(QB Nicholas Vattiato – The Daily News Journal/USA Today Network)
Key Players Returning:
QB Nicholas Vattiato, RB Jaiden Credle, RB Frank Peasant, TE Holden Willis, OG Ethan Ellis, LB Devyn Curtis, LB Drew Francis, LB Parker Hughes, CB De’Arre McDonald, CB Tyrell Raby, PK Zeke Rankin, and PT Trey Turk.
Key Players Departing:
WR/KR DJ England-Chisolm, WR/PR Zach Dobson, WR Elijah Metcalf (Marshall transfer), WR Justin Olson (Charlotte transfer), OC Wilson Kelly, OG Keylan Rutledge (Georgia Tech transfer), OT Jacqui Graham, OT Sterling Porcher (Texas Tech transfer), DE Quindarius Dunnigan, DE Richard Kinley (Memphis transfer), DE Zaylin Wood (Vanderbilt transfer), DT Jordan Branch, DT Marley Cook, LB Sam Brumfield (Virginia Tech transfer), LB Johnathan Butler, CB/RS Teldrick Ross, FS Tra Fluellen, SS Jakobe Thomas (Tennessee transfer), and PT Miles Tillman.
(QB Luther Richesson – 247Sports)
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: QB Luther Richesson (Huntington Beach, California), WR Omari Kelly (Auburn transfer), QB Roman Gagilano (Opelika, Alabama), TE Brody Benke (Ft. Thomas, Kentucky), EDGE Zeion Simpson-Smith (Nashville, Tennessee), DL Felix Hixon (South Carolina transfer), CB James Monds III (Indiana transfer), WR Josh Evans (Orlando, Florida), LB Amarrien Bailey (Terry, Mississippi), and ATH Austin Clemons (Pembroke, Georgia).
2023 Results:
G01 FIU W 22-17
G02 @ SMU L 14-38
G03 NORTHWESTERN STATE W 51-21
G04 NORTH TEXAS L 37-40
G05 @ Nebraska L 14-28
G06 @ UTEP W 24-10
G07 WESTERN KENTUCKY L 28-35
G08 @ Middle Tennessee L 23-31
G09 NEW MEXICO STATE L 24-27
G10 @ Liberty L 30-56
G11 SAM HOUSTON L 27-42
G12 @ Jacksonville State L 17-56
Team Info:
2023 Overall: 3-9 (6th in CUSA)
Home: 2-4
Away: 1-5
Neutral: 0-0
CUSA: 3-5
Non-CUSA: 0-4
Head Coach: Rick Stockstill
Middle Tennessee: 0-0
Career: 27-55
Bowls: 0-2
(WR Holden Willis – The Daily New Journal/USA Today Network)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Nicholas Vattiato (286-428, 3092 yards, 66.8%, 7.2 avg., 23 TD, 13 INT)
Rushing: Jaiden Credle (90 car., 427 yards, 4.7 avg., 2 TD)
Receiving: Holden Willis (46 rec., 697 yards, 15.2 avg., 5 TD)
TD’s Scored: Holden Willis (5)
Sacks: Parker Hughes (2.5)
Tackles: Parker Hughes (53)
Interceptions: Tyrell Raby (2)
Pass Deflections: DeArre McDonald/Tyrell Roby (6)
Tackles For Loss: Parker Hughes (7)
Forced Fumbles: Jalen Davis/Drew Francis (1)
Kick Returns: Kellen Stewart (2 ret., 20 yards, 10.0 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Mitchell Howell/Kellen Stweart (1 ret., 3 yards, 3.0 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Zeke Rankin (10-14 fg/fga., 71%, 35-37 xp/xpa., 65 pts.)
Punting: Miles Tillman (34 punts, 1489 yards, 43.8 avg., 15 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 11 Nicholas Vittiato (RS JR)
RB: 3 Frank Peasant (SR)
WR: 1 Omari Kelly (JR/TR)
WR: 5 Myles Butler (RS JR/TR)
WR: 19 Kellen Stewart (RS JR/TR)
TE: 83 Holden Willis (RS SR/TR)
LT: 72 Morgan Scott (RS SR/TR)
LG: 74 Ethan Ellis (RS SR/TR)
OC: 65 Julius Pierce (RS SR/TR)
RG: 71 Ellis Adams (RS SR/TR)
RT: 78 J’Shun Bodford (RS SR/TR)
KR: 0 Brian Brewton (RS SR/TR)
PK: 7 Zeke Rankin (RS SR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 49 James Stewart (RS JR/TR)
DT: 92 Damonte Smith (RS JR)
NT: 96 James Gillespie (RS JR/TR)
DE: 89 Brandon Buckner (RS JR/TR)
LB: 9 Parker Hughes (RS JR)
LB: 8 Devyn Curtis (RS SR)
LB: 10 Drew Francis (RS SR)
CB: 29 Tyrell Raby (RS JR/TR)
CB: 2 De’Arre McDonald (RS SR/TR)
FS: 6 Marvae Myers (RS SR)
SS: 7 Brendon Harris (RS SR/TR)
PR: 19 Kellen Stewart (RS JR/TR)
PT: 99 Trey Turk (SR/TR)
(WR Omari Kelly – 247Sports)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: A
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: C
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: D
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: B
Punters: B
Schedule:
08/31 TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES | Middle Tennessee leads the series 36-31-7. The Blue Raiders won (44-0) the last meeting between schools in 2006.
09/07 @ Ole Miss Rebels | Middle Tennessee lost (17-65) the only prior meeting between schools in 2001.
09/14 WESTERN KENTUCKY HILLTOPPERS | Middle Tennessee trails the series 35-37-1. The Blue Raiders are 2-8 since 2014, and their last series win (29-10) was in 2018.
09/21 DUKE BLUE DEVILS | Middle Tennessee lost (18-41) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
09/28 @ Memphis Tigers | Middle Tennessee leads the series 17-9-1. The Blue Raiders lost (17-36) the last meeting between schools in 2014.
10/10 @ Louisiana Tech Bulldogs | Middle Tennessee trails the series 3-5. The Blue Raiders won (31-23) last season’s meeting between schools, and their last series loss (26-40) was in 2022.
10/15 KENNESAW STATE OWLS | First meeting between schools.
10/23 @ Jacksonville State Gamecocks | Middle Tennessee leads the series 14-2-2. Last season’s 30-45 win was the first meeting between schools since 1997.
11/02 @ UTEP Miners | Middle Tennessee leads the series 5-1. The Blue Raiders are 4-1 since 2014, and their only series loss (21-24) was in 2014.
11/09 LIBERTY FLAMES | Middle Tennessee trails the series 1-2. The Blue Raiders lost (35-42) last season’s meeting between schools, and they lost (13-41) the prior meeting in 2021.
11/23 NEW MEXICO STATE AGGIES | Middle Tennessee trails the series 2-3. Last season’s 7-13 loss was the first meeting between schools since 2004.
11/30 @ FIU Panthers | Middle Tennessee leads the series 14-5. The Blue Raiders are 8-2 since 2014, and their last series loss (21-24) was in 2018.
Predictions:
Home: 3-3
Away: 1-5
Neutral: 0-0
CUSA: 3-5
Non-CUSA: 1-3
Overall: 4-8 (8th in CUSA)
gridironpredictions.net 