AU FOOTBALL 2008: Tennessee-Martin working toward FCS playoffs

By Collin Mickle

Published: July 10, 2008

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the 10th in a series previewing Auburn’s 2008 football opponents. This week: Tennessee-Martin (Nov. 8). The series will run weekly.

Tennessee-Martin head football coach Jason Simpson isn’t afraid of a challenge.

The proof is in the Skyhawks’ 2008 schedule, which includes road games at Auburn and South Florida. It’s the toughest slate in UTM history.

But for Simpson, it’s part of the process of returning the Skyhawks to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

UTM made the playoffs in ’06, but missed the postseason last year thanks to a 4-7 record. The Skyhawks won their final three games to finish 4-4 in the Ohio Valley Conference, but couldn’t recover from a poor start to the season.

The addition of two strong teams from Bowl Championship Series conferences will test UTM, but Simpson hopes it will prepare the Skyhawks for the Ohio Valley season.

Exactly how the conference season turns out will be in the hands of junior quarterback Cade Thompson.

Thompson threw for 1,034 yards and eight touchdowns in 2007 and earned a spot on the OVC’s All-Newcomer team. If he continues to improve with experience, the Skyhawks’ offense will be dangerous.

Thompson will be without one major advantage he enjoyed in his first season: Star tailback Don Chapman, the school’s career leader in rushing yards and touchdowns. Chapman was a big part of UTM’s offense, which averaged better than 33 points per game.

Backup Marcus Dawson, who scored 10 touchdowns in ’07, is also gone. That leaves the run game in the inexperienced hands of sophomore Trace McDermott and senior Josh Chapman, along with Memphis transfer Miguel Barnes. Barnes, Memphis’ third-leading rusher last season, has the most potential, but all three are likely to get plenty of work.

The passing game should be strong: Wide receivers Roren Thomas and E.J. Daniel, the team’s leading receivers, are back, as is tight end Linzey Patterson.

True freshman wideout Steven Shiver, the biggest name of UTM’s recruiting class, will get plenty of opportunities as well.

All-OVC selection Kevin Bannon leads a solid offensive line that should be bolstered by the arrival of touted junior-college transfer Jarvis Doleman.

The Skyhawks’ defense had a 2007 to forget. UTM allowed 30 points and 385 yards per game last season.

In the offense-heavy OVC, it’s a respectable total — UTM was fifth in total defense — but the Skyhawks lack the offensive firepower to win consistently unless their defense improves.

Defensive lineman Ray Williams, an All-OVC selection, had 40 tackles and 3 1/2 sacks last season. The rest of the defensive line is inexperienced — one reason Simpson signed junior-college defensive lineman Kunle Kola in February.

The linebacking corps returns senior Adrian Pruitt, the team’s third-leading tackler, but lacks depth. Juco transfers Jamar Lawrence and Brent Acker will bolster the unit, as will freshman signee Ben Everett, an all-state selection as a high-schooler in Tennessee.

The defensive backfield returns safety Dontrell Miller, UTM’s third-leading tackler, but loses cornerbacks Marcus Arrington and Jessie Burton. Junior-college cornerback Jimmy Jones will get a look, as will redshirt freshman Tyree Ford.

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