PREVIEW: POSITION ANALYSIS The list of talent includes returnees Dontey Gay, Henry Sailes and Zack Ziegler, plus Tremaine Hudson and Demetrous Garrett. Gay was the team’s leading rusher a year ago and Sailes has shown the ability to be a game-breaker in a variety of ways. Ziegler and Garrett are both quick and elusive runners who will see lots of opportunities in Tech’s wide-open attack. Hudson has quietly provided outstanding support and delivered clutch plays time and again. Newcomers to the backfield include Josh Perez, Jocques Crawford, Zach Salada, Cory McDonald and Cody Forbes, all of whom have shown an ability to chew up yardage and defenders.
RECEIVERS Junior Tim Benford, a two-time all-OVC selection, headlines the receivers with an ability to dominate games. In just two seasons he ranks ninth in career receptions with 98 and he’s knocking on the door of the school’s Top 10 list for career receiving yards, coming into the season with 1,362. Far from a one-man band on the outside, Benford is joined by returnees Colin Allen and Alden Olverson plus several new faces. Players coming off redshirt seasons and ready to contribute include Carter Crutchfield and Ryan Tilgman, while newcomers who could impact the passing game include freshmen Cy Ables and Josh Wilson.
DEFENSIVE LINE Moving across the line of scrimmage, the defensive line could be Tech’s deepest area according to Brown, where his squad could be three-deep. There are six returning veterans listed atop the depth chart at the three positions, plus a handful of new names prepared to bolster the attack. At the Bear defensive end spot, Charlie Seivers is the starter and could be an allOVC performer. Jamere Hogue, who has been a bruising tight end the past two years, has moved to Bear and has learned his new role quickly. Also available are J.R. Richmond and freshman Midoho Okpokowuruk. In the middle, senior Justin Hilliard and Dedrick Miley give Tech two solid performers at the Anchor position. They have help from redshirt freshman Lamar Moore and freshman Jordan Johnson. It’s the same at the Rock defensive end, where returnees Travis Adkins and LaDarrius Verge headline the list. Redshirt Nick White and freshman Matthew Smith are also showing promise.
LINEBACKERS Tech’s linebacker positions include inside and outside spots. The outside spots, the Ram and Bandit, feature some of the teams most versatile athletes. At the Ram, Dwight Evans, Tommi McBride and Barry Lenon all saw action last year while redshirt Christian Padrnos is coming along. At Bandit, Justin Vann has continued on next page
2010 F TENNESSEE TECH FOOTBALL MEDIA GUIDE
Inside This Guide Academic Support 140-141 Academic All-Americans 140 All-American Golden Eagles 114-115 All-OVC Golden Eagles 117 All-OVC Team 2009 84 All-Time Roster 120-123 All-Time Results 124-131 Annual Leaders 110-111 Assistant Coaches 18-28 Athletic Administration 138-139 Athletic Mission Statement 148 Attendance Highlights 135 Career Leaders 116 Cookeville & The Upper Cumberland 136 Depth Chart 65 Director of Athletics Mark Wilson 138 Game-by-Game Review 2009 71-81 Hall of Fame 146 Head Coach Watson Brown 14-17 Honors and Awards/Football 117-119 Honors and Awards/Athletics 147 Individual Record Book 104-106 Individual Superlative Games 112-113 Longest Plays 109 Media Relations/Following Tech 149-151 Newcomer Profiles 66-67 Ohio Valley Conference 83-84 Opponent Information 88-99 Opponent SIDs 100 Outlook for 2010 4-9 Players of the Week, all-time OVC 133 President Dr. Bob Bell 138 Results vs. 2010 Opponents 102 Returnees Profiles 29-64 Robert Hill Johnson Award 119 Rosters (Numerical and Alphabetical) 10-13 Series Results vs. All Opponents 101 Special Events Results 88 Sports Medicine 142-143 Starters 2009 82 Statistics and Results 2009 68-70 Team Record Book 107-108 This is Tennessee Tech 137 Travel Plans 150 Tucker Stadium/Overall Field 134-135 Year-by-Year Results 132
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