Blue Raiders boast offense that can roll
Orlando Sentinel college insider Matt Murschel ranked all 130 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in the country entering the 2017 season. The Sentinel staff takes a closer look at a new team daily, counting backward from No. 130 to our projected No. 1 team.
Middle Tennessee
Rick Stockstill (72-66, entering 12th season; 72-66 overall)
8-5, 5-3 in Conference USA, third in East Division
Middle Tennessee relied on a prolific offense to overpower many opponents and win four out of its first five games. A double-overtime 44-43 loss to Western Kentucky and surprising later stumbles against Texas-San Antonio and Marshall cost the Blue Raiders a chance to contend for a Conference USA title. The team earned a bid to the Hawaii Bowl and fell 52-35 to hometown Hawaii.
6 OL Josh Chester, OL Maurquice Shakir, OL Daniel Stephens, DT Shaquile Huff, DT Jimal McBride, DE Chris Hale, DE Steven Rhodes, CB Jeremy Cutrer
QB Brent Stockstill, OL Chandler Brewer, WR Richie James, WR Ty Lee, DE Walter Brady, LB Chris Melton, LB DJ Sanders, K Canon Rooker
Junior QB Brent Stockstill threw for an Middle Tennessee sophomore record 3,233 yards and 31 touchdowns last season despite missing the final three games of the regular season with a broken collar bone.
Stockstill, the Middle Tennessee coach’s son, will get help from junior WR Richie James, ranks first among active players nationally in receptions per game and receiving yards per game. He has caught passes for 100 or more yards in 14 of his first 26 games at Middle Tennessee.
Last season, James had 105 receptions for a school record 1,625 yards and 12 touchdowns while rushing for a career-best 339 yards.
Sophomore WR Ty Lee also returns after earning Freshman All-America honors last season. Lee played in all 13 games and had 11 starts for Middle Tennessee. He led the nation’s freshmen with 63 receptions and nine receiving touchdowns.
Middle Tennessee boasts a potent offense that ranked No. 8 nationally in yards per game (517.7) last season, but the team needs to improve on defense in order to win a Conference USA championship.
The Blue Raiders ranked No. 96 nationally out of 128 FBS teams in total defense (449.5 yards allowed per game and No. 109 in scoring defense (35.8 points allowed per game.)
The Blue Raiders have been bowl eligible eight times during Rick Stockstill 11-year head coaching tenure and should reach the postseason again in 2017.
Stockstill’s son is expected to put up big numbers on offense. Keeping him healthy and improving on defense will be the key to competing for a C-USA title.