COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee Tech linebacker Tra'Darius Goff will make his return to the field in 2015 after missing most of the 2014 season as a medical redshirt. The rest of the Ohio Valley Conference is highly aware that the 5-11, 240-pound senior from Columbia, Tenn., will anchor the Golden Eagle defense, naming him to the league's preseason all-OVC team which was announced Monday at Media Day in Nashville.
The Golden Eagles are picked for seventh place in the annual vote by the league's head football coaches and sports information directors.
Eastern Kentucky running back Dy'Shawn Mobley is the 2015 Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Offensive Player of the Year while Jacksonville State senior defensive lineman Devaunte Sigler is the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, and Jacksonville State is the early favorite to win the league title.
Goff's selection highlighted the day for Tech. He recorded 101 total tackles in the 2013 season, giving him back-to-back seasons of 100-plus tackles. He also registered 8.5 tackles-for-loss, three quarterback sacks, and three forced fumbles. He was off to another strong start in 2014 when a shoulder injury put him on the sidelines following the fourth game of the year.
Jacksonville State totaled 128 total points to out-distance Eastern Illinois and Eastern Kentucky in the preseason vote. Eastern Illinois finished second in the poll with 107 total points while Eastern Kentucky picked up the other two first-place votes and finished third with 106 points. UT Martin was tabbed fourth (78 points), followed by Tennessee State (66), Southeast Missouri (63), Tennessee Tech (45), Murray State (38) and Austin Peay (17).
Head coach Watson Brown begins his ninth season in Cookeville and 31st overall as a head coach in 2015. The 2011 OVC Coach of the Year has 51 returning letterwinners from last year's squad that won four OVC games, its highest total since winning the league championship in 2011.
2015 OVC Preseason All-OVC Team
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Dy'Shawn Mobley (RB), Eastern Kentucky
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Devaunte Sigler (DL), Jacksonville State
OFFENSE
QB - Eli Jenkins, Jacksonville State
RB - Dy'Shawn Mobley, Eastern Kentucky
RB - DeMichael Jackson, Southeast Missouri
WR - Paul McRoberts, Southeast Missouri
WR - Josh Barge, Jacksonville State
WR - Janawski Davis, Murray State
TE - Bo Brummel, Jacksonville State
C - Casey Dunn, Jacksonville State
OG - Adam Wright, Jacksonville State
OG - Trey Shelton, Eastern Kentucky
OT - Brett Eyckmans, Eastern Kentucky
OT - Justin Lea, Jacksonville State
OT - Evan Kanz, Eastern Illinois
DEFENSE
DL - Devaunte Sigler, Jacksonville State
DL - LaMichael Fanning, Jacksonville State
DL - Dino Fanti, Eastern Illinois
DL - Chris Landrum, Jacksonville State
DL - Gabe Terry, Tennessee State
LB - Kamu Grugier-Hill, Eastern Illinois
LB - Jonathan Jackson, Murray State
LB - Roper Garrett, Southeast Missouri
LB - Tra'Darius Goff, Tennessee Tech
DB - Jourdan Wickliffe, Eastern Illinois
DB - Jermaine Hough, Jacksonville State
DB - Stanley Absanon, Eastern Kentucky
DB - DeBarriaus Miller, Jacksonville State
SPECIALISTS
K - Ryan McCrum, Southeast Missouri
P - Hamish MacInnes, Jacksonville State
RS - Pokey Harris, Murray State
2015 OVC Football Predicted Order of Finish
1. Jacksonville State (16 first-place votes) – 128 points
2. Eastern Illinois - 107
3. Eastern Kentucky (2) - 106
4. UT Martin - 78
5. Tennessee State - 66
6. Southeast Missouri - 63
7. Tennessee Tech - 45
8. Murray State - 38
9. Austin Peay – 17
Note: 8 points awarded for a first-place vote, 7 for second, etc. - Coaches and SID's could not vote for their own teams
