Ut Martin enters the 2021 season following a 3-4 record in 2020. UT Martin is in a good spot regarding the conference with most of their starter returning this season.. UT Martin has 9 guys back on the offense that will carry the Sky Hawks in the early season. The UT Martin offense will lean on 2 preseason ALL-OVC players in wide receiver Colton Dowell and Tight End Rodney Williams to lead the team.
Defensively the Skyhawks will be solid with 9 players back as well from the 2020 season. Jay Woods and Deven Sims are on the Pre Season all-conference team and will anchor this defense in 2021. UVM has the players and talent this season to compete within the conference and it will all depend on their top 4 players to carry the brunt of the load early on to lead the Skyhawks to success.
The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers come into this season off a 5-7 overall record in 2020 looking to improve in 2021. Despite winning 5 games last year the Hilltoppers only put up 290 yards and less then 20 points per game. Quarterback Tyrell Pigrome will oversee leading the WKU offense to a much better showing in 2021. The Hilltoppers have several transfers that will make an immediate impact but the top recievers from last year Jerreth Sterns and Ben Ralzalaff will lead the way early on.
Defensively WKU had issues last year and lost a lot of guys to the transfer portal but will also add several new names to fill the voids left by the transfers. Davion Williams and Tre Shaw are the 2 top name corners that will make the biggest impact. Deangelo Malone led the Hilltoppers defense in 2020 and will be back on the field in 2021 as the key piece to the defense leading the pass rush.
