(Photo Credit: Sam Doughton/MT Athletic Communications)
Key Players Returning:
RB Frank Peasant, WR DJ England-Chisolm, WR Elijah Metcalf, OC Wilson Kelly, OT Ethan Ellis, OT Sterling Porcher, DE Quindarius Dunnigan, DE Zaylin Wood, DT Marley Cook, LB Devyn Curtis, LB Drew Francis, CB/RS Teldrick Ross, FS Tra Fluellen ,SS Jakobe Thomas and PK Zeke Rankin.
Key Players Departing:
QB Chase Cunningham, WR Yusuf Ali, WR Izaiah Gathings, WR Javlin Lane, OG Seth Falley, OG Tyler Falvey, DE Jordan Ferguson, LB Jalen Davis, LB Christian Dixon, CB Decorian Patterson and PT Kyle Ulbrich.
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: WR Kalani Norris (Georgia Tech transfer), LB Brandon Buckner (Oregon transfer), CB Tyrell Raby (Memphis transfer), OT Devin Hayes (JSU transfer), WR Ethan Crite (Roswell, Georgia), ATH Trae Walker (Cordele, Georgia), WR Justin Olson (North Carolina transfer), WR Cam’ron Lacy (Toccoa, Georgia), EDGE Anthony Bynum (Covington, Georgia) and OT Isaac Rue (Muscle Shoals, Alabama).
2022 Results:
G01 @ James Madison L 7-44
G02 @ Colorado State W 34-19
G03 Tennessee State W 49-6
G04 @ Miami, Fl W 45-31
G05 UTSA L 30-45
G06 @ UAB L 14-41
G07 WESTERN KENTUCKY L 17-35
G08 @ UTEP W 24-13
G09 @ Louisiana Tech L 24-40
G10 CHARLOTTE W 24-14
G11 FAU W 49-21
G12 @ FIU W 33-28
BOWL vs. San Diego State W 25-23
Team Info:
2022 Overall: 8-5 (4th in CUSA East)
Home: 3-2
Away: 4-3
Neutral: 1-0
CUSA: 4-4
Non-CUSA: 4-1
Head Coach: Rick Stockstill
Middle Tennessee: 102-97
Career: 102-97
Bowls: 3-6
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Nicholas Vattiato (30-46, 293 yards, 65.2%, 6.4 avg., 0 TD, 1 INT)
Rushing: Frank Peasant (182 car., 777 yards, 4.3 avg., 9 TD)
Receiving: Frank Peasant (28 rec., 286 yards, 10.2 avg., 2 TD)
TD’s Scored: Frank Peasant (11)
Sacks: Marley Cook/Zaylin Wood (6.5)
Tackles: Tra Fluellen (104)
Interceptions: Jakobe Thomas (4)
Pass Deflections: Teldrick Ross (20)
Tackles For Loss: Marley Cook (9.5)
Forced Fumbles: 4 Tied (1)
Kick Returns: Teldrick Ross (1 ret., 15 yards, 15.0 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: None
Kicking: Zeke Rankin (16-19 fg/fga., 84%, 45-45 xp/xpa., 93 pts.)
Punting: None
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 11 Nicholas Vittiato (RS SO)
RB: 36 Frank Peasant (JR)
WR: 13 Javonte Sherman (RS SO)
WR: 3 DJ England-Chisolm (SR)
WR: 84 Elijah Metcalf (RS SO)
WR: 6 Jeremy Tate Jr. (RS SR/TR)
LT: 79 Sterling Porcher (JR/TR)
LG: 74 Ethan Ellis (SR/TR)
OC: 63 Wilson Kelly (RS SO)
RG: 77 Keylan Rutledge (SO)
RT: 64 Jacqui Graham (RS SR/TR)
KR: 3 DJ England-Chisolm (SR)
PK: 7 Zeke Rankin (JR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 7 Zaylin Wood (RS JR)
DT: 5 Jordan Branch (RS SR)
DT: 57 Marley Cook (RS JR)
DE: 97 Quindarius Dunnigan (RS JR)
LB: 91 Parker Hughes (RS SO)
LB: 8 Devyn Curtis (RS SO)
LB: 4 Jonathan Butler (RS SR/TR)
CB: 1 Teldrick Ross (RS SR)
CB: 23 Jalen Jackson (RS JR)
FS: 30 Jakobe Thomas (RS SO)
SS: 17 Tra Fluellen (SR/TR)
PR: 1 Teldrick Ross (RS SR)
PT: 99 Trey Turk (JR/TR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: A
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: C
Defense
Defensive Line: A
Linebackers: C
Secondary: A
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: A
Punters: B
Schedule:
09/02 @ Alabama Crimson Tide | MTSU trails the series 0-3. The Blue Raiders lost (10-37) the last meeting between schools in 2015.
09/09 @ Missouri Tigers | The series is tied 1-1. The Blue Raiders won (51-45) the last meeting between schools in 2016.
09/16 MURRAY STATE RACERS | MTSU leads the series 37-30-3. The Blue Raiders won (44-28) the last meeting between schools in 2000.
09/23 COLORADO STATE RAMS | Last season’s 34-19 win was the first meeting between schools.
09/28 @ WKU Hilltoppers | MYSU trails the series 35-36-1. The Blue Raiders last series win (29-10) was in 2018 and their last series road win (34-29) dates back to 2012.
10/04 JACKSONVILLE STATE GAMECOCKS | MTSU leads the series 14-1-2. The Blue Raiders won (27-16) the last meeting between schools in 1997.
10/10 LOUISIANA TECH BULLDOGS | MTSU trails the series 2-5. Last season’s 24-40 loss was the first meeting between schools since 2016.
10/17 @ Liberty Flames | The series is tied 1-1. The Blue Raiders lost (13-41) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
11/04 @ New Mexico State Aggies | The series is tied 2-2. The Blue Raiders lost (10-44) the last meeting between schools in 2004.
11/11 FIU PANTHERS | MTST leads the series 13-5. The Blue Raiders are 8-2 since 2013 and their last series loss (21-24) was in 2018.
11/18 UTEP MINERS | MTST leads the series 4-1. Last season’s 24-13 win was the first meeting between teams since 2018.
11/25 @ Sam Houston Bearkats | The series is tied 1-1. The Blue Raiders won (20-19 OT) the last meeting between schools in 1991.
Predictions:
Home: 4-2
Away: 3-3
Neutral: 0-0
CUSA: 5-3
Non-CUSA: 2-2
Overall: 7-5 (5th in CUSA)
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