CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The 2021 OVC Football Virtual Media Day was held on Monday, and it included a preseason poll that picked the Govs to finish second in the conference.
Austin Peay received four first-place votes, but was ultimately picked to finish as runner-up in the league heading into the new season.
Murray State was tabbed as the favorites to capture the conference crown.
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As he gets set to enter his first full year at the helm, Austin Peay football coach Scotty Walden is excited with the direction the program is headed in.
“Going through the spring season was a definite challenge and something that may never happen again in our lifetime, but it allowed us to grow as men and as a football team,” Walden said. “For me now looking back on it, it allowed us to accelerate our culture and our identity of who we’re going to be moving forward.”
Walden preached the importance of recruiting on Monday and how he and the rest of the coaching staff is making it a point of emphasis to get out to the surrounding areas and evaluate talent while building relationships.
“We’ve been traveling the state of Tennessee, and getting to do these satellite camps have been awesome,” Walden said. “It’s been great to meet the great high school coaches of this state. That’s something we didn’t get the luxury of doing with COVID and stuff like that. It’s been a busy summer and been a grind every day, but I’m so excited about the work we’ve put in.”
Preseason accolades
Sophomore quarterback Draylen Ellis and senior nickelback Kordell Jackson were named the 2021 OVC Preseason Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year in a vote of by the league’s head football coaches and communications directors.
Ellis previously earned Co-OVC Freshman of the Year honors after starting all six games in the spring. He led the Govs to a 4-2 finish and was ranked 11th among FCS quarterbacks in touchdowns with 14.
Walden believes the then-true freshman’s poise and resiliency led the coaching staff to believe he was the right man for the job.
“The reason why we as a staff saw that this guy could be our starting quarterback is because of his response to not only success, but also adversity,” Walden said. “I saw a guy who took ownership of his mistakes and wanted to get better. It’s just his competitive nature and ability to bounce back. With his talent and level of care for our program, it gave us the confidence to really roll with Draylen because he has the right demeanor and right mindset. He never got too high or too low.”
Aside from capturing a national championship, Jackson has achieved nearly all there is to achieve during his time as a Governor.
“Being blessed by God to be on this level,” Jackson said on his biggest accomplishment so far. “Just playing at a Division I school and continuing to prove that I’m nothing without God. At the end of the day, I wouldn’t be here without him. Moving forward, I just want to be the best person I can be for the team and help us win a championship. That’s my primary goal.”
The list goes on
Ellis should be well protected this upcoming season, as Austin Peay offensive linemen Bucky Williams, Seth Johnson and Colby McKee were all selected to the 2021 Preseason All-OVC Team.
The last, but not least Governor addition to the Preseason All-OVC Team is linebacker Jack McDonald. The senior had 70 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, a fumble recovery and an interception in nine games played last year.
As he gets set to enter his fifth and final season, Jackson’s main focus is to seize each and every opportunity that comes his way.
“You never know when you’re going to be called on,” Jackson said. “You have to prepare like every play is the last play you could play.”
Austin Peay opens up the 2021 season Thursday, Sept. 2, at 6:30 p.m. on the road at Chattanooga.