| Local flavor evident on UTM recruit list | | | Familiar faces will be on the UT Martin sidelines during the 2008 football season.
Of the 23 players that signed national letters of intent to play for the Skyhawks Wednesday, four have very strong ties to the rural West Tennessee football landscape.
McKenzie quarterback Derek Carr leads the list of players known to locals that joined the UTM football fold.
Carr, a Mr. Football Back of the Year finalist in Class A, threw for 2,600 yards and 24 touchdowns during his senior campaign while leading the Rebels to the Class A championship game, where the team fell to South Pittsburg.
Carr was also named a Tennessee Sports Writers Association all-stater for his efforts during the 2007 season.
Joining Carr is fellow Mr. Football Back of the Year candidate Kendal Harper.
Harper, who was recruited as a defensive back, helped to propel Trenton to the double-A semifinals as both a versatile quarterback and cornerback. He is expected to be used in the defensive backfield at UTM. Last season, Harper made 45 tackles with five interceptions on defense.
Westview offensive lineman Zach Gregory, who competed vigorously against Harper and Trenton during a 24-22 first-round playoff loss this past season, will join his former adversary as a member of the UT Martin football squad.
Gregory was the anchor of Don Coady’s offensive line that averaged 38 points and 350 yards per game.
Also inking with the Skyhawks is University School of Jackson quarterback Bill Hardegree.
Hardegree — the younger brother of former Tennessee backup QB Bo Hardegree — passed for 2,376 yards and 19 touchdowns during his senior season with the Bruins. In all, he completed 170-of-327 total passes during the ’07 campaign.
UTM also inked three standouts from perennial 5A powerhouse Riverdale.
In all, UT Martin inked 15 players from Tennessee, four from Mississippi, two from Alabama and one each from Missouri and Arkansas.
“Our number one goal was to get at least one quality player at each position,” Skyhawks head coach Jason Simpson said in a school-issued press release. “Our goals were high and we were able to be choosey. We were able to investigate each player’s character and his passion for football.”
Among those in the recruiting class are players from nine Tennessee schools and two Mississippi programs that have either advanced to the state playoffs or won state championships.
“I believe there is a lot of carryover from high school to college when it comes to success,” Simpson said. “We brought in players who have sacrificed and who are winners. Winning is contagious.” | | | | |
