By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech defensive lineman Daniel Rickert was devastating to the UT Martin offense on Saturday as he helped lead the Golden Eagles to their first victory over the No. 18-ranked Skyhawks since 2012, win the Sergeant York Trophy for the first time since Spring 2021 and outright for the first time since 2009 and put Tech in position for potentially winning the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference's automatic qualifier to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs or at least a share of the conference title.
It was an important win and Rickert was rewarded for his efforts as he was named the Stats Perform FCS National Defensive Player of the Week along with Big South-OVC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday.
The selection is Tech's second National Defensive Player of the Week honor of the season as fellow D-lineman Theron Gaines received the honor following Tech's victory at Gardner-Webb.
Rickert, a junior from Nolensville, finished the game with nine total tackles – three solo and six assisted – while collecting 3.5 sacks for 18 yards and 4.0 tackles-for-loss for 21 yards. One of those sacks was a strip sack as he forced a fumble. Rickert also broke up a pass and had three quarterback hurries.
For the season, Rickert has 31 total tackles. He is tied with Cayman Spaulding for the team lead in tackles-for-loss with 10 each, while he took the team lead in sacks with six. Rickert also has two pass break-ups, five QB hurries, a 50-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown, two forced fumbles and a blocked kick.
For the Big South-OVC, Southeast Missouri quarterback Paxton DeLaurent (415 yards total offense and five touchdowns) was named the Offensive Player of the Week, while the Redhawks' D.C. Pippin (18 points, 4-for-4 FGs, 6-for-6 PATs) was also the Special Teams Player of the Week. Tennessee State freshman linebacker Sanders Ellis (five tackles, 1.5 TFL) was the Freshman of the Week.
On the national side, Monmouth quarterback Derek Robertson (22-for-23, 358 yards, three touchdowns in win over No. 9 Villanova) was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Pippin was the Special Teams Player of the Week and Furman redshirt freshman safety Billy Lewis (nine tackles, INT, forced fumble in road win at No. 21 ETSU), while No. 14 Abilene Christian (clinched first-ever FCS Playoff bid after winning the United Athletic Conference title with a win at No. 13 Tarleton State) among the other FCS honors.
The Golden Eagles were also an honorable mention for the FCS National Team of the Week honor.
The Tennessee Tech football team will host Eastern Illinois Saturday at Noon for the team's regular-season finale. The Golden Eagles can win the Big South-OVC's automatic qualifier for the FCS Playoffs if they beat the Panthers and Tennessee State beats Southeast Missouri and Lindenwood defeats UT Martin. A Tech win and a SEMO loss to TSU will give the Golden Eagles a share of the conference title for the first time since 2011.
Tickets for Saturday's game are on sale now – call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office, or order online at TTUsports.com.
