The Ohio Valley Conference takes on a new look in 2022 as Division II call-up Lindenwood joins the fray after the departure of Austin Peay and exits of Eastern Kentucky and Jacksonville State prior. UT Martin is the league’s defending champion; the Skyhawks advanced to the second round of the FCS playoffs by surprising Missouri State last November.
They could very well be primed for an encore, but Tennessee State, Southeast Missouri, and Murray State would certainly like to have a word about that.
2022 FCS Preseason Preview Central
Returning All-Conference Players
From last season
Lindenwood – 10: RB Robert Giaimo (1st team DII GLVC), WR Spencer Redd (1st team DII GLVC), OL Blake Rogenhofer (1st team DII GLVC), WR Payton Rose (1st team DII GLVC), DB Kai Ross (1st team DII GLVC), QB Cade Brister (2nd team DII GLVC), OL Ethan Johnson (2nd team DII GLVC), DL Tayvian Weary (2nd team DII GLVC), K Logan Seibert (HM DII GLVC), OL Gareth Warren (HM DII GLVC)
UT Martin – 7: DB Deven Sims (1st team), LB John H. Ford II (1st team), OL Matthan Hatchie (1st team), OL Gavin Olson (2nd team), OL Lamar Morgan (2nd team, Newcomer), RB Zak Wallace (1st team), WR Colton Dowell (2nd team)
Murray State – 7: K Aaron Baum (2nd team), LB Eric Samuta (2nd team), LB Darnel Victor (2nd team), OL Levi Nesler (1st team), QB DJ Williams (Newcomer), RB Damonta Witherspoon (2nd team), WR LaMartez Brooks (1st team)
Southeast Missouri – 7: LB Bryce Norman (2nd team, Newcomer), OL Zack Gieg (1st team, Newcomer), OL Nate Korte (2nd team), P Zach Haynes (1st team), QB CJ Ogbonna (Newcomer), RB Geno Hess (1st team), WR Johnny King (2nd team)
Tennessee State – 6: DL Terray Jones (2nd team), KR/PR Dayron Johnson (1st team), LB James Green (1st team), OL Robert Lacey (1st team), RB Devon Starling (2nd team), WR Zaire Thornton (2nd team)
Eastern Illinois – 5: DB Jordan Vincent (2nd team), DB Russell Dandy (Newcomer), DL Jordan Miles (2nd team), DL Tim Varga (2nd team), WR Isaiah Hill (2nd team)
Tennessee Tech – 3: DB Josh Reliford (2nd team), RB David Gist (2nd team), WR Quinton Cross (2nd team)
Returning HERO Sports All-Americans
From last season
UT Martin – 1: RB Zak Wallace (Fresh.)
Murray State – 1: RB Damonta Witherspoon (Fresh.)
Southeast Missouri – 1: LB Bryce Norman (Fresh.)
Tennessee State – 1: RB Devon Starling (Soph.)
Teams With The Most D1 Transfers
FBS-to-FCS Transfers & FCS-to-FCS Transfers
Tennessee State – 13 (9 FBS, 4 FCS)
UT Martin – 10 (9 FBS, 1 FCS)
Eastern Illinois – 8 (6 FBS, 2 FCS)
Names To Know
TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYER: Draylen Ellis, Tennessee State QB — Ellis, the former Austin Peay signal-caller, returns to the OVC in Tiger blue. He was the 2020-21 OVC Co-Freshman of the Year for the Governors and last season paced the OVC in passing touchdowns (19), passing yards (2,625), yards per completion (13.7), and total offense per game (268.5). TSU will enjoy a boost to its offense with the injection of a former opposing QB in Ellis, who lobbed two touchdowns and added another on the ground versus Tennessee State in fall 2021’s 36-7 APSU win.
TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Bryce Norman, Southeast Missouri LB — Norman left his mark in his true freshman campaign, playing in every game and starting in SEMO’s last seven. His three forced fumbles were first on the Redhawks and he compiled the second-most tackles by a freshman in the OVC. Earning his best performance against the toughest competition, Norman racked up a season-best 14 tackles at UT Martin.
THE NFL PROSPECT: John H. Ford II, UT Martin LB — The Buck Buchanan Award preseason watchlist member and OVC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year can do it all for the Skyhawks. In last fall’s conference championship run, Ford tallied 88 total tackles (44 solo), 5 TFLs, a forced fumble, and four interceptions.
Predicted Order of Finish
1. UT Martin
2. Southeast Missouri
3. Tennessee State
4. Murray State
5. Eastern Illinois
6. Tennessee Tech
7. Lindenwood
Perception of the OVC is down, and justifiably so, but don’t assume that that narrative will remain the case. While the conference lacks a traditional power, UT Martin’s ascension is bursting with promise. Hot in pursuit are SEMO, Tennessee State, and Murray State, all of whom have proven quarterbacks (CJ Ogbonna, Draylen Ellis, and DJ Williams, respectively).
Some combination of the top four above appears most likely in the Ohio Valley. Lindenwood, with its bevy of DII-era all-conference returnees, is a threat to knock Eastern Illinois or Tennessee Tech down a peg. In fairness to the Panthers and Golden Eagles, each squad has a fresh start ahead with first-year EIU head coach Chris Wilkerson and Tech transfer quarterback Jeremiah Oatsvall (APSU, Memphis) debuting in ’22. Both could change fortunes for his respective team, but with our projected OVC ‘top 4’ bringing back a combined 27 All-OVC honorees, the climb is a steep one.
