• Complete Stats Perform Preseason All-American Team
Five Ohio Valley Conference football players have been named to the Stats Perform 2022 FCS Preseason All-America Team.
The OVC selections included a first team and four third-team picks. The selections were UT Martin offensive lineman
Matthan Hatchie, Southeast Missouri running back
Geno Hess, Murray State offensive lineman
Levi Nesler, UT Martin linebacker
John Ford II and UT Martin defensive back
Deven Sims.
Hatchie has been named a consensus Preseason All-American by several publications as the two-time All-OVC selection returns for his final season in the middle of the Skyhawk offensive line. Hailed as the fourth-best returning FCS offensive lineman in 2022 according to HERO Sports, Hatchie graded out at 89 percent or better in each game last season. Along with tallying 101 knockdowns he anchored an offensive line which ranked first in the OVC in sacks allowed (0.83/game) while only being responsible for one sack in 362 attempts. He showed his durability by playing every snap except mop-up time against Murray State while leading a team which paced the OVC with 239.3 rushing yards per game.
Hess, the OVC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, was the OVC's leading rusher with 1,116 yards, 14 touchdowns and 111.6 yards per game en route to First-Team All-Conference accolades a year ago. Hess landed on three different All-America teams and finished tied for 23rd in the overall voting for the Walter Payton Award. During the 2020 season Hess led all FCS players with 12 rushing touchdowns.
Nesler, a former walk-on, has already cemented his place in Racers history as one of the program's offensive line greats by starting in 40 of 41 eligible games in his career. Last season, he earned his consecutive first-team All-OVC accolade, in addition to being named as just one of 50 players nationwide to be named to the FCS ADA Academic All-Star team.
Ford, the OVC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, proved to be a dynamic playmaker for one of the league's best defenses by playing in all 13 games en route to All-OVC first team honors last season. The Nashville native racked up 88 total tackles – including four double-digit tackle performances – while notching 5.0 tackles for loss. He tallied four interceptions to rank tied for second in the OVC while returning a pick 75 yards for a touchdown against Tennessee State. He also garnered an OVC Defensive Player of the Week honor after tallying five tackles and a 66-yard interception return against Northwestern State.
Sims is a highly respected player in the league after earning back-to-back All-OVC first team selections and was recently tabbed the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year pick by Lindy's Sports. The Smyrna, Tenn. native is a three-year starter who is coming off his second straight season as the team-leader in tackles with 93 while notching 6.0 tackles for loss. He posted four games with double-digit tackle performances while setting season-highs with 11 stops against Austin Peay and Southeast Missouri. Last season he also recorded his first career interception in the OVC-clinching win at Tennessee Tech.
2022 STATS PERFORM FCS PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA TEAM
OL – Matthan Hatchie, UT Martin (1st Team)
RB – Geno Hess, Southeast Missouri (3rd Team)
OL – Levi Nesler, Murray State (3rd Team)
LB – John Ford II, UT Martin (3rd Team)
DB – Deven Sims, UT Martin (3rd Team)