Jakob Milani
Sports Editor
[email protected]
With school back in session for the fall semester, football season is just around the corner for the Racers. After a strong preseason full of conference recognition and player awards, the Racers find themselves with a lot to prove in the Fall 2021 season.
Following their surprising 5-2 finish to the Spring 2021 season, the Racers began the offseason with the extension of Head Coach Dean Hood and his coaching staff. The assistant coaches’ contracts were extended through December of 2022, while Hood, who received the OVC Coach of the Year award after the spring season, received a contract extension through 2024.
The Racers continued their impressive offseason with 10 players named to the OVC Preseason All-Conference Team. Five offensive players were voted to the preseason team including junior quarterback Preston Rice, sophomore receiver Jacob Bell, junior receiver LaMartez Brooks, junior lineman Levi Nesler and senior lineman Jacob Vance. Graduate receiver Malik Honeycutt also received preseason All-Conference honors as a punt returner.
Defensively, the Racers had four players named to the Preseason All-Conference Team: junior defensive end Ethan Edmondson, junior outside linebacker Scotty Humpich, junior inside linebacker Eric Samuta and sophomore defensive back Marcis Floyd. This was not Floyd’s only award of the offseason, though, as he was also named to the Stats Perform Preseason All-AmericaThird Team, as well as the Stats Perform Buck Buchanan Watch List for 2021.
As a team, the Racers kept all 22 of their starters from the Spring 2021 season and were picked to win the OVC in the Fall 2021 season. Murray State was also ranked 22nd in the HERO Sports FCS Preseason Top 25.
The first full football season for the Racers in nearly two years kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 2nd when Murray State takes on the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils in Roy Stewart Stadium at 7 p.m. The Racers travel to battle against the University of Cincinnati Bearcats on Saturday, Sept 11th. The Racers finish up non-conference play at Bowling Green State University where they take on the Falcons on Saturday, Sept. 18th.
The Racers begin conference play on Saturday, Oct. 2nd, when they play against the Eastern Illinois University Panthers at home. They then travel to take on the UT Martin Skyhawks on Saturday, Oct. 9th. Murray State stays on the road the following week to take on the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks on Saturday, Oct. 16th. Homecoming night plays host to the annual rivalry game between the Racers and the Austin Peay State University Governors on Saturday, October 23rd.
The second half of conference play for Murray State begins on Saturday, Oct. 30th against the Tennessee State Tigers. The Racers then play their final two home games of the season, first against the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles on Saturday, Nov. 6th, then against SEMO on Saturday, Nov. 13th. The Racers finish their season at Eastern Illinois where they take on the Panthers one last time.
As the Racers begin their 97th season, they look to bring home the University’s ninth OVC title and first under Hood. With the team picked to win the conference and ranked 22nd in the FCS rankings, Murray State looks to be ready to make some noise in the 2021 season.
