Get To Know Tennessee-Martin, Georgia's Season Opener Opponent

Georgia opens the season this Saturday the UT-Martin Skyhawks from the Ohia Valley Conference of the FCS level.

Author:
Kyle Funderburk
Sep 1, 2023 1:29 PM EDT

Georgia isn't the only back-to-back champions taking the Sanford Stadium field this Saturday.

The Bulldogs' opponent Tennessee-Martin is coming off its second Ohio Valley Conference Championship in as many years. Which is a major accomplishment for a program with just seven conference titles and four postseason appearances in its 95-year history.

A century of history aside, The Skyhawks have finished with a losing record only twice since 2012. Of their 53 losses since then, 18 have come against FBS opponents with half of those coming against SEC teams.

However, UT-Martin has some hurdles to overcome this season, chiefly having to replace 15 starters from last year's team. 10 of the Skyhawk's departing players earned All-OVC honors.

This biggest loss was Colton Dowell, UT-Martin's all-time leading receiver with 2,796 career yards. Dowell was First-Team All-OVC and was drafted in the 7th round by the Tennessee Titans. Quarterback Dresser Winn, an All-OVC player in his own right, also leaves the team after passing for 2,928 yards with 18 touchdowns. The most depleted position was linebacker as UT-Martin lost the OVC's first and third leading tacklers.

Offense

UT-Martin still has some weapons in its offense starting with OVC Freshman of the Year Sam Franklin who is coming off a 676-yard campaign. Wide receiver Devonte Tanksley looks to fill the void left by Dowell, as does FCS All-American tight end DJ Nelson. Anchoring the offensive line is fellow All-American Gavin Olsen.

Replacing Winn at quarterback is Ole Miss grad transfer Kinkead Dent. The former No. 1 pro-style quarterback prospect in the state of Mississippi saw little playing time throughout his years in Oxford, but learning from offensive guru Lane Kiffen surely had some influence on Dent's prowess.

Defense

Leading the defense is FCS All-American Daylen Dotson, who set up home in opposing backfields last year with 14.5 tackles for a loss. The biggest hole Georgia will look to exploit this Saturday is linebacker where the Skyhawks insert two first-time starters in Jaylon Sharp and Tevin Shipp.

UT-Martin's most experienced starter Oshae Baker resides at cornerback. He is a fourth-year starter in the Skyhawk's 3-3-5 formation, a base set Georgia has seen plenty of in the last two seasons. Safety Carson Evans is the only other returning starter in the defensive backfield.