Tennessee-Martin isn’t necessarily an offensive powerhouse in the Ohio Valley Conference, but the Skyhawks believe they have the gutsiest quarterback in the league.

“I think a lot of this young man because he’s meant a lot to this football team this season,” Tennessee-Martin head coach Matt Griffin said.

Sophomore signal caller Brady Wahlberg has averaged 231 yards passing in the Skyhawks new wide open offensive scheme. In a 34-24 loss at Jacksonville State, Walhberg set a pair of school records. He completed a school-record 44 passes and attempted a school-record 65. The Panama City, Fla., native threw for 369 yards, which was the most for a Skyhawk quarterback in a game since John Repella threw for 346 in 1998 against Middle Tennessee State.

“He’s just a really bright guy who pulls a 4.0 G.P.A. who makes great decisions,” Griffin said. “His teammates have respect for that type of player.”

Wahlberg has thrown the ball 100 times in the last two games. For the past three weeks, he is 91 of 134 for 650 yards with five touchdowns but also five interceptions. He has also run for 206 yards in that span and finds himself second on the Skyhawks in rushing.

“Last year when I wasn’t here they ran a three-back option kind of three-yards and a cloud of dust stuff,” Griffin said. “But now we run a pro style offense that’s allows us to be a lot more open.”

In the season opener, Wahlberg received a small fracture to his right elbow but continued to stay in the game throwing six more passes to seal the victory.

“Brady’s injury was a freakish type deal as he fell on his elbow,” Griffin said. “He came over to the sidelines and I knew something was wrong but he wasn’t about to tell me that he had no feeling in his right hand because he didn’t want to come out.”

In one of the most exciting come-from-behind victories in UTM history,Wahlberg, playing in his first game since suffering an injury in the season opener, led his team back from a 23-7 deficit to Tennessee State with just 11 minutes remaining to give the Skyhawks their first OVC win in nearly seven years.

It’s victories like these that have Griffin believing he has a player with the potential to be compared to 2003 Walter Payton Award winner and arguably one of the best offensive players in the OVC Tony Romo.

“I think Eastern had a player in Tony Romo that made great decision and had incredible talent,” Griffin said. “I don’t think Brady is at that level of Tony Romo yet, but he’s certainly making a name for himself in this conference.”

Wahlberg was 22-for-35 for 188 yards and a touchdown, he ran for 100 yards and a score as well in the upset win. Wahlberg capped the comeback by scampering 21 yards for the winning touchdown in overtime.

After that performance, Wahlberg was named OVC player of the week and received several national recognitions.

These awards seem even more impressive for a quarterback that was forced to fight for the starting quarterback position before the season started.

“Brady knows every recruit that comes to Martin wants to take his job and play more,” Griffin said. “But Brady will be the first guy to tell you that his teammates are why he’s having success.”

Griffin mentioned Wahlberg as a player that he feels confident in selling his football program to recruits, alumni and the town of Martin.

“At Martin, we’ve developed a policy to recruit character first and Brady exemplifies that perception in the best way,” Griffin said. “Without a doubt, he’s just a neat kid and a reason there’s been more excitement around the program.”