By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The offense had its day to shine on Monday, so as the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association announced its second wave of Preseason Players to Watch, it was the defense and special teams' day in the spotlight.
The second day of honors saw six Tennessee Tech student-athletes selected for seven positions with defensive lineman Daniel Rickert, linebacker Aaron Swafford, defensive back Tim Coutras, punter Spencer Ashby, Tremel Jones as both kick and punt return specialist for his third nod of the week and long snapper Turner McLaughlin on the roll.
Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Media Days will conclude Wednesday with Zoom calls with league media and broadcasters, as well as the revelation of the combined leagues' Preseason Coaches' Poll.
The three Golden Eagle defensive returnees put up huge numbers in the 2023 campaign.
Swafford tied for the team lead in tackles with 72 this past season – 27 solo and 45 assisted – with seven for-loss for 20 yards, including three sacks. Swafford also had two interceptions for 52 yards, two pass breakups, two QB hurries, one fumble forced and two recovered for 52 yards. Swafford recorded a career-best 12 tackles at Furman, had a fumble recovery for a touchdown at Robert Morris and two interceptions at Tennessee State in the season finale.
Coutras was third on the team in total tackles with 55 – 24 solo and 31 assisted – with 4.5 for-loss for 12 yards. He had a team-best four interceptions for 56 yards, two pass breakups and one forced fumble. He had a career-high nine tackles against UT Martin, as well as two interceptions and a touchdown at Robert Morris.
Rickert was fourth on the team in total tackles with 49 – 32 solo and 17 assisted – collecting a team-best 14.5 for-loss for 55 yards, leading the Golden Eagles in sacks with nine for 43 yards. He also had three pass breakups, four QB hurries, two fumbles forced and two fumbles recovered. He had two games with seven tackles (vs. North Alabama and at Robert Morris), three games with two or more sacks (at Lindenwood, at Robert Morris and at Tennessee State). Against the Colonials, he forced two fumbles, recovered two fumbles and returned one for a touchdown.
The special teams players recognized will all be making their first appearances with the Golden Eagles as the 2024 season opens on Aug. 31 at Middle Tennessee.
Ashby, a newcomer from Geelong, Australia, and a product of the Grovedale College program comes to Cookeville with a lot of potential to join some esteemed punters who have gone through the Golden Eagle program over the years.
Jones, who was also selected as a wide receiver to watch by the Big South-OVC on Monday, saw time as a returner at Wingate in addition to his receiver duties. A quick-footed athlete, Jones has the potential to be a massive gamechanger on the special teams unit.
McLaughlin comes into Cookeville as a highly-rated long snapper through multiple camps, posting the 18th highest score in his class and a .7-second average snap time at the Kohl's National Scholarship Camp.
Season tickets for Tennessee Tech Football are already on sale now – call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office or order online at TTUsports.com.
File photo | Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
