Courtesy of Tennessee State Athletics
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee State soccer crew was picked fourth within the Huge South-OVC Preseason Ballot because the league launched the rating forward of Wednesday’s Digital Media Day. Tennessee State is the one HBCU within the Huge South-OVC.
Led by fourth-year head coach Eddie George, the Tigers obtained 41 factors within the ballot, a promising place for a crew coming off its first successful season since 2017 (6-5, 2-4).
2024 Huge South-OVC Predicted Order of End
UT Martin (5) – 61
Jap Illinois (2) – 53
Southeast Missouri (2) – 51
Tennessee State – 41
Gardner-Webb – 40
Charleston Southern – 27
Tennessee Tech – 24
Lindenwood – 18
Western Illinois – 9
As well as, the fourth-ranked Tigers had 12 gamers chosen to the league’s Preseason Participant to Watch Record.
Draylen Ellis – QB
Ellis returns for his third season below middle after enjoying in all 11 video games final season. He enters his senior season of HBCU soccer with over 6,500 profession passing yards, with 2,882 yards coming within the blue and white. The Mississippi native has 47 profession passing touchdowns and 12 scores on the bottom. The previous OVC Freshman of the Yr will likely be eyeing his fifth straight 1,000+ yard passing season.
Jordan Gant – RB
Coming off a Freshman All-American season, Gant had one of many higher seasons by a TSU operating again lately, turning into the primary again on the HBCU to complete with double-digit dashing touchdowns in a season since Trabis Ward logged 15 in 2012. The redshirt freshman completed the season with 553 dashing yards on 144 carries and 10 dashing scores, all main the crew. The Florida native rushed for a career-high 105 yards and two scores in a street win over Kennesaw State and recorded 4 dashing touchdowns on 12 carries for 83 yards in a win over Lincoln.
Jalal Dean – WR
Dean joined the crew this spring after a productive three-year profession at Tennessee Tech. The South Carolina native performed in 30 profession video games, hauling in 48 passes for 656 yards and two scores. Dean had 25 receptions for 323 yards in 2023.
Connor Meadows – OL
Meadows joined the Tigers for spring ball after transferring to the Nashville HBCU from the College of Tennessee. The redshirt sophomore noticed motion in two video games whereas in Knoxville, together with one recreation as a freshman towards UT Martin and one this previous season towards UConn. The Trenton, Tennessee, native will look to contribute instantly as TSU revamps its offensive line after dropping key items.
Jason Hoath Jr. – TE
Hoath was one among two true freshmen to play in all 11 video games for Tennessee State. He confirmed his versatility by enjoying on particular groups whereas additionally seeing important time on the tight finish place. The Columbia, Tennessee, native offered important blocking within the run recreation and showcased his palms with one reception towards Gardner-Webb.
Eriq George – DL
George was chosen to the watch record after incomes Freshman All-American honors and being named the Huge South-OVC Defensive Freshman of the Yr. Enjoying in 9 video games as a real freshman, the Nashville native completed the season with 25 tackles (13 solo, 12 assists), 6.0 tackles for loss, and a couple of.5 sacks. He recorded 5 tackles, 2.0 TFLs, and one sack within the win over Kennesaw State, and tackled Notre Dame’s Sam Hartman for no acquire to begin his profession.
Ahmad Nelson – LB
Nelson will look to step right into a full-time beginning position because the fifth-year linebacker enters the season with 37 profession video games below his belt. Nelson, who has performed in all 11 video games in back-to-back seasons, returns because the chief within the room with 59 profession stops. The Alabama native began 5 video games final season and completed tied for sixth on the crew with 35 tackles (24 solo, 11 assists) and three.5 tackles for loss.
Jalen McClendon – DB
After enjoying in simply 4 video games and using a redshirt season final 12 months, McClendon will look to step up and be a frontrunner on the nook place as he enters his fourth season of HBCU soccer with the Tigers. McClendon, who has seen motion in 20 profession video games, comes into the season with 32 profession tackles and one go breakup. The redshirt sophomore recorded 23 tackles in 2022 after battling again from a foot harm to begin the 12 months.
Dayron Johnson – All-Function / KR / PR
The 2024 season will mark 12 months six for Johnson, who was named to the preseason watch record as each an all-purpose participant and return specialist. The Springfield, Tennessee, native is coming off one among his finest profession years as a large receiver after enjoying in all 11 video games with 9 begins. He led the crew in receptions with 39 whereas ending second on the crew in yards (349) to associate with one landing. Johnson recorded 5 video games with 4+ receptions and completed with a season-high 11 catches for 91 yards towards Charleston Southern. He racked up 450 yards within the kick return recreation on 21 makes an attempt for a mean of 21.4 yards per return and tallied 99 yards in punt returns to complete the season with 898 all-purpose yards. Johnson has seen motion in 40 video games and logged 88 catches for 1,041 yards and 4 scores. He has returned 70 kickoffs for 1,569 yards, averaging 22.4 yards per return, whereas logging 348 punt return yards on 31 makes an attempt.
James Lowery – PK
Lowery returns for his fifth season after incomes a spot because the Huge South-OVC First Group placekicker final 12 months. He led the league in made area targets with 12 and completed the season 12-of-15 on area objective makes an attempt. He linked on 28 of his 30 PAT tries, main the crew with 64 factors. Lowery linked on two area targets from 50+ yards, together with a 50-yard game-winner towards Gardner-Webb and a 51-yard make on the street at Kennesaw State. The Florida native had an 11-consecutive made-field objective streak. He was 4-of-4 from 40-49 yards and 2-of-2 from 50+. Lowery additionally had 54 kickoffs for 3,250 yards and 15 touchbacks.
Jackson Foster – P
Foster had a profitable first season as TSU’s punter in 2023, incomes a spot on the Second Group. He led the league with punts contained in the 20 with 28. Foster punted 73 occasions for two,848 yards, averaging 39.0 yards per kick. He had a league-leading 28 truthful catches. His lengthy punt of 66 yards was the second-best within the league, and he had 5 kicks over 50 yards. Foster additionally served because the holder on area targets and extra-point makes an attempt.
Carson Buchanan – LS
Buchanan is again for his fifth season because the Tennessee State lengthy snapper. The Antioch native has snapped in 37 video games as a Tiger and was named to the All-Huge South-OVC second crew final season. Buchanan performed in all 11 video games final season and served because the lengthy snapper and brief snapper on area targets. Of 119 mixed punt, area objective, and further level makes an attempt, Buchanan was excellent, going 117-of-117 on his snaps and serving because the holder on the opposite two. The Nashville native completed with a deal with at Notre Dame.
The 2024 season marks the second 12 months the Tigers will compete because the lone HBCU within the joint OVC-Huge South Affiliation convention. TSU will play eight convention video games. Matchups embrace Tennessee Tech, Charleston Southern, Lindenwood, Jap Illinois, UT Martin, Western Illinois, Gardner-Webb, and SEMO.
TSU will kick off its season in Nashville towards HBCU foe Mississippi Valley on August 31 within the John Merritt Traditional. The sport will kick off at 5:00 p.m. CT and will likely be televised on ESPN+.
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