COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Six members of the Tennessee Tech football team have been recognized with listing on the preseason all-OVC team selected by College Sports Madness, a national college athletics website. Tech had one player, punter Chad Zinchini, listed on the first-team, while three players earned second-team honors and two more are third-team picks.
Zinchini led the OVC and ranked fourth in the nation in punting average as a junior in 2012. It is the third different preseason all-OVC team selection for Zinchini, who was also a preseason All-America pickby The Sports Network.
Wide receiver Cody Matthews is Tech's lone offensive selection, earning second-team consideration. As a sophomore, he ranked second on the team in receptions with 28 for 477 yards and four touchdowns. He was joined on the second-team by senior defensive tackle Jordan Johnson and sophomore Ladarius Vanlier. Johnson finished the year with 19 total tackles, while Vanlier led Tech in all-purpose yards with 1,065.
Tech's third-team picks are junior safety Austin Tallant and junior cornerback Bill Dillard. Tallant ranked second on the team in total tackles in 2012 with 94, while Dillard was fifth on the squad with 73 stops.
The Golden Eagles report to fall camp on Friday, Aug. 2, and begin drills on Saturday following the team's annual Photo Day session in the morning in Tucker Stadium.
Fans will have a couple of chances to watch the squad during fall camp, including the annual Gathering of Eagles on Saturday, Aug. 17. The season opens THursday night, Aug. 29, with a 7 p.m. contest against Cumberland University.
Season tickets to follow the Golden Eagles are currently on sale at the Athletics Ticket Office in Eblen Center, or by calling (931) 372-3940. Tickets may also be purchased online at TTUsports.com.
| FIRST TEAM | |
| OFFENSE | DEFENSE |
| QB Jimmy Garoppolo, Eastern Illinois |
DL Earnest Smith, Austin Peay |
| DL Shawn Shupperd, Eastern Kentucky | DL Shawn Shupperd, Eastern Kentucky |
| RB Jaamal Berry, Murray State |
DL Antonio Harper, Tennessee State |
| WR Walter Powell, Murray State |
DL D.J. Roberts, Tennessee-Martin |
| WR Erik Lora, Eastern Illinois |
LB Anthony Brown, Eastern Kentucky |
| WR Jeremy Butler, Tennessee-Martin | LB Ichiro Vance, Eastern Kentucky |
| TE A.C. Leonard, Tennessee State |
LB Ben Johnson, Tennessee-Martin |
| OL Justin Meredith, Eastern Kentucky | LB Nick Thrasher, Tennessee State |
| OL Kadeem Edwards, Tennessee State | DB Steven Godbolt, Tennessee State |
| OL Dominic Pagliara, Eastern Illinois |
DB Brandon Stanley, Eastern Kentucky |
| OL Collin Seibert, Eastern Illinois | DB Nick Beard, Eastern Illinois |
| OL Tyler Eady, UT Martin |
DB Daniel Fitzpatrick, Tennessee State |
| K Jamin Godfrey, Tennessee State | P Chad Zinchini, Tennessee Tech |
| KR Walter Powell, Murray State | PR Walter Powell, Murray State |
| SECOND TEAM |
|
| OFFENSE | DEFENSE |
| QB Michael German, Tennessee State | DL Iosua Siliva, Austin Peay |
| RB Telvin Hooks, Tennessee State |
DL Pat Wertz, Eastern Illinois |
| RB Taylor Duncan, Eastern Illinois | DL Jordan Johnson, Tennessee Tech |
| WR Cody Matthews, Tennessee Tech | DL David Carter, Eastern Kentucky |
| WR Spencer Davis, SEMO | LB Ben Endress, Jacksonville State |
| WR D.J. Foster, SEMO |
LB Rashad Smith, Jacksonville State |
| TE Luke Smith, Jacksonville State | LB Sam Small, Murray State |
| OL Travon Carter, Eastern Kentucky | LB Robert Haynes, Eastern Illinois |
| OL Max Holcombe, Jacksonville State | DB Brandon Wicks, Murray State |
| OL Charles Sweeton, Tennessee-Marti | DB Thad Williams, Tennessee-Martin |
| OL Harris Bivin, Murray State |
DB Jermaine Hough, Jacksonville State |
| OL Demetrius Rhaney, Tennessee State | DB Rashod Byers, Jacksonville State |
| K Cameron Berra, Eastern Illinois |
P James Satterfield, Tennessee-Martin |
| KR Kevin Barfield, UT Martin | PR Ladarius Vanlier, Tennessee Tech |
| THIRD TEAM | |
| OFFENSE | DEFENSE |
| QB Scott Lathrop, SEMO | DL Anthony Bass, Tennessee State |
| RB Reco Williams, Austin Peay | DL Jeremy Brackett, Murray State |
| RB Duane Brady, Murray State | DL Samquan Evans, Tennessee State |
| WR Nevar Griffin, Murray State | DL Ayo Ojolola, Murray State |
| WR Joe Bowens, Tennessee State | LB Tony Bell, Tennessee-Martin |
| WR Terrence Oliver, Austin Peay | LB LeQuince McCall, Eastern Illinois |
| TE Matt Lengel, Eastern Kentucky | LB Qua Huzzie, Murray State |
| OL Zach Littlefield, Murray State | LB Daniel Siehndel, SEMO |
| OL Ben Schmidt, SEMO | DB Jourdan Wickliffe, Eastern Illinois |
| OL Drew Kelley, Murray State | DB Austin Tallant, Tennessee Tech |
| OL Robert Myers, Tennessee State | DB Steven Rich, Austin Peay |
| OL Mathew Axline, UT Martin | DB Bill Dillard, Tennessee Tech |
| K Jordan Benton, Murray Stat | P Steven Mix, Murray State |
| KR Telvin Brown, Jacksonville State | PR Telvin Brown, Jacksonville State |
