It's been over 400 days since UT Martin football last took the field, but it's finally time for the Skyhawks to kick off their 2020-21 season. UT Martin's original home opener against Eastern Illinois was canceled due to the recent snowstorm, so now the Hawks will take on rival Murray State to start the season.
On the offensive side of the football, Head Coach Jason Simpson returns eight starters who helped UT Martin rank second in the OVC in points per game. Wide Reciever Colton Dowell will look to build upon his 38 receptions for 765 yards and four touchdowns. He'll have one of the best Quarterbacks in the OVC in Redshirt Sophmore John Bachus. Bachus returns after an impressive Freshman year where the Pulaski, Tennessee native was named OVC Freshman of the Year for his 2,549 passing yards and 18 touchdowns.
The Skyhawks return six starters that were apart of the OVC's best scoring defense. Two of those six players being the duo of JaQuez Akins and Austin Pickett. Akins totaled 92 tackles with 5.5 of those being for a loss along with six pass breakups. Pickett was named to the Pre-Season All-OVC team for his 4.5 sacks and 38 tackles from a season ago.
The season opener will be in Murray, Kentucky when UT Martin takes on Murray State at 2 p.m. on February 28th. The home opener against EIU was rescheduled for March 7th at 1 p.m.