Posted: Monday, August 1, 2011 9:16 pm

UTM gridders lauded
with preseason honors

Seniors Stephen Shiver and Kenny Jones were named to Phil Steele’s 2011 Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference first team while junior running back Jason McNair was named to the second team.
Defensive lineman Darrin Nalls and defensive back Kendal Harper were named to the second team defense, while punt returner CJ Estelle was named to the special teams second squad.
Shiver led the Skyhawks in receiving this past season with 36 catches for 634 yards and five touchdowns. He averaged 17.6 yards per catch.
Jones, who saw action at fullback and tight end in 2010, had 16 catches for 248 yards. He averaged 15.5 yards per catch.
Nalls led the defense with seven TFL’s and five sacks. He finished the 2010 season with 28 total tackles.
Harper was second on the team with 42 total tackles. He had three interceptions and six pass breakups along with two fumble recoveries.
Estelle returned 17 punts for 195 yards. He had a 50-yard punt return against Austin Peay and a 46-yard return against Tennessee State. He ranked second in the OVC with a 13.9-yard average punt return.
The Skyhawks will report for fall camp on Wednesday. Their season opener is set for 6 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 1, at Jacksonville (Ala.) State.

Skyhawk rodeo team
adds to 2011-12 stable

John Luthi, the head rodeo coach at The University of Tennessee at Martin, has announced he signed three calf ropers, one saddle bronc rider and two barrel racers to scholarships for the 2011-12 season.
Clay Adcock of Smith-ville will also work the steer wrestling and team roping events in addition to calf roping. Adcock finished second at the recent youth rodeo in Shawnee, Okla.
Clay Brewer, the son of former UT Martin cowboy and current Gibson County educator David Brewer, will also work the steer wrestling and team roping in addition to the calf roping.
Austin Duckett of Dalton, Ga., will work the calf roping and steer wrestling events. Duckett is the only out-of-state signee among the six.
Lee Burton of Cedar Hill will work the saddle bronc and steer wrestling events for Luthi.
On the women’s side, Luthi signed Katie Brown from Waverly and Tawnee Foster from Vanleer. Both girls will run barrels, while Foster will also work the breakaway roping.
Published in The Messenger 8.1.11