Ohio Valley Conference Spring Football at a Glance

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MURRAY STATE

HEAD COACH: Dean Hood (first season; 55-38 total)

RECORD 2019: 4-8, 2-6 OVC (tied)

PROJECTED RETURNS RETURNS: 18 (10 offensives / 8 defensives)

PRIORITIES: Establish a racing game to support double threat quarterback Preston Rice. Adapt to new coaching staff.

NOTABLE: With the most recurring starters in the OVC, the Racers hope to get back on track in the first season of Hood. He led Eastern Kentucky to two OVC titles and three playoff appearances in eight seasons between 2008-15. Rising senior linebacker Anthony Koclanakis led the OVC with 124 tackles, but the defensive line and high school have some holes. Wide receiver LaMartez Brooks had a second season in small groups. Special teams are rejuvenated with kicker Malik Honeycutt and kicker Gabriel Vicente joining training alongside bettor Steve Dawson. Two of Hood's first three games are against FBS opponents (Georgia State and Louisville).

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MISSOURI STATE OF SOUTHEAST

HEAD COACH: Tom Matukewicz (33-38, six seasons; 34-38 total)

RECORD 2019: 9-4, 7-1 OVC (tie / 1st)

PROJECTED RETURN STARTS: 14 (8 offensive / 6 defensive)

PRIORITIES: Having improved the offensive line (four returning starters) to protect a new quarterback (Joe Pyle has more experience on Jacob Buie and Jaylyn Williams). Make up for the big losses in linebacker Zach Hall and Justin Switft, recipient of the Stats Perform Buck Buchanan Award 2018.

NOTE: Reigning co-champion Redhawks has posted two consecutive nine-win seasons – three more wins than Coach Tuke's first four combined seasons – but they plan to take a step back given their main losses among seniors. Their offensive playmakers come in committee as ball carrier (Zion Custis, Geno Hess and Mark Robinson) and wide catcher (Aaron Alston and Zack Smith). Free security Bydarrius Knighten should be one of the best defensive players in the conference.

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TENNESSEE STATE

HEAD COACH: Rod Reed (56-56, 10 seasons)

RECORD 2019: 3-9, 2-6 OVC (tied)

PROJECTED RETURNS RETURNS: 9 (2 offensive / 7 defensive)

PRIORITIES: Improve defensively after finishing last in the OVC. Assemble the offensive at two depths, which will be very different.

NOTE: It is true that the Tigers have the fewest starters back in the conference, but a bunch of experienced players are back after missing all or most of last season. Ball carrier Earl Harrison, tight end Aaron Cauthen and linebacker Jahsun Bryant are included. It is almost impossible to replace the production of versatile All-America player from the first team Chris Rowland, and the Tigers can no longer have the worst turnover margin of the OVC (minus 12). At least, the kicking game has certainties with kicker Antonio Zita and bettor Kaleb Mosley. The Tigers have only had one winning conference record in the past six seasons.

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TENNESSEE TECH

HEAD COACH: Dewayne Alexander (7-16, two seasons; 48-49 overall)

RECORD 2019: 6-6, 3-5 OVC (tied)

PROJECTED RETURN STARTS: 15 (9 offensive / 6 defensive)

PRIORITIES: Strengthen defense, especially in high school. Mix new coaches because former offensive coordinator Tre Lamb has been appointed head coach of Gardner-Webb and has taken four technical assistants with him.

NOTABLE: The 2020 campaign is the 99th in the history of the program. The Golden Eagles are trending upwards after improving to five wins in Alexander's second season. Bailey Fisher, a rising junior, has just had the biggest statistical season in a Tech quarterback and a lot comes back around him in offensive skill positions. Defense is still the biggest issue, ranking last in the OVC by scoring defense and penultimate in total defense a year ago. All-OVC defensive end Chris Tucker is looking to lead the improvement.

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UT MARTIN

HEAD COACH: Jason Simpson (87-73, 14 seasons)

RECORD 2019: 7-5, 6-2 OVC (3rd)

PROJECTED RETURNS RETURNS: 12 (7 offensive / 5 defensive)

PRIORITIES: Develop defense chemistry with new starters and new coaches. Replacement for wide receiver Terry Williams and Jaylon Moore (tight end Colton Dowell could see more action outside).

NOTABLE: UTM quickly overcame the worst season in Simpson's tenure (2-9 and 2-6 OVC in 2018) by fighting for the conference title last season. Curiously this year, the Skyhawks will face two consecutive FBS opponents to complete the regular season – Alabama and Memphis. As quarterback John Bachus III comes out of the OVC's freshman honors, 2018 star Dresser Winn is still in the mix after being wounded a year ago. Both would be more effective if UTM cancels the 37 worst bags from last year's conference. Kicker Ryan Courtright (25 of 31 career goals) will not be back for his senior season.