The Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders managed just two wins to ten losses last season. It was the worst record that a Rick Stockstill coached team has finished with in his six years on the job. This season's squad returns 13 starters and 41 lettermen and Stockstill hopes that experience will lead to fewer mistakes and more production.. You can find winning picks and follow the odds on the Blue Radiers and many more teams at Sports Free Picks.
Offense
Middle Tennesse actually had some pretty good numbers offensively last season. They managed 401 total yards per game, but only 22.3 points per game, which is low-scoring for a team that put up that many yards. The reason they failed to score was likely due to their inability to hold onto the ball. The Blue Raiders finished with a -8 turnover margin last season, but are hoping their six returning starters can limit those mistakes.
Junior QB Logan Kilgore returns after completing 58.6 percent of his passes for 2,231 yards with 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions last season. Redshirt freshman Shaun White and senior Jeff Murphy are the designated backups. Murphy tore his ACL in the spring, but he may still try to play this fall.
If nothing else, the Blue Raiders should have a solid running game. They welcome LSU transfer Drayton Calhoun, their projected starter, plus bring back their top two rushers from last season in William Pratcher and Benny Cunningham.
The receiving corps returns two of its top three in junior WR Kyle Griswould and senior WR Tavarres Jefferson. Seniors Anthony Amos and Jamal Gray are expected to take the two other spots. This unit should also show some improvement.
The biggest concern on offense is the loss of three starters along the offensive line, including first-team All-Sun Belt center Colin Boss and second-team All-Sun Belt guard Brandon McLeroy. This unit allowed just eight sacks last year and they return just two players with starting experience in senior Alex Stuart and junior Josh Walker.
Defense
The Blue Raiders had one of the worst defenses in all of college football last season, allowing 38.8 points per game and 441 yards of total offense per game. They could improve with seven starters returning, but it's clear this unit has a long way to go.
The biggest improvements will be made up front as MTSU gave up 230 rushing yards per game and 4.7/carry. The defensive line returns four starters in senior DE Omar McLendon, senior DT Kendall Dangerfield, junior DT Jimmy Staten and sophomore DE Jiajuan Fennell.
The linebacking corps loses its top two players in third-team All-Sun Belt selection Darin Davis and Gorby Loreus. They do bring back five linebackers with starting experience, including junior Craig Allen, junior Roderic Blunt and sophomore Christian Henry.
The secondary is in a very rough spot after losing 39 starts and a plethora of key pieces from the 2011 team. They have three new starters in the defensive backfield, but the talented Florida State transfer Jajuan Harley will be a welcome addition at strong safety. The one returning starter on this unit is junior corner Kenneth Gilstrap.
Sun Belt Prediction - 7th Place
Their offense should show considerable improvement, but they have some major concern on the offensive line as they lose three starters, including their top two linemen. The defense should definitely improve as they were atrocious last year, and they should be a lot stronger at the point of attack. The Blue Raiders will benefit from a relatively easy home schedule where they face Florida Atlantic, North Texas and Louisiana-Monroe. They also face South Alabama on the road for another winnable game. This team will likely be the most improved in the Sun Belt and they should compete for a bowl game.
Offense
Middle Tennesse actually had some pretty good numbers offensively last season. They managed 401 total yards per game, but only 22.3 points per game, which is low-scoring for a team that put up that many yards. The reason they failed to score was likely due to their inability to hold onto the ball. The Blue Raiders finished with a -8 turnover margin last season, but are hoping their six returning starters can limit those mistakes.
Junior QB Logan Kilgore returns after completing 58.6 percent of his passes for 2,231 yards with 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions last season. Redshirt freshman Shaun White and senior Jeff Murphy are the designated backups. Murphy tore his ACL in the spring, but he may still try to play this fall.
If nothing else, the Blue Raiders should have a solid running game. They welcome LSU transfer Drayton Calhoun, their projected starter, plus bring back their top two rushers from last season in William Pratcher and Benny Cunningham.
The receiving corps returns two of its top three in junior WR Kyle Griswould and senior WR Tavarres Jefferson. Seniors Anthony Amos and Jamal Gray are expected to take the two other spots. This unit should also show some improvement.
The biggest concern on offense is the loss of three starters along the offensive line, including first-team All-Sun Belt center Colin Boss and second-team All-Sun Belt guard Brandon McLeroy. This unit allowed just eight sacks last year and they return just two players with starting experience in senior Alex Stuart and junior Josh Walker.
Defense
The Blue Raiders had one of the worst defenses in all of college football last season, allowing 38.8 points per game and 441 yards of total offense per game. They could improve with seven starters returning, but it's clear this unit has a long way to go.
The biggest improvements will be made up front as MTSU gave up 230 rushing yards per game and 4.7/carry. The defensive line returns four starters in senior DE Omar McLendon, senior DT Kendall Dangerfield, junior DT Jimmy Staten and sophomore DE Jiajuan Fennell.
The linebacking corps loses its top two players in third-team All-Sun Belt selection Darin Davis and Gorby Loreus. They do bring back five linebackers with starting experience, including junior Craig Allen, junior Roderic Blunt and sophomore Christian Henry.
The secondary is in a very rough spot after losing 39 starts and a plethora of key pieces from the 2011 team. They have three new starters in the defensive backfield, but the talented Florida State transfer Jajuan Harley will be a welcome addition at strong safety. The one returning starter on this unit is junior corner Kenneth Gilstrap.
Sun Belt Prediction - 7th Place
Their offense should show considerable improvement, but they have some major concern on the offensive line as they lose three starters, including their top two linemen. The defense should definitely improve as they were atrocious last year, and they should be a lot stronger at the point of attack. The Blue Raiders will benefit from a relatively easy home schedule where they face Florida Atlantic, North Texas and Louisiana-Monroe. They also face South Alabama on the road for another winnable game. This team will likely be the most improved in the Sun Belt and they should compete for a bowl game.
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