COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- The 2013 Ohio Valley Conference post-season
honors list features five players from Tennessee Tech, including
two first-team picks and three defensive standouts on the
second-team. Senior punter Chad Zinchini and senior offensive
tackle Wesley Sherrill earned first-team honors, while the
second-team includes senior defensive tackle Malcolm Mitchell,
junior linebacker Tra'Darius Goff and junior safety Marty
Jones.
It was a repeat honor for Zinchini, and a first-time award for
Sherrill, Mitchell, Goff and Jones.
Conference champion Eastern Illinois took home two of the four
major postseason awards while Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee State
won the other two in voting conducted by league head coaches and
sports information directors.
Eastern Illinois senior quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was named
Offensive Player of the Year while his head coach, Dino Babers, was
named the OVC Roy Kidd Coach of the Year for the second-straight
year. In the other major awards, Tennessee State junior defensive
end Anthony Bass was tabbed Defensive Player of the Year while
Eastern Kentucky redshirt freshman wide receiver Devin Borders
earned the Freshman of the Year award.
The all-OVC first-team included 14 seniors, 10 juniors and one
sophomore while the second-team had 13 seniors, 10 juniors, three
sophomores and one freshman.
Zinchini, a senior from Hendersonville, Tenn., led the OVC and
ranked second in the nation with a school-record punting average of
45.7 yards. He broke the school record that he had established last
year in his first season on the squad.
Sherrill, a senior tackle from Antioch, Tenn., was a four-year
starter, answering the call in 36 career games while spending time
at both tackle and guard.
Mitchell, a senior from Stone Mountain, Ga., ranked among league
leaders in both quarterback sacks (7.5) and tackles-for-loss (13.0)
while leading the Golden Eagles in both categories. Goff, a junior
from Columbia, Tenn., finished second in the OVC with 101 total
tackles (by one tackle), and added 8.6 tackles-for-loss, three
sacks and three fumbles forced. Jones, a junior from Cincinnati,
was third in the league in total tackles with 98, and also tied for
the team lead with two interceptions.
2013 All-OVC
Football Team
OVC Offensive Player of the Year: Jimmy Garoppolo
(QB), Eastern Illinois
OVC Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Bass
(DE), Tennessee State
OVC Freshman of the Year: Devin Borders (WR),
Eastern Kentucky
OVC Roy Kidd Coach of the Year: Dino Babers,
Eastern Illinois
FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE
QB - Jimmy Garoppolo, Eastern Illinois
RB - DaMarcus James, Jacksonville
State
RB - Shepard Little, Eastern
Illinois
WR - Erik Lora, Eastern Illinois
WR - Walter Powell, Murray State
TE - Jeff LePak, Eastern Illinois
C - Max Holcombe, Jacksonville State
OG - Collin Seibert, Eastern Illinois
OG - Kadeem Edwards, Tennessee State
OT - Dominic Pagliara, Eastern Illinois
OT - Wesley Sherrill, Tennessee Tech
FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE
Anthony Bass, Tennessee
State
Pat Wertz, Eastern Illinois
Antonio Harper, Tennessee State
DJ Roberts, UT Martin
Nick Thrasher, Tennessee State
Ben Johnson, UT Martin
Tony Bell, UT Martin
Daniel Fitzpatrick Tennessee State
Jourdan Wickliffe, Eastern Illinois
Pierre Warren, Jacksonville State
Nick Beard, Eastern Illinois
FIRST-TEAM SPECIALISTS
Griffin Thomas, Jacksonville State
Chad Zinchini, Tennessee Tech
Walter Powell, Murray State
SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE
Max Shortell, Jacksonville
State
Ronald Butler, Tennessee
State
Tim Broughton, Tennessee State
DJ McNeil, UT Martin
Taylor Duncan, Eastern Illinois
Jeremy Butler, UT Martin
Adam Drake, Eastern Illinois
A.C. Leonard, Tennessee State
Nick Borre, Eastern Illinois
Justin Meredith, Eastern Kentucky
Travon Carter, Eastern Kentucky
Charles Sweeton, UT Martin
Robert Myers, Tennessee State
SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE
Dino Fanti, Eastern
Illinois
Anthony Brown, Eastern Kentucky
Caleb Lawrence, Jacksonville State
Malcolm Mitchell, Tennessee Tech
Ichiro Vance, Eastern Kentucky
Robert Haynes, Eastern Illinois
Tra'Darius Goff, Tennessee Tech
J'Vontez Blackmon, UT Martin
Brandon Wicks, Murray State
David Van Dyke, Tennessee State
Marty Jones, Tennessee Tech
SECOND-TEAM SPECIALISTS
Jamin Godfrey, Tennessee State
Jordan Berry, Eastern Kentucky
Shepard Little, Eastern Illinois
ALL-NEWCOMER TEAM
TE - Jeff LePak, Eastern
Illinois
RB/RS - Shepard Little, Eastern Illinois
OL - Jimmy Lowery, Eastern Illinois
WR - Devin Borders, Eastern Kentucky
WR - Josh Barge, Jacksonville State
QB - Max Shortell, Jacksonville State
DE - Chris Landrum, Jacksonville State
QB - Maikhail Miller, Murray State
DT - Austin Black, Southeast Missouri
CB/RS - De'Ante Saunders, Tennessee State
QB - Ronald Butler, Tennessee
State
QB - Dylan Favre, UT
Martin
Note: The All-Newcomer team is
comprised of first-year players in the OVC - that can be either
true freshmen, redshirt freshmen or first-year transfers. The team
consists of 12 total players (1 extra due to a tie in voting this
year) and is not voted on by position. There were 13 players on the
All-OVC second-team offense (2 QB's, 3 RB's) due to ties in
voting.
June 28, 2014
Tech Homecoming chosen as ESPN3/OVC Game of the Week
June 23, 2014
ESPN3 to air eight-game OVC Game of the Week package
May 15, 2014
Golden Eagle summer camps just around the corner
April 4, 2014
Annual Purple/Gold Spring Scrimmage is Saturday at noon
March 24, 2014
New professional football team includes former Golden Eagles
February 27, 2014
Stressing fundamentals, Golden Eagles open Spring Drills Saturday
February 24, 2014
Captains announced, team awards presented at annual Football Dinner
February 11, 2014
Tech alumnus Corey Chamblin named CFL Coach of the Year
February 4, 2014
Follow Tech's football signings Wednesday on social media and more
January 29, 2014
Golden Eagles add familiar face in Pat Donohoe as assistant coach
January 16, 2014
Two Golden Eagles picked for USA Football Bowl all-star game Monday
December 18, 2013
Zinchini nets another All-America honor, this from Beyond Sports Network
December 17, 2013
Zinchini, Sherrill to suit up in 2013 FCS Senior Scout Bowl Saturday
December 17, 2013
Tech punter Chad Zinchini named All-America by College Sports Madness
December 16, 2013
Six Golden Eagles on College Sports Madness all-OVC squad
November 26, 2013
Five Golden Eagles included on all-OVC football honor squads
November 23, 2013
Golden Eagle defense gets shutout, ground game keys 34-0 OVC victory
November 22, 2013
One of Tech's most loyal fans, Hoke White funeral is Saturday
November 21, 2013
Special events featured Saturday as Golden Eagles host APSU in finale
November 21, 2013
Former Golden Eagle Corey Chamblin coaches Sunday in CFL Grey Cup
November 21, 2013
Military, Public Safety Appreciation Day is Saturday in Tucker Stadium
November 13, 2013
Rogers' first NFL action could be Thursday vs. Tennessee Titans
November 10, 2013
All the way back: Marty Jones named OVC Defensive Player of the Week
November 10, 2013
Stone named OVC Offensive Player of the Week by College Sports Madness
November 6, 2013
Golden Eagles wrap up road schedule at Southeast Missouri Saturday
November 1, 2013
Watson Brown Show Player Profile segment avaliable: Jimmy Laughlin
October 26, 2013
Gamecocks control tempo, hand Tech 34-14 Homecoming loss
October 24, 2013
Watson Brown Show Player Profile segment available: James Normand
October 22, 2013
HOMECOMING: Golden Eagles host Jacksonville State Saturday
October 22, 2013
Watson Brown Show Player Profile segment avaliable: Bill Dillard
October 17, 2013
Wes Gallagher to be inducted into TTU Sports Hall of Fame Oct. 25
October 16, 2013
Golden Eagles visit Eastern Kentucky for Colonels' Homecoming game
October 14, 2013
He does it again: Chad Zinchini National FCS Punter of the Week
October 9, 2013
Watson Brown Show Player Profile segment avaliable
October 7, 2013
Golden Eagle Blackout II is Thursday night vs. UT Martin
October 5, 2013
Golden Eagles face OVC road challenge at Murray State Saturday
September 30, 2013
Johnson selected as College Sporting News National All-Star of the Week
September 29, 2013
Johnson, Huguely receive OVC Weekly Player of the Week honors
September 28, 2013
Davis directs game-winning drive, Golden Eagles pull out one-point victory
September 27, 2013
Golden Eagle coach Watson Brown featured in Tennessean story
September 26, 2013
Where have they landed? Wayne Anderson
September 26, 2013
Golden Eagles welcome Indiana State Sycamores for first-ever meeting
September 26, 2013
Golden Eagle football staff participating in nationwide Coach To Cure MD
September 21, 2013
Tennessee State hands Tech 41-21 OVC loss in Tucker Stadium
September 20, 2013
Save 28 percent? How about saving 60 percent? Think season tickets
September 19, 2013
Where have they landed? Jeff Norman
September 18, 2013
OVC, Sgt. York races begin Saturday as Golden Eagles host Tennessee State
September 16, 2013
Golden Eagle football team to honor alumni at annual Football Legends Night
September 14, 2013
Golden Eagles claim character-testing, 30-27 comeback victory at Hampton
September 13, 2013
Extended version of Watson Brown Show Profile: Ladarius Vanlier
September 12, 2013
Where have they landed? Tight end Jim Bishop
September 11, 2013
Golden Eagle firepower hoping to sink Pirate ship Saturday
September 9, 2013
Weekly Insider's Lunch with Watson Brown begins today
September 9, 2013
Zinchini receives CFPA Punter of the Week recognition
September 8, 2013
Long Distance: Zinchini earns OVC co-Special Teams Player of the Week
September 7, 2013
No. 21 Wisconsin powers past Golden Eagles, 48-0
September 5, 2013
Where have they landed? Offensive tackle Frank Omiyale
September 5, 2013
Extended version of Watson Brown Show Player Profile: Cody Forbes
September 4, 2013
Five different teams represented in 2013 Hall of Fame Class
September 2, 2013
Vanlier selected National Punt Return Performer of the Week by CFPA
September 2, 2013
OVC taps Vanlier as co-Special Teams Player of the Week
September 1, 2013
Visitation Monday for Golden Eagle Hall of Fame coach Bob Joye
August 27, 2013
Something new coming to Tailgate Park: Golden Eagle Walk
August 27, 2013
Football game to impact campus parking Thursday
August 26, 2013
First Tennessee Bank Poster Night is Thursday at Tucker Stadium
August 24, 2013
Reserve a space in the 98.5 KISS FM Tailgate Park
August 18, 2013
Alumni gathering planned when Golden Eagles visit Wisconsin
August 12, 2013
Golden Voice: Roger Ealey receives 2013 OVC Media Award
July 16, 2013
Five Golden Eagles earn preseason all-OVC recognition
June 20, 2013
Punter Chad Zinchini tabbed as BSN preseason All-America