Know Your Foe: UT-Martin Skyhawks

• 2023 Record: 8-2 (5-1 OVC)

• Head Coach: Jason Simpson (18th Year)

  • Previous stops:

    • 2003-2005 - Chattanooga (OC)

    • 2000-2002 - Texas State (QB/WR Coach)

• Last meeting: Samford W, 33-27 (2021)

• Fun fact: Samford and UT-Martin played every year from 1995 to 2007 in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Team Overview:

This unique schedule in 2023 for this Samford football team ends with a home non-conference matchup against the 19th ranked UT-Martin Skyhawks. It is also the final home game for 29 different Samford seniors which includes QB Michael Hiers and WR Chandler Smith. UT-Martin comes into Saturday winning their last two games but need a Gardner-Webb loss to get the Big South-OVC’s automatic qualifier into the FCS Playoffs.

Even with an 8-2 record and an OVC title, UT-Martin is one of the last four teams in the playoff field according to Hero Sports. So that means that the Skyhawks will need a win on Saturday to ease any concerns about making the playoffs, if Gardner-Webb does beat Charleston Southern. This is a very dangerous football team and Samford will have their hands full. Let’s dive into what makes this team go.

The Skyhawks lead the Big South-OVC in yards per game with 439 yards while the next closest team is Bryant with 376 yards per game. This matchup on Saturday will be a lot of fun to watch as these offenses go at it. 

UT-Martin has a high powered rushing attack as they lead the Big South-OVC averaging 225 yards a game. They are led in rushing by redshirt sophomore RB Sam Franklin. Franklin out of Little Rock, Arkansas, has eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark six different times this season. This also includes a 259-yard rushing performance against Missouri State. Franklin is electric and will be a major problem for this Samford rush defense. Junior RB Narkel LeFlore is a solid back as well and he also features in the kickoff return game.

UT-Martin RB Sam Franklin, Image Courtesy of UT-Martin Athletics

This Skyhawk passing offense is solid also with Ole Miss transfer QB Kinkead Dent leading the way. Dent only completes 54% of his passes but does have 2,043 passing yards along with 24 TDs and 6 INTs. With a rushing attack as good as the Skyhawks have, Dent is definitely still someone you cannot overlook. UT-Martin believes in Kinkead Dent (please I hope you get this reference).

Moving over to the defense, while the offense runs it well, this defense is stout against the run. UT-Martin has held opponents to just 84 rushing yards a game. Their pass defense is more suspect, ranking eighth in the Big-South-OVC allowing 258 pass yards a contest. UT-Martin is led in tackling by LB Jaylon Sharpe and S Carson Evans with 59 and 58 total tackles respectively. Also look out for DE Daylon Dotson who has six sacks on the season.

To recap, this UT-Martin rushing offense is extremely explosive while the passing game is solid. On defense, the Skyhawks excel at stopping the run and their pass defense can be had by this Samford offense.

This should be a very exciting matchup as Saturday is the final game for the careers of 29 Samford players. Can Samford make UT-Martin nervous about Selection Sunday and get their first win over a winning team? We will all find out together.