By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE. Tenn. – As the 2019 football season is coming to a close, another set of accolades were announced on Tuesday as the Tennessee Tech football team claimed seven spots on the Phil Steele all-Ohio Valley Conference teams.
Freshman receiver/return specialist Metrius Fleming was the lone first-team pick, while junior defensive lineman Chris Tucker and senior linebacker Aderick Moore were selected to the second team. Sophomore quarterback Bailey Fisher, junior offensive lineman Mike Rhoades, junior defensive lineman Henry Karimu and senior kicker Haidar Zaidan were selected to the publication's third-team squads.
Fleming, named to the OVC's All-Newcomer team and the league's second-team as a return specialist, averaged 26.5 yards per kick return and had a 91-yard kick return touchdown against Virginia-Wise. As a receiver, he also had 47 catches for 629 yards and three receiving touchdowns, while also rushing for two more scores as he compiled 1,200 all-purpose yards.
Tucker garnered a first-team spot from the OVC voting, recording 56 tackles, including 13.5 for-loss, while recording 5.5 sacks, four quarterback hurries and recovering three fumbles. Moore, also a second-team all-OVC pick, had 104 tackles with six for-loss, a sack, an interception, two quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles.
Fisher broke six single-season Tech records with 2,643 yards and 21 touchdowns passing, as well as 489 yards and 11 touchdowns rushing. Rhoades was a major part of Tech's effort for 4,561 offensive yards, the second-most in program history in a single season.
Karimu, a transfer from Citrus College, had a breakout year for the Golden Eagles as he had 36 total tackles, including 7.5 for-loss for 33 yards and 5.5 sacks for 30 yards. He also had six QB hurries and one safety.
Zaidan tied Nick Madonia for the most 50-plus-yard field goals in a single season in program history with three. He finished with a career-long 54-yarder, tied for the second-longest in Tech history. Zaidan was 12-for-16 on field goals and 22-for-22 on PATs.
Photo | Tony Marable
