The 2024 UT Martin Skyhawks football team represented the University of Tennessee at Martin as a member of the Big South–OVC Football Association during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by 19th-year head coach Jason Simpson, the Skyhawks played their home games at Graham Stadium in Martin, Tennessee.
Preseason Preseason poll The Big South-OVC Conference released their preseason poll on July 17, 2024. The Skyhawks were picked to finish first in the conference.
Preseason All–Big South-OVC Teams The Big South-OVC announced the 2024 preseason all-conference football team selections on August 2, 2024. UTM had a total of thirteen players selected.
Offense
1st Team Narkel LeFlore – Running back, SR DeVonte Tanksley – Wide receiver, SR Drake Carroll – Offensive lineman, SR
2nd Team Kinkead Dent – Quarterback, SR Zoe Roberts – Wide receiver, SR Josiah Tingley – Offensive lineman, JR Vance Van Every – Offensive lineman, SR
Defense
1st Team Jaylon Sharpe – Linebacker, SR Oshae Baker – Defensive back, SR JaMichael McGoy Jr. – Defensive back, JR
2nd Team Josh Hastings – Defensive back, SR
3rd Team Charles Perkins – Defensive lineman, SO
Special Teams
1st Team Narkel LeFlore – Kick returner and all-purpose, SR
2nd Team Oshae Baker – Punt returner, SR Colton Peoples – Long snapper, SR
Transfers Outgoing Jordan CastleberryRBAkronDJ NelsonTEAlabama A&MCornelious Brown IVQBAlabama A&MDavid StewartOLBChattanoogaGiovanni DavisDLFIUAidan LarosK/PKentuckySam FranklinRBOklahomaBrett KuczynskiLBStetsonDaylan DotsonDLUCFAustin BrayTEYoungstown State
Incoming Dashaun DavisWRAppalachian StateDeshawn McKnightDLAppalachian StateChris RhodesDBArkansasJai’Lun HamptonOLCharlotteDoug NewsomeDBCharlotteMario EugenioDLCincinnatiXavier McIverDLEast CarolinaJulian CalvezQBGrambling StateKeyshawn JohnsonDLGrambling StateEdward Smith WRGrambling StateTyler DostinTEKent StateKaiya SheronQBKentuckyPreston YarberOLLamarElijah BowserOLLouisiana TechBryce BaileyWRMiddle TennesseeDolapo EgunjobiOLNorth DakotaRobert JohnsonDBNorth TexasJamarii Robinson WRNorthern ColoradoHyatt TimosciekTENorthern IllinoisDevin QueenWROld DominionScottie AlexanderWRTulsaJaden MooreLBTulsaPatrick SmithRBVanderbiltRashad RaymondRBVMI
Schedule
Game summaries
at No. 18 (FBS) Kansas State
Statistics UTM KSU First downs 8 20 Total yards 134 449 Rushing yards 36283 Passing yards 98 166 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 10-17-0 16-25-1 Time of possession 33:30 26:30 Team Category Player StatisticsUT Martin Passing Kinkead Dent 7/14, 87 yards Rushing Patrick Smith 9 carries, 23 yards Receiving Trevonte Rucker 1 reception, 45 yardsKansas State Passing Avery Johnson 14/24, 153 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing D.J. Giddens 13 carries, 128 yards Receiving Jayce Brown 5 receptions, 71 yards
at Southeast Missouri State
Statistics UTM SEMO First downs 22 24 Total yards 470 365 Rushing yards 193 -11 Passing yards 277 376 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 23–33–0 34–64–0 Time of possession 38:13 21:47 Team Category Player StatisticsUT Martin Passing Kinkead Dent 23/33, 277 yards, 4 TD Rushing Patrick Smith 26 carries, 148 yards, 1 TD Receiving DeVonte Tanksley 7 receptions, 113 yards Southeast Missouri State Passing Paxton DeLaurent 34/63, 376 yards, 6 TD Rushing Payton Brown 2 carries, 3 yards Receiving Dorian Anderson 8 receptions, 127 yards, 2 TD
vs. North Alabama
Statistics UNA UTM First downs 16 21 Total yards 377 416 Rushing yards 122 193 Passing yards 255 223 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14-33-3 18-35-2 Time of possession 27:48 32:12 Team Category Player StatisticsNorth Alabama Passing DC Tabscott 6/13, 149 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Dennis Moody 6 carries, 53 yards Receiving Takairee Kenebrew 5 receptions, 173 yards, 2 TDUT Martin Passing Kaiya Sheron 14/18, 170 yards, 1 TD Rushing Patrick Smith 15 carries, 123 yards, 2 TD Receiving Trevonte Rucker 6 receptions, 83 yards, 2 TD
vs. Missouri State
Statistics MOSTUTM First downs 19 19 Total yards 403 308 Rushing yards 15 95 Passing yards 388 213 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 26–34–0 20–28–0 Time of possession 30:06 29:54 Team Category Player StatisticsMissouri State Passing Jacob Clark 26/33, 388 yards, 3 TD Rushing Jacardia Wright 16 carries, 22 yards, 1 TD Receiving Lance Mason 3 receptions, 94 yards UT Martin Passing Kaiya Sheron 20/27, 213 yards, 2 TD Rushing Patrick Smith 16 carries, 63 yards, 1 TD Receiving Trevonte Rucker 6 receptions, 73 yards
at (FBS) Kennesaw State
Statistics UTM KENN First downs 16 13 Total yards 292 215 Rushing yards 160 66 Passing yards 132 149 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–23–1 17–35–2 Time of possession 31:11 28:49 Team Category Player StatisticsUT Martin Passing Kinkead Dent 13/23, 132 yards, INT Rushing Patrick Smith 24 carries, 123 yards, 2 TD Receiving Tyler Dostin 3 receptions, 41 yardsKennesaw State Passing Davis Bryson 16/34, 132 yards, 2 INT Rushing Davis Bryson 6 carries, 27 yards Receiving Blake Bohannon 4 receptions, 54 yards
vs. Gardner–Webb
Statistics GWEBUTM First downs 17 21 Total yards 303 402 Rushing yards 146 235 Passing yards 157 167 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–24–1 15–25–0 Time of possession 29:21 30:39 Team Category Player StatisticsGardner–Webb Passing Tyler Ridell 10/14, 145 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Edward Saydee 17 carries, 112 yards Receiving Giovanni Adopte 3 receptions, 52 yards UT Martin Passing Kinkead Dent 15/23, 167 yards, 1 TD Rushing Patrick Smith 15 carries, 128 yards, 3 TD Receiving Tyler Dostin 3 receptions, 66 yards, 1 TD
at Western Illinois
Statistics UTM WIU First downs 27 18 Total yards 541 294 Rushing yards 306 40 Passing yards 235 254 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–28–1 27–49–0 Time of possession 32:09 27:51 Team Category Player StatisticsUT Martin Passing Kinkead Dent 16/21, 194 yards, 2 TD Rushing Patrick Smith 17 carries, 145 yards, 1 TD Receiving Max Dowling 3 receptions, 88 yards, 2 TDWestern Illinois Passing Nathan Lamb 20/33, 158 yards Rushing Cameren Smith 13 carries, 27 yards, 1 TD Receiving Tristin Duncan 4 receptions, 45 yards
vs. Eastern Illinois
Statistics EIU UTM First downs 23 20 Total yards 396 460 Rushing yards 48 212 Passing yards 348 248 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 36–54–3 16–23–0 Time of possession 32:16 27:44 Team Category Player StatisticsEastern Illinois Passing Pierce Holley 36/54, 348 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT Rushing MJ Flowers 14 carries, 49 yards Receiving Cooper Willman 11 receptions, 143 yards, 1 TDUT Martin Passing Kinkead Dent 16/22, 248 yards, 3 TD Rushing Patrick Smith 13 carries, 87 yards, 2 TD Receiving Max Dowling 3 receptions, 70 yards, 2 TD
at No. 25 Tennessee State
Statistics UTM TNST First downs 22 25 Total yards 370 354 Rushing yards 104 42 Passing yards 266 312 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–27–1 33–54–2 Time of possession 30:35 29:25 Team Category Player StatisticsUT Martin Passing Kinkead Dent 18/27, 266 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT Rushing Patrick Smith 16 carries, 73 yards Receiving Tyler Dostin 4 receptions, 87 yardsTennessee State Passing Draylen Ellis 33/53, 153 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Draylen Ellis 5 carries, 29 yards Receiving Jalal Dean 11 receptions, 118 yards, 1 TD
at Charleston Southern
Statistics UTM CHSO First downs 21 12 Total yards 491 209 Rushing yards 237 94 Passing yards 254 115 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–26–0 14–27–3 Time of possession 33:06 26:17 Team Category Player StatisticsUT Martin Passing Kinkead Dent 13/26, 254 yards, 2 TD Rushing Patrick Smith 15 carries, 123 yards Receiving DeVonte Tanksley 5 receptions, 128 yards, 2 TDCharleston Southern Passing Rob McCoy Jr 12/23, 97 yards, 3 INT Rushing Autavius Ison 14 carries, 42 yards Receiving Noah Jennings 6 receptions, 52 yards
vs. Tennessee Tech
Statistics TNTC UTM First downs 13 9 Total yards 247 185 Rushing yards 107 43 Passing yards 140 142 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–31–1 13–32–2 Time of possession 33:14 26:46 Team Category Player StatisticsTennessee Tech Passing Dylan Laible 15/29, 128 yds, 1 INT Rushing Jalen Mitchell 11 carries, 62 yards, 1 TD Receiving D.J. Linkins 3 receptions, 56 yardsUT Martin Passing Kinkead Dent 13/32, 142 yds, 2 INT Rushing Kinkead Dent 13 carries, 20 yards Receiving Trevonte Rucker 2 receptions, 51 yards
vs. Lindenwood
Statistics LIN UTM First downs 21 20 Total yards 425 445 Rushing yards 98 173 Passing yards 327 272 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 27–45–2 18–27–1 Time of possession 30:44 29:16 Team Category Player StatisticsLindenwood Passing Nate Glantz 27/45, 327 yards, 2 INT Rushing Nate Glantz 17 carries, 42 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jeff Caldwell 7 receptions, 78 yardsUT Martin Passing Kinkead Dent 18/27, 272 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT Rushing Patrick Smith 15 carries, 80 yards, 1 TD Receiving Trevonte Rucker 5 receptions, 87 yards, 2 TD
at No. 19 New Hampshire (NCAA Division I Playoff–First Round)
Statistics UTM UNH First downs 22 6 Total yards 482 124 Rushing yards 236 53 Passing yards 246 71 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–27–0 14–35–1 Time of possession 38:03 19:46 Team Category Player StatisticsUT Martin Passing Kinkead Dent 17/26, 246 yds Rushing Patrick Smith 15 carries, 71 yards, 1 TD Receiving Trevonte Rucker 9 receptions, 88 yardsNew Hampshire Passing Seth Morgan 14/35, 71 yds, 1 INT Rushing Caleb Mead 5 carries, 36 yards Receiving Caleb Burke 3 receptions, 23 yards
at No. 1 Montana State (NCAA Division I Playoff–Second Round)
Statistics UTM MTST First downs 11 22 Total yards 264 501 Rushing yards 92 201 Passing yards 172 300 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–31–0 22–26–0 Time of possession 30:37 29:23 Team Category Player StatisticsUT Martin Passing Kinkead Dent 15/29, 167 yds, 3 TD Rushing Patrick Smith 12 carries, 32 yards Receiving Trevonte Rucker 6 receptions, 107 yards, 2 TDMontana State Passing Tommy Mellott 22/25, 300 yds, 4 TD Rushing Scottre Humphrey 11 carries, 102 yards, 1 TD Receiving Ryan Lonergan 3 receptions, 90 yards
Rankings
Conference awards and honors Skyhawk players received player of the week recognition four times during the season.
Weekly awards Weekly honors Honors Player Position Date Awarded Ref. BS-OVC Special Teams Player of the Week Jaren Van Winkle K/P September 16, 2024 BS-OVC Co-Defensive Player of the Week Oshae Baker S September 30, 2024 BS-OVC Defensive Player of the Week Jaylon Sharpe LB October 28, 2024 BS-OVC Special Teams Player of the Week Jaren Van Winkle K/P November 11, 2024
Postseason All–Big South-OVC Teams The Big South-OVC Conference announced the 2024 all-conference football team selections on November 26, 2024. UT Martin had a total of twelve players selected.
Offense
1st Team Patrick Smith – Running back, SR Vance Van Every, Offensive lineman, GR Drake Carroll, Offensive lineman, GR
2nd Team Charles Perkins, Defensive lineman, R-SO Christian Dowell, Defensive lineman, SR Jaylon Sharpe, Linebacker, GR Tevin Shipp, Linebacker, GR Oshae Baker, Defensive back, SR JaMichael McGoy Jr., Defensive back, R-JR
Defense
1st Team Trevonte Rucker, Wide receiver, SR Max Dowling, Tight end, R-SO Josiah Tingley, Offensive lineman, GR
2nd Team Chris Hunter Jr., Linebacker, GR
Special Teams
1st Team Oshae Baker, Punt returner, SR
2nd Team Colton Peoples, Long snapper, JR
References