 INT, 2 FF) and
K’Vaughan Pope (62 tackles, 4.0 TFL, 4 PBU, 1 FF) and Tennessee Tech’s
Seth Carlisle (98 tackles, 3.0 TFL, 5 PBU). The second-team defensive backs included Southeast Missouri senior
Ty Leonard (42 tackles, 3 PBU), Eastern Illinois sophomores
Jordan Vincent (84 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 5 PBU, 2 FF) and
Nick Coates (68 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 5 PBU, 1 FF), UT Martin grad
Ty Woods (44 tackles, 3.0 TFL, 3 INT, 6 PBU) and Tennessee State freshman
Bryce Phillips (35 tackles, 10 PBU).
The second-team specialists included three players from Eastern Illinois in sophomore kick returner
Mark Aitken (24.0 yards/return, Long of 80), sophomore punt returner
Cooper Willman (13.4 yards/return, Long of 80) and sophomore long snapper
Jack Valente. They were joined by Lindenwood sophomore kicker
Logan Seibert (11-of-14 FGs, 44-of-47 PATs) and Tennessee State senior kicker
Kaleb Mosley (15-of-21 FGs, 18-of-21 PATs) and UT Martin sophomore punter
Tyler Larco (43.6 yards/punt, Long of 75).
Eleven (11) players were selected to the All-OVC Newcomer squad; to be selected to the team an individual had to be a first-year player (freshman, redshirt freshman who played in four or fewer games last season or transfer) in the OVC. The team included Franklin, the OVC Freshman of the Year, and seven other players (Wilhoit, Smith, McClendon, Phillips, Pope, Tanksley and Nelson) who earned either first or second-team All-OVC honors. The other three selections included Southeast Missouri sophomore quarterback
Paxton DeLaurent (2692 yards of total offense and 22 total touchdowns), Murray State redshirt freshman
Cody Goatley (60 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 1 FR) and Tennessee Tech freshman linebacker
Jacquez McGowan (59 tackles, 4.0 TFL, 1 INT, 3 QBH).
2022 All-OVC Football Team and Awards
OVC Offensive Player of the Year: Geno Hess (RB), Southeast Missouri
OVC Defensive Player of the Year: John H. Ford II (LB), UT Martin
OVC Freshman of the Year: Sam Franklin (RB), UT Martin
OVC Coach of the Year: Tom Matukewicz, Southeast Missouri
FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE
QB - Cade Brister, Lindenwood
RB - Geno Hess, Southeast Missouri
RB - Zak Wallace, UT Martin
WR - Payton Rose, Lindenwood
WR - Ryan Flournoy, Southeast Missouri
WR - Johnny King, Southeast Missouri
WR - Colton Dowell, UT Martin
TE - DJ Nelson, UT Martin
OC - Zach Gieg, Southeast Missouri
OC - Matthan Hatchie, UT Martin
LT - Gavin Olson, UT Martin
LT - Blake Rogenhofer, Lindenwood
RT - Nate Korte, Southeast Missouri
LG - Shyron Rodgers, Southeast Missouri
RG - D’Marius Warren, UT Martin
FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE
DE - Daylan Dotson, UT Martin
DT - Terray Jones, Tennessee State
DT - Cameron Leach, Eastern Illinois
DE - Terrell Allen, Tennessee State
OLB - TJ Neal, UT Martin
ILB - John H. Ford II, UT Martin
ILB - Bryce Norman, Southeast Missouri
ILB - Rob Hicks, UT Martin
OLB - Elijawah Tolbert, Eastern Illinois
CB - Shaun Lewis, UT Martin
SAF - Josh Reliford, Tennessee Tech
SAF - Deven Sims, UT Martin
CB - Darion Bolden, Lindenwood
NICKEL - Lawrence Johnson, Southeast Missouri
FIRST-TEAM SPECIALISTS
K - Stone Galloway, Eastern Illinois
P - Trey Wilhoit, Eastern Illinois
KR - Dalyn McDonald, Southeast Missouri
PR - Dalyn McDonald, Southeast Missouri
LS - Brock Powers, UT Martin
SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE
QB - Dresser Winn, UT Martin
RB - David Gist, Tennessee Tech
RB - Sam Franklin, UT Martin
WR - Kobe Smith, Lindenwood
WR - DeVonte Tanksley, UT Martin
WR - Taylor Shields, Murray State
WR - JJ Holloman, Tennessee State
TE - Will Weidemann, Southeast Missouri
OC - Levi Nesler, Murray State
OC/OG - Nate Hodnett, Tennessee Tech
RT - Lamar Morgan, UT Martin
LT - Chad Strickland, Eastern Illinois
RT - Ethan Johnson, Lindenwood
LG - Jared Russell, UT Martin
LG - Gareth Warren, Lindenwood
SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE
DE - Sterlin Williams, Lindenwood
DT - Steven Lewis, Southeast Missouri
DT - Kail Dava, Tennessee Tech
DE - Kobe McClendon, Lindenwood
OLB - Keandre Booker, Southeast Missouri
ILB - Colin Bohanek, Eastern Illinois
ILB - Eric Samuta, Murray State #&
ILB - Jahsun Bryant, Tennessee State
ILB - Seth Carlisle, Tennessee Tech
OLB - Cade Shupperd, Murray State
OLB - K’Vaughan Pope, Tennessee State
CB - Ty Leonard, Southeast Missouri
SAF - Jordan Vincent, Eastern Illinois
SAF - Ty Woods, UT Martin
CB - Bryce Phillips, Tennessee State
NICKEL - Nick Coates, Eastern Illinois
SECOND-TEAM SPECIALISTS
K - Logan Seibert, Lindenwood
K - Kaleb Mosley, Tennessee State
P - Tyler Larco, UT Martin
KR - Mark Aitken, Eastern Illinois
PR - Cooper Willman, Eastern Illinois
LS - Jack Valente, Eastern Illinois
ALL-NEWCOMER TEAM
P - Trey Wilhoit, Eastern Illinois
WR - Kobe Smith, Lindenwood
DE - Kobe McClendon, Lindenwood
LB - Cody Goatley, Murray State
QB - Paxton DeLaurent, Southeast Missouri
CB - Bryce Phillips, Tennessee State
LB - K’Vaughan Pope, Tennessee State
LB - Jacquez McGowan, Tennessee Tech
RB - Sam Franklin, UT Martin
WR - DeVonte Tanksley, UT Martin
TE - DJ Nelson, UT Martin
NOTES
•
The All-Newcomer team is comprised of first-year players in the OVC - that can be either true freshmen, redshirt freshmen (four or less games played in 2021) or first-year transfers. The team consists of 11 total players and is not voted on by position.
•
There were 6 players on the All-OVC second-team specialists (2 K’s) and 16 players on the second-team defense (4 ILB’s, 3 OLB’s) due to ties in voting.
•
Offensive line is not voted on by specific position.