Tennessee Tech ranks No. 20 in HERO Sports’ FCS Preseason Top 25.
The Golden Eagles finished 7-5 last year, missing the FCS playoffs.
Here’s a look at the 2025 Tennessee Tech football squad.
Returning 2024 FCS All-Conference Players (6)
1st Team
DB Tim Coutras
WR Noah Robinson (transfer from RMU)
2nd Team
DL Theron Gaines
LB Aaron Swafford
KR Tremel Jones
OL Drew Wilder (transfer from EIU)
D1 Transfer Portal Movement
Transfers Coming In From The FCS (15)
Maurice Lapierre (DE), Alabama State
Stefon Young-Rolle (DL), Alabama State
Tyler Swann (DL), Alabama State
Andrew Smith (DB), Alcorn State
Gavin Bryson (DB), CCSU
Leon Thomas (DB), Charleston Southern
Christian Shaw (CB), East Texas A&M
Drew Wilder (OL), Eastern Illinois
Kekoa Visperas (QB), Eastern Washington
Q’Daryius Jennings (RB), Murray State
Noah Robinson (WR), Robert Morris
Tucker Kyne (TE), Tennessee State
Jace Wilson (QB), Texas Southern
Richie Munoz (QB), Weber State
Quintell Quinn (RB), Texas Southern
Transfers Coming In From The FBS (8)
Tyler Wagner (OL), Coastal Carolina
Greg Turner (LB), ECU
Brian Courtney (TE), Florida State
Kaleb Purdy (DB), Kansas
Ahmad Haston (QB), UMass
Kaleb Brown (LB), UTSA
Josh Hand (LB), Virginia Tech
Kennedy Fauntleroy (RB), Wake Forest
Transfers Lost To The FCS (2)
Elijah Ruiz (OL) to West Georgia
Jordyn Potts (QB) to Eastern Kentucky
Transfers Lost To The FBS (4)
Caldra Williford (DB) to Baylor
Cayman Spaulding (LB) to Georgia Tech
Myles Parker (DL) to Houston
Daniel Rickert (DL) to Virginia
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Offensive Outlook
Tennessee Tech returns its top two wide receivers, three starting offensive linemen, and brings in several FCS transfers with starting experience, including three quarterbacks.
In a busy transfer portal offseason, Tennessee Tech grabbed attention by signing three FCS quarterbacks with starting experience, including two from notable Big Sky schools.
Richie Munoz arrives from Weber State after a brief stop at UIW this offseason. Last year at Weber, he threw for 2,568 yards, 24 touchdowns, and six interceptions as a sophomore. In 2023, Munoz threw for 1,054 yards, 10 TDs, and one interception in five games.
Kekoa Visperas comes in after two years of starting at Eastern Washington. Last fall, he passed for 2,171 yards, 17 touchdowns, and three interceptions. In 2023 as an All-Big Sky Honorable Mention selection, Visperas had 2,754 yards passing with 19 scores and 10 interceptions.
Jace Wilson has over 1,500 career snaps, beginning his career at Furman before playing the last two at Texas Southern. He started as a freshman for the Paladins back in 2021. In 2023 at Texas Southern, he threw for 1,630 yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions. Last season, Wilson passed for 737 yards with four touchdowns and six picks.
Last year’s top two receivers return. D.J. Linkins had 49 receptions for 631 yards and three touchdowns. Tremel Jones added 27 catches for 304 yards and one touchdown. The Golden Eagles also added Noah Robinson from Robert Morris, who was a 2024 All-NEC First Team selection with 57 catches for 796 yards and five touchdowns.
At running back, Aidan Littles returns after finishing No. 2 on last year’s squad with 63 rushes for 389 yards and three touchdowns. Two more FCS transfers look to play a role. Quintell Quinn arrives from Texas Southern, where he ran for 651 yards and six touchdowns on 113 carries last year. Q’Daryius Jennings comes in from Murray State. In 2024, he rushed 88 times for 420 yards and two touchdowns.
The offensive line returns three starters from last season while adding yet another impact FCS transfer.
Logan Weedman (6-5, 295 lbs) led the offense in snaps with 731. Nason Simmons (6-5, 324 lbs) added 665 snaps, and Christian Thomas (6-5, 317 lbs) played more than 430. Drew Wilder (6-3, 305 lbs) adds to the group as a two-year starter at Eastern Illinois and a 2024 All-Big South-OVC Second Team selection.
Defensive Outlook
After ranking No. 2 in FCS rushing defense (82.9 YPG) and No. 26 in scoring defense (21.8 PPG), Tennessee Tech returns 11 of its top 15 tacklers, including five of its top six. In snaps, the Golden Eagles return 13/17 players who logged at least 200 reps last season. They also added five FCS transfers with 1,000 career snaps.
Linebacker Aaron Swafford is back after leading the team with 66 tackles, including 7.5 TFLs and two sacks, earning All-Big South-OVC Second Team accolades. Also returning at LB is Kalvyn Crummie, who had 43 tackles (5th on the team), four TFLs, and an interception.
Four defensive backs who finished in the top 10 in team tackles return. Standout safety Tim Coutras is coming off an All-Conference First Team season, tallying nearly 650 snaps, 59 tackles, three TFLs, three interceptions, and eight pass breakups. Safety Jalin Shephard wasn’t far behind with 52 tackles, two interceptions, and three pass breakups in almost 500 snaps. Omari Philyaw, another safety, had 350+ snaps, 42 tackles, and three interceptions. Cornerback Toby Bolton recorded 32 tackles, two TFLs, and an interception in nearly 500 snaps.
Cornerback Devin Hunter finished No. 4 in defensive snaps with nearly 530, adding 24 tackles, one interception, and three pass breakups. Eric Taylor added more than 230 snaps at corner, notching 26 tackles and a pass breakup.
Five defensive linemen are back who logged 200 or more snaps last season.
Theron Gaines (6-1, 237 lbs) was named to the All-Big South-OVC Second Team, playing 350+ snaps and totaling 27 tackles, eight TFLs, and five sacks. Kanstin Brooks (5-11, 262 lbs) logged 500+ snaps and had 30 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, and 3.5 sacks. DT Hudson Tucker (6-2, 260 lbs) played 400+ snaps and recorded 20 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, two sacks, and five QB hurries. Jeremiah Sandiford (6-0, 269 lbs) added 340 snaps and 20 tackles with two TFLs. Idris King (6-1, 226 lbs) contributed a little more than 200 snaps and 15 stops.
Similar to the offense, Tennessee Tech added several experienced FCS transfers.
DB Gavin Bryson logged more than 1,500 career snaps at CCSU. DL Stefon Young-Rolle played more than 1,300 career snaps at Alabama State. Andrew Smith had more than 1,300 career snaps at Alcorn State. DB Leon Thomas played more than 1,200 career snaps at Charleston Southern. CB Christian Shaw logged 1,000 career snaps at East Texas A&M. Defensive linemen Maurice Lapierre and Tyler Swann both played over 200 snaps last fall at Alabama State.
2025 Preseason Preview Central
Tennessee Tech Football Schedule
8/30 vs Cumberland
9/6 vs RV Chattanooga
9/13 vs Davidson
9/27 at Tennessee State
10/4 vs Western Illinois
10/11 at Charleston Southern
10/18 at Lindenwood
10/25 vs SEMO
11/1 vs Gardner-Webb
11/8 at Eastern Illinois
11/15 at Kentucky
11/22 vs RV UT Martin
Bold indicates OVC-Big South games
HERO Sports’ rankings
RV = Received Votes
