NASHVILLE — Ten members of the Tennessee State football team were honored with All-OVC postseason accolations, as announced by the conference office on Tuesday morning. The voting was conducted by head coaches and sports information personnel.

This is the most players awarded since the 2016 season and only the fifth time with double-digit recipients since joining the OVC in 1988.

Of the 10 Tigers named, four players were added to five spots on the All-OVC First team with graduate student WR Rodell Rahmaan and junior OG Robert Lacey on the offensive side and redshirt-junior OLB James Green covering the defensive end. Sophomore Dayron Johnson solidified two positions on the first-team specialists category as a punt and kick returner.

On the second team list, TSU is represented by graduate student QB Geremy Hickbottom, sophomore RB Devon Starling, and redshirt freshman WR Zaire Thornton on the O-side of the ball while redshirt-sophomore DT Terray Jones and senior SAF Cory Rahman claimed defensive recognition. Freshman OC Jeremiah Frazier is the lone Tiger to be selected to the All-Newcomers team.

Rahmaan finished the season with 30 catches for 490 yards and six touchdowns. He had a reception in 10 games this season with his best performance coming at Austin Peay when he pulled down five catches for 129 yards and two touchdowns. Rahmaan scored at least one TD in four games this season and had a pair of TDs twice (vs. Kentucky State and at Austin Peay). Rahmaan finished with 90+ yards on three occasions (vs. Jackson State; 94, Austin Peay; 129, Tennessee Tech; 106). 

As an offensive guard, Lacy was instrumental in the Tigers gaining over 1,000 yards on the ground, converting on 27-of-36 red zone attempts and 53 third-down conversions. 

James Green led the TSU defense with 77 total tackles (41 solo and 36 assists). He also had one sack, one interception (at Eastern Illinois), and one forced fumble/ fumble recovery (at Mississippi State). For his efforts at Eastern Illinois, Green was named the OVC Co-Defensive Player of the Week. His INT against the Panthers moved TSU to the two-yard line — a return of 47 yards — which set up the first score of the contest.

Johnson did it on both sides of the return team. As a kick returner, he averaged 22.5 yards/return and scored a touchdown when he ran 90 yards to the house at Southeast Missouri. Johnson totaled 165 yards on seven attempts in that contest. As a punt returner, Johnson averaged 17.3 yards with his longest return of 47 yards against Grambling. Johnson also recorded three touchdowns as a wide receiver with 311 yards on 22 catches. 

Hickbottom finished the season with 1,847 yards passing with 12 touchdowns. He had a QB rating of 134.46 on 140-of-243 passes with a 57.61 completion rating. Not only was Hickbottom a threat in the air, but he also did it on the ground with 401 gained yards and seven touchdowns. His longest run from scrimmage was 65 yards and dazzled the crowd with three rushing touchdowns at Homecoming in a 27-21 win over Murray State. It was Hickbottom that broke the tie with 1:41 left to play as he scrambled out of the pocket and spun around a defender to the end zone. Hickbottom finished with 150+ yards passed in seven games and had a stretch of four games with 250+ yards passed. The graduate had a touchdown in all but two of the games he played in and finished with at least one completion in all 10 contests. 

Coming off the OVC Freshmen of the Year Award, Starling continued to amaze and with the leadership of a Heisman Trophy winner calling the shots, he finished with 848 yards in 180 attempts. Starling found the end zone three times with an average of 72.73 yards/carry. Starling rushed for 100+ yards in three games (Kentucky State; 142, Austin Peay; 120 and Eastern Illinois; 122). The Antioch product also contributed as a receiver with 312 yards on 37 catches. His best performance was at UT Martin where he made 12 catches for 117 yards.

Thornton was powerful midway through the season with two touchdowns. He made 26 catches and moved the ball 398 yards while averaging 15.30 yards/catch.

Jones took down 28 opposition players with 20 solo tackles and was second on the squad with three sacks for a loss of 15 yards.

Rahman tied for the team lead with two interceptions and had four broken-up plays. He was second on the squad with 65 tackles (41 solo and 24 assists). On the safety blitz, Rahman had one sack for six yards. He also recovered a fumble that was forced by James green at Mississippi State.

In his first season at center, Frazier protected his quarterbacks at all costs and was an important part of the Tigers O-Line that saw his teammate Lacey grab a first-team spot. Frazier played in all 11 games as a rookie. 

2021 All-OVC Teams and Award Winners
OVC Offensive Player of the Year: Keon Howard (QB), UT Martin
OVC Defensive Player of the Year: Koby Perry (SAF), Austin Peay
OVC Freshman of the Year: DJ Williams (QB), Murray State
Roy Kidd OVC Coach of the Year: Jason Simpson, UT Martin
 
FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE
QB - Keon Howard, UT Martin
RB - Geno Hess, Southeast Missouri
RB - Peyton Logan, UT Martin
RB - Zak Wallace, UT Martin
WR - Baniko Harley, Austin Peay
WR - Drae McCray, Austin Peay
WR - LaMartez Brooks, Murray State
WR - Eugene Minter, Austin Peay
TE - Rodell Rahmaan, Tennessee State
OC - Levi Nelser, Murray State
OC - Zack Gieg, Southeast Missouri
OC - Matthan Hatchie, UT Martin
OT - Michael Shanahan, UT Martin
OT - Jacob Vance, Murray State
OT - Bucky Williams, Austin Peay
OG - Robert Lacey, Tennessee State
 
FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE
DE - Chris Tucker, Tennessee Tech
DT - Bryson Donnell, Southeast Missouri
DT - Austin Pickett, UT Martin
DE - David DuBose, UT Martin
OLB - Omardrick Douglas, Southeast Missouri
ILB - John Ford, UT Martin
ILB - Jason Johnson, Eastern Illinois
ILB - Brandon Mincey, Southeast Missouri
OLB - James Green, Tennessee State
CB - Marcis Floyd, Murray State
SAF - Koby Perry, Austin Peay
SAF - Deven Sims, UT Martin
CB - Johnathon Edwards, Austin Peay
NICKEL - Kordell Jackson, Austin Peay
 
FIRST-TEAM SPECIALISTS
K - Kenny Doak, Southeast Missouri
P - Zach Haynes, Southeast Missouri
KR - Dayron Johnson, Tennessee State
PR - Dayron Johnson, Tennessee State
 
SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE
QB - Draylen Ellis, Austin Peay
QB - Geremy Hickbottom, Tennessee State
RB - Damonta Witherspoon, Murray State
RB - Devon Starling, Tennessee State
RB - David Gist, Tennessee Tech
WR - Colton Dowell, UT Martin
WR - Johnny King, Southeast Missouri
WR - Isaiah Hill, Eastern Illinois
WR - Zaire Thornton, Tennessee State
WR - Quinton Cross, Tennessee Tech
TE - Rodney Williams II, UT Martin
OT - Nate Korte, Southeast Missouri
OC - Kurt Huff, Tennessee Tech
OG - Chris Jackson, UT Martin
OG - Gavin Olson, UT Martin
OT - Lamar Morgan, UT Martin
OG - Colby McKee, Austin Peay
OT - Joe Ware, Austin Peay
                                                          
SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE
DE - Ethan Edmondson, Murray State
DT - Terray Jones, Tennessee State
DT - Terrell Allen, Austin Peay
DE - Jordan Miles, Eastern Illinois
DE - Tim Varga, Eastern Illinois
OLB - JaQuez Akins, UT Martin
ILB - Jack McDonald, Austin Peay
ILB - Eric Samuta, Murray State
ILB - Bryce Norman, Southeast Missouri
OLB - Darnel Victor, Murray State
CB - Jay Woods, UT Martin
SAF - Cory Rahman, Tennessee State
SAF - Josh Reliford, Tennessee Tech
CB - Shawn Shamburger, UT Martin
NICKEL - Jordan Vincent, Eastern Illinois
 
SECOND-TEAM SPECIALISTS
K - Maddux Trujillo, Austin Peay
K - Aaron Baum, Murray State
P - Matt Rigney, Austin Peay
KR - Shabari Davis, Southeast Missouri
PR - Malik Honeycutt, Murray State
 
ALL-NEWCOMER TEAM
WR - Drae McCray, Austin Peay
K - Maddux Trujillo, Austin Peay
CB - Russell Dandy, Eastern Illinois
RB - Harrison Bey-Buie, Eastern Illinois
QB - DJ Williams, Murray State
QB - CJ Ogbonna, Southeast Missouri
OG - Zack Gieg, Southeast Missouri
LB - Bryce Norman, Southeast Missouri
OC - Jeremiah Frazier, Tennessee State
OLB - Eyabi Anoma, UT Martin
RT - Lamar Morgan, UT Martin

Notes: The All-Newcomer team is comprised of first-year players in the OVC - that can be either true freshmen, redshirt freshmen (four or less games played in 2020) or first-year transfers. The team consists of 11 total players and is not voted on by position. Graduate transfers are not permitted to be nominated for the All-Newcomer Team.
                                                                                                                                                                       
The Offensive Line is not voted on by specific position.
 
There were 18 players on the second-team offense (2 QB's, 5 WR's), 15 players on the second-team defense (3 DE's) and 5 players on the second-team specialists (2 K's) due to ties in voting.