CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Austin Peay football program arguably has more momentum around it right now than it ever has before. The team was one win away from reaching the FCS Playoffs again in 2025, and many expect the Govs to be a contender in 2026.
The past five years have been one of the most successful periods in program history. The team won the ASUN in 2022 and won the UAC in 2023 and also made the FCS Playoffs in 2023. When you think of any of these recent Govs teams, the name Chandler Kirton is one of the first that comes to mind.
Kirton joined the Govs in 2021 and would go on to spend his entire five-season career here. The Florida native leaves Clarksville with a mile-long list of honors, including 2022 HERO Sports Freshman All-America, 2023 First Team All-UAC, 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy Finalist, 2025 UAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and 2025 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class, among many others.
Kirton started every game for the Govs from 2022-25 and was a team captain for his final season. Now, Kirton is moving on, but he’ll always be remembered as an Austin Peay great, both on and off the field. He recently took time to speak with Clarksville Now about his decision to stay loyal to Austin Peay and reflect on his time there.
Kirton was constant during heavy turnover
Kirton was recruited to Austin Peay by former head coach Scotty Walden. Walden was at the helm for the Govs from 2020 to 2023 and led the team to a 26-14 record over that time. After the 2023 campaign, Walden left for the head coaching job at UTEP, and several of Austin Peay’s key players went with him, but Kirton didn’t.
Kirton decided to stay and help new head coach Jeff Faris rebuild the program. In a time when it’s extremely rare for a player to spend his whole career at one school, Kirton bucked that trend.
“The biggest thing was the relationship. President (Michael) Licari, Gerald Harrison at the time, Jordan Harmon now,” Kirton said, referring to his decision to stay. “They reassured me that they wanted me to be a cornerstone piece.
“Coach Faris, the first day he was hired, talked to me and told me he wanted me to be a key piece.”
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Faris definitely benefitted from Kirton sticking around. In 2024, Kirton was one of only five Govs to start every game. The Govs had 60-plus new players that year, but having a reliable veteran like Kirton to anchor the line was a major help.
While Kirton had a fine season, the Govs struggled as a team in Faris’ first season. The Govs were close in several games but ended with a 4-8 final record. Interestingly, Kirton mentioned that the 2024 season was the only losing season he had ever experienced as a football player. Still, Kirton stayed and vowed to help turn it around.
“After 2024, I said never again. I had never been on a losing team in my life, and I didn’t want to do it ever again,” Kirton said.
Kirton reflects on best moments with Govs
Luckily, Kirton wouldn’t have to deal with another losing season. Instead, the Govs were able to make some history in 2025, beating Middle Tennessee State in Week 1. That was the first FBS win for the Govs since a 1987 victory over Kansas State.
“We knew how long it had been since Austin Peay had won an FBS game,” Kirton said. “After the game, I grabbed the ball and handed it to President Licari because I just knew how much that win meant to everybody involved.”
While that’s a moment Govs fans will never forget, it was far from the only good memory for Kirton.
“Winning the conference title in 2023 at Fortera Stadium, beating MTSU, and getting to play in some classic SEC stadiums,” said Kirton, when asked about his favorite moments. “Also, the people I met. I made lifelong friends at Austin Peay.”
Kirton almost certainly had opportunities to transfer, but he valued the connections he made here and loved being a Gov. The longtime Gov wants other people to know that Austin Peay and Clarksville are great places to be if you have the chance.
“You’re going to get an incredible education. You’re going to get coached by incredible coaches and meet incredible people,” said Kirton. “Clarksville is a hidden gem. It’s always going to be a special place.”
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