By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – With several generations of Golden Eagle football standouts converging on the Tennessee Tech's Athletic Performance Center on Saturday as the program held its annual Spring Game, head coach Dewayne Alexander and his staff took time to honor the team's 2022 award winners for the team's Letterwinners' Breakfast.
After honoring the 2022 seniors in presence – Heath Price, David Gist, Tai Carter, Jake Huner, Ben Baugh, Christian Watson, Seth Carlisle, Jeremiah Oatsvall, Josh Reliford and Bryson Garrett – Alexander then recognized the academic achievers.
Starting with the Ohio Valley Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll honorees – which included Huner, Gist, Hayden Olsen, Nate Hodnett, Kail Dava, Price, Watson, Isaac Cross and Hunter Barnhart – Alexander then pointed out the 2023 National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society honorees with Carlisle, Oatsvall, Reliford, Watson and Spencer Stachyra. The veteran coach noted that of the nine student-athletes selected by current members of the OVC, five of them were Golden Eagles.
The team's Academic Awards were taken home by Hunter Barnhart and Bradley Clark.
The focus then shifted to the All-OVC honorees from the 2022 campaign as Reliford was named to the conference first-team, while Gist, Hodnett, Carlisle and Dava were named to the second team. Freshman Jacquez McGowan was on the league's all-newcomer team.
Alexander then talked about the program's named awards, stressing the history and importance of the individuals whose names adorns the honors. Starting off with the team's highest honor – the Robert Hill Johnson Award – the selection of Oatsvall as the 2022 recipient was a deserved one as the Austin Peay and Memphis transfer put together one of the program's best passing and total offensive seasons in its 100-year history.
With Sonny Allen from the first two OVC championship teams in presence, Carlisle was able to be recognized for the Sonny Allen Leadership Award and spend a moment with the Golden Eagle legend.
Reliford was selected as the recipient of the Tony Stone Bumble Bee Award for the team's top defensive back, while Huner was the winner of the Bill Dupes Inspiration/Sportsmanship Award.
Isaac Cross was honored with the Unsung Hero Award.
Alexander also introduced new alumni-named awards as the Frank Omiyale Blocking Award was introduced and the Josh Poplar Tech Pride Award was rechristened. Hodnett was named the winner of the Omiyale Blocking Award while Price earned the Poplar Tech Pride Award.
The honors concluded as Alexander introduced the 2022 Team Captains in Trevor Stephens, Carlisle and Reliford.
Season tickets for the 2023 campaign are now on sale – call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office or visit TTUsports.com to order.
Photo | Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
