By Alex Boggis, UT Martin Assistant Sports Information Director
The University of Tennessee at Martin football team opens the 2021 campaign on the road against Football Bowl Subdivision and Conference USA member Western Kentucky on Thursday, Sept. 2. Kickoff from Houchens-Smith Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
UT Martin returns to action just 144 days after completing the abbreviated 2020 schedule back on April 11 to rank as the shortest offseason in program history. The Skyhawks posted a 3-4 record while playing a conference-only slate last season.
This marks the 92nd season of football and 30th as a Division I program in 2021. The Skyhawks are 39-50-2 in season openers in the program’s history while posting a 5-10 mark under head coach Jason Simpson.
UT Martin is 1-28 all-time against FBS squads while playing 24 games since 2006. The Skyhawks enter the contest looking to win the program’s first game against a FBS member since knocking off Memphis (20-17) in 2012.
The Skyhawks feature six Preseason All-OVC selections in Colton Dowell (wide receiver), Donnell Williams (wide receiver), Rodney Williams II (tight end), Matthan Hatchie (offensive line), Jay Woods (cornerback) and Deven Sims (safety). The team also returns JaQuez Akins (rover) and Tyler Larco (specialist) who earned All-OVC second team honors last season.
Head coach Jason Simpson opens his 16th season at the helm of the Skyhawks while possessing a 90-77 record. Simpson is just the sixth head coach in Ohio Valley Conference history to spend at least 15 years at one school while currently ranking sixth in individual victories.
Western Kentucky opens the season looking to improve on a 5-7 campaign in year-three under head coach Tyson Helton. The Hilltoppers dipped heavily into the transfer portal in the offseason, coming out with an explosive graduate transfer quarterback Bailey Zappe who brings with him 10,004 career passing yards from Houston Baptist. Zappe and defensive end DeAngelo Malone (255 career tackles, 42.5 TFL and 25 sacks) have both been named to the 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl Watchlist.
Thursday’s matchup marks the fifth meeting between UT Martin and Western Kentucky in a series dating back to 1997 in which the programs met in four consecutive years. The Hilltoppers hold a 4-0 record in the series while posting an average margin of victory of 44.7 points.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information