Complete all-Ohio Valley Conference teams
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Anyone following the Tennessee Tech football team in 2019 saw how these Golden Eagles were indeed a special group. Rising from the ashes of back-to-back 1-10 seasons, Tech showed plenty of promise for this season and beyond.
The Ohio Valley Conference's coaches and sports information contacts certainly took notice, granting Tech six spots on the All-OVC teams as the awards were announced Tuesday morning.
The six recognitions are the most for the Golden Eagles since receiving nine following the 2011 OVC championship campaign.
Junior defensive end Chris Tucker was Tech's lone representative on the first team, earning a defensive spot. His numbers were solid – 56 tackles, including 13.5 for-loss, while recording 5.5 sacks, four quarterback hurries and recovering three fumbles.
The Golden Eagles also picked up two on the second-team offense as sophomore quarterback Bailey Fisher broke six Tech single-season records en route to 2,643 yards and 21 touchdowns passing and 489 yards and 11 touchdowns rushing. He wouldn't have done that without the support from his offensive line as redshirt sophomore Mike Rhoades earned a spot on the squad.
Senior Aderick Moore made the most of his final season with the Tech team, earning a spot on the second-team defense. Moore ended the campaign with 104 tackles, including six for-loss, with a sack, an interception, two quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles.
Freshman Metrius Fleming was named to the second-team specialists as a return specialist and what a year he had. Fleming averaged 26.5 yards per kick return and had a 91-yard kick return touchdown against Virginia-Wise.
Fleming was also named to the conference's all-newcomer team. He had 47 catches for 629 yards with three receiving touchdowns, two more rushing scores and the kickoff TD. In all, the true freshman totaled 1,200 all-purpose yards this season.
The lion's share of the awards went without surprise to Austin Peay and Southeast Missouri as the two teams tied for the league's championship, the Governors taking the automatic bid. APSU head coach Mark Hudspeth was named the Roy Kidd OVC Coach of the Year as the Govs took seven first-team spots, two more on the second team and two more on the all-newcomer team. SEMO had three first-teamers, two second-teamers and one on the all-newcomer team.
Tennessee State wide receiver/return specialist Chris Rowland was named the league's offensive player of the year, while Eastern Kentucky defensive lineman Aaron Patrick was the defensive player of the year. UT Martin quarterback John Bachus III was named the freshman of the year.
Photo | Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information