(Photo Credit: Imagn Images)
Key Players Returning:
QB Nicholas Vattiato, WR Myles Butler, WR Cam’ron Lacy, OG Ellis Adams, OG Mateo Guevara, OT Zach Clayton, OT Marcus Miller, DE Anthony Bynum, DE Shakai Woods, NT Damonte Smith, LB Brandon Buckner, LB Parker Hughes, CB Abdul Muhammad, FS John Howse IV, and KR/PR Kellen Stewart.
Key Players Departing:
RB Jaiden Credle, WR/PR Omari Kelly, TE Holden Willis, OG Julius Pierce, OG Morgan Scott, OT Shamar Crawford, DE James Stewart, LB Jalen Davis, LB Jordan Thompson, CB Tyrell Raby, FS Chris Johnson, DS Marvae Myers-Glover, SS Xavier Williams, PK Zeke Rankin, and PT Grant Chadwick
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: DS Locke Kennedy (Franklin, Tennessee), WR Tyree Patterson (UCF transfer), RB Kiandrea Barker (Newport, Arkansas), LB Micah Smith (Nashville, Tennessee), ATH Elijah Hunter Jr. (Birmingham, Alabama), LB Alex Mitchell (Chattanooga transfer), TE Tayvion Galloway (Purdue transfer), WR Kason Stokes (UCF transfer), RB DJ Taylor (Murfreesboro, Tennessee), and WR Ben Hubbard (Brentwood, Tennessee).
2024 Results:
G01 TENNESSEE TECH W 32-25
G02 @ #6 Ole Miss L 3-52
G03 WESTERN KENTUCKY L 21-49
G04 DUKE L 17-45
G05 @ Memphis L 7-24
G06 @ Louisiana Tech L 21-48
G07 KENNESAW STATE W 14-5
G08 @ Jax State L 20-42
G09 @ UTEP W 20-13
G10 LIBERTY L 17-37
G11 NEW MEXICO STATE L 21-36
G12 @ FIU L 24-35
Team Info:
2024 Overall: 3-9 (9th in CUSA)
Home: 2-4
Away: 1-5
Neutral: 0-0
CUSA: 2-6
Non-CUSA: 1-3
Head Coach: Derek Mason
Middle Tennessee: 3-9
Bowls: 0-2
Career: 30-64
(Photo Credit: Erin Douglas)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Nicholas Vattiato (269-418, 3092 yards, 64.4%, 7.4 avg., 16 TD, 10 INT)
Rushing: Jekail Middlebrook (60 car., 273 yards, 4.6 avg., 2 TD)
Receiving: Myles Butler (30 rec., 366 yards, 12.2 avg., 3 TD)
TD’s Scored: Myles Butler/Jekail Middlebrook (3)
Sacks: Brandon Buckner (3)
Tackles: Parker Hughes (69)
Interceptions: John Howse IV (2)
Pass Deflections: Aidan Butts/Abdul Muhammad (2)
Tackles For Loss: Anthony Bynum (7)
Forced Fumbles: 6 Tied (1)
Kick Returns: Kellen Stewart (20 ret., 414 yards, 20.7 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Kellen Stewart (3 ret., 17 yards, 5.7 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: None
Punting: None
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 11 Nicholas Vittiato (RS SR)
RB: 9 Jekail Middlebrook (RS SO)
WR: 86 Cam’ron Lacy (RS SO)
WR: 17 Gamarion Carter (RS SR/TR)
WR: 5 Myles Butler (RS SR/TR)
TE: 88 Tayvion Galloway (RS FR/TR)
LT: 79 Zach Clayton (SO)
LG: 71 Ellis Adams (GR/TR)
OC: 50 Ikani Tuiono (RS SR/TR)
RG: 56 EJ Harris (RS JR/TR)
RT: 72 Jacob Otts (GR/TR)
KR: 19 Kellen Stewart (RS SR/TR)
PK: 00 Baylen Woodman (FR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 40 Anthony Bynum (RS SO)
NT: 92 Damonte Smith (RS SR)
DE: 98 Shakai Woods (RS SO)
LB: 89 Brandon Buckner (RS JR/TR)
LB: 3 Alex Mitchell (SR/TR)
LB: 9 Parker Hughes (RS SR)
NB: 22 Juwon Gaston (RS SR/TR)
CB: 21 Abdul Muhammad (SR/TR)
CB: 10 Jordan Chestnut (RS JR/TR)
FS: 31 John Howse IV (RS SR/TR)
SS: 7 Brendon Harris (GR/TR)
PR: 87 Kellen Stewart (RS SR/TR)
PT: 32 Ashton Logan (RS JR/TR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: C
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: C
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: C
Punters: C
Schedule:
08/30 AUSTIN PEAY GOVERNORS | Middle Tennessee leads the series 38-12-2. The Blue Raiders won (56-33) the last meeting in 2010, and they won (59-10) the prior meeting in 1997.
09/06 @ Wisconsin Badgers | First meeting.
09/13 @ Nevada Wolf Pack | First meeting.
09/20 MARSHALL THUNDERINGHERD | Middle Tennessee trails the series 5-6. The Blue Raiders won (34-28) the last meeting in 2021, and they lost (14-42) the prior meeting in 2020.
09/27 @ Kennesaw State Owls | Last season’s 14-5 win was the first meeting between schools.
10/08 MISSOURI STATE BEARS | Middle Tennessee won (42-19) the only prior meeting in 1986.
10/22 @ Delaware Blue Hens | Middle Tennessee trails the series 0-2. The Blue Raiders lost (3-63) the last meeting in 1978, and they lost (7-60) the inaugural meeting in 1977.
10/29 JACKSONVILLE STATE GAMECOCKS | Middle Tennessee leads the series 14-3-2. The Blue Raiders lost (20-42) last season’s meeting, and they lost (30-45) the prior meeting in 2023.
11/08 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL PANTHERS | Middle Tennessee leads the series 14-6. The Blue Raiders are 8-2 since 2015, and their last series win (40-6) was in 2023.
11/15 @ Western Kentucky Hilltoppers | Middle Tennessee trails the series 35-38-1. The Blue Raiders are 1-9 since 2015, and their last series win (29-10) was in 2018.
11/22 SAM HOUSTON BEARKATS | Middle Tennessee trails the series 1-2. The Blue Raiders lost (20-23) the last meeting in 2023, and they won (20-19) the prior meeting in 1991.
11/29 @ New Mexico State Aggies | Middle Tennessee trails the series 2-4. The Blue Raiders lost (21-36) last season’s meeting, and they lost (7-13) the prior meeting in 2023.
Predictions:
Home: 4-2
Away: 0-6
Neutral: 0-0
CUSA: 2-6
Non-CUSA: 2-2
Overall: 4-8 (9th in CUSA)
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