Tag: Tennessee state football

Sanders Ellis named Big South-OVC Freshman of the Week

Brandon King

Tennessee State linebacker Sanders Ellis was named Big South-OVC Freshman of the Week for the fourth time this season. In the Tigers’ 23-20 win over defending conference champion Gardner-Webb, Ellis recorded 5 tackles ( 3 solo, 2 assisted) and 1.5 tackles for loss  On the season, Ellis is Tennessee State’s second-leading tackler, with 64 total stops ( 22 assisted), and ranks 11th in the Big South-OVC, averaging 5.8 tackles per game. The Jerry Rice Award Watchlist member is 6th in the conference in tackles for loss with 11.0. That also…

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Tennessee State withstands Gardner Webb rally , wins 23-20

Brandon King

ttle image Tennessee State Athletics It appeared early that Tennessee State may run away with the game early but Gardner Webb nearly fought back before critical late scores from Tennessee State proved to be the difference as the Tigers were able to defeat the Bulldogs 23-20.  In so many of our previews this season, it has been stressed for the need for Tennessee State to get off to a good start. In this game, the offense did just that. Gardner-Webb seemed to shy away from kicking  to CJ Evans, opting…

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Eddie George calls this year’s team “resilient”

Brandon King

title image via The Tennessean After working to rebuild the Tennessee State football program for the past three seasons, year 4 for Coach Eddie George has seemingly begun to bear fruit. The Tigers currently sit a 7-3, their highest win total since 2016, with two games left in the season. TSU is also still in the Big South-OVC title picture this late in the season, a posiition that the program has not found itself since 2013 when then-coach Rod Reed led the Tigers to a second-place finish in the conference.…

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Tennessee State v Gardner-Webb: Preview and Prediction

Brandon King

title image via ESPN Saturday Tennessee State takes on Gardner-Webb in Big South-OVC play. For the Tigers, a win not only keeps them in the hunt to play for the Big South-OVC Championship game but also keeps alive the potential for a postseason berth.  In their most recent outing, Tennessee State defeated Western Illinois 45-20, in the first meeting between the two schools. Scoring on their first four offensive possessions, the Tigers roared to a 28-3 lead in the first half. The Leathernecks built some momentum, scoring on a 4-play,…

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Eddie George potentially linked to Kennesaw State opening

Brandon King

title image via The Tennesseean Kennesaw State has lurched to a 1-8 mark, following a 43-35 double overtime loss to UTEP,leading to them showing head coach Brian Bohannon, who was the only coach in the history ofthe program, the door. With Bohannon’s departure, Kennesaw State joins the growing list of coaches that are in the market for a new head coach. As with any head coaching vacancy, speculation often runs rampant as various names arebantered about as possible viable replacements for a given opening. Pete Nakos of on3sports referenced numerous…

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Tennessee State gets key win over Western Illinois, 45-20

Brandon King

Tennessee State built a big lead early and then was able to stave off a game Western Illinois team to preserve a 45-20 win.  After winning the coin toss and choosing to receive  Tennessee State got right to work, taking the opening kickoff and marching 65 yards in 6 plays that ended when CJ Evans scampered in from 15 yards to put the Tigers up 7-0. WIU responded with a 13-play 62-yard drive but the Leathernecks came away empty-handed, as Antonio Chadha’s 45-yard field goal was no good.  Getting the…

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Tennessee State v Western Illinois: Preview and Prediction

Brandon King

This Saturday Tennessee State heads to Macomb, Illinois to take on Western Illinois in the first-ever meeting between the two schools.  Tennessee State is coming off a heartbreaking 28-21 loss to UT Martin that was immensely deleterious to their potential Big South-OVC championship aspirations. Although they fell behind 21-0, Tennessee State was able to battle back to within a single score, turnovers and miscues proved to be the Tigers’ undoing. Quarterback Draylen Ellis uncharacteristically threw 3 costly interceptions and although he was able to guide the TSU offense to within…

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Tennessee State’s CJ Evans named Big South-OVC Special Teams Player of the Week

Brandon King

title image via Tennessee Athletics The Big South-OVC announced its weekly Football honors and Tennessee State return specialist/running back was named Special Teams Player of the Week.  Down 21-0, Evans’ 98-yard kickoff return in the second quarter, which was tied for the 10th longest such play in FCS this season, put Tennessee State on the board for the first time on the evening, trimming the deficit to 21-7. It was the senior’s second straight game with a kickoff return for a touchdown; Evans had a 99-yard return against Howard that…

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Mistakes and miscues down Tennessee State, fall to UT Martin 28-21

Brandon King

Title image via Tennessee State football In my preview of Tennessee State and UT Martin, I outlined a plethora of factors that could either be deleterious to TSU’s aspirations for victory or bolster their chances to win.  Unfortunately for Tennessee State, too many times they were befallen by the former- Draylen Ellis was intercepted a season-high three times, and the Tigers had difficulty early with the Martin running game, while never being able to ignite their own. The slow start that has hampered the Tigers in previous conference games reared…

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Tennessee State v UT Martin: Preview and Prediction

Brandon King

Saturday, the Tennessee State Tigers take on the Skyhawks of UT Martin in a pivotal Big South-OVC. TSU, like last season, find themselves at 6-2, but faltered down the stretch, losing their last three games. In that vein, this matchup also has the potential to be a defining, breakthrough moment for the Tennessee State program under Eddie George.  The Tigers are coming off a bye-week, but in their most recent outing, t Tennessee State dispatched Howard 24-17, spoiling Homecoming at The Mecca. Draylen Ellis completed 19-of-30 passes for 289 yards…

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