It’s time for football. COTP looks at the Bearcats’ week 1 opponent, the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks.
The Skyhawks are a very respectable program at the FCS level, generally finishing in the top half of the Ohio Valley Conference standings. UT-Martin even beat Memphis in 2012, but that was pre-Justin Fuente, pre-Paxton Lynch, during the Tigers’ C-USA days. Over the past few years, UT-M has stepped up it’s competition and agreed to become lambs for the slaughter in exchange for dollar signs. I’m not sure how much the Skyhawks are getting to make the trip up to Nippert, but it’s probably at least a few hundred thousand dollars. They have been involved in “bodybag game” losses to Ole Miss, Boise State, Kentucky, and Northern Illinois – none of which has been close. Let’s be honest, FCS teams generally just don’t have the talent, size, or depth to compete with the FBS, unless you’re North Dakota State. FCS schools can only give out 63 scholarships, while the limit for FBS schools is 85.
Skyhawks head coach Jason Simpson has yet to name a starting QB, but will be picking between two FBS transfers: Troy Cook (formerly of Florida State) and Gunnar Holcombe (Marshall). Cook saw limited action last year at UT-M after redshirting at FSU, and Holcombe was the backup for the Herd last year as a sophomore, but is eligible immediately after transferring down a level. Not sure whether we’ll see one or both on Thursday night, but both have the track record that would suggest “career backup” status at the FBS level. Nonetheless, both have FBS talent, and will have to be respected by the UC secondary. WR Caylon Weathers (uniform #11) is the only returning player to catch more than 16 balls in 2015 (he hauled in 62 for 726 yards). The Skyhawks are definitely a pass-first team – they threw the ball almost 40 times a game last year and averaged over 300 yards passing per game.
Where these FCS-FBS games usually turn is in the trenches, though. Generally, a team like UC ends up manhandling a team like UT-Martin at the line of scrimmage. Last year, UT-M allowed its opponents to rush for an alarming 5.0 yards per carry, and their base defense is a 3-3-5. That should mean that Mike Boone and Tion Green will both be smiling like a butcher’s dog come Thursday night. That said, the UT-M offensive line was actually very good last year, especially in pass protection. Despite throwing the ball a lot, that unit allowed just 8 sacks all season. It should be a good test for the Bearcats’ front seven. We’ll see if UC can generate pressure on the quarterback.