2023 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team

2023 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football
ConferenceConference USA
Record4–8 (3–5 C-USA)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorMitch Stewart (2nd season)
Offensive schemeMultiple
Defensive coordinatorScott Shafer (7th season)
Base defenseMultiple 4–3
Home stadiumJohnny "Red" Floyd Stadium
Seasons
← 2022
2024 →
2023 Conference USA football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 25 Liberty y$   8 – 0     13 – 1  
New Mexico State y   7 – 1     10 – 5  
Jacksonville State*   6 – 2     9 – 4  
Western Kentucky   5 – 3     8 – 5  
Middle Tennessee   3 – 5     4 – 8  
UTEP   2 – 6     3 – 9  
Sam Houston*   2 – 6     3 – 9  
Louisiana Tech   2 – 6     3 – 9  
FIU   1 – 7     4 – 8  
Championship: Liberty 49, New Mexico State 35
  • $ – Conference champion
  • y – Championship game participant
  • * – Ineligible for postseason play due to FCS-to-FBS transition rules
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2023 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team represented Middle Tennessee State University in the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Blue Raiders played their home games at Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and competed as members of Conference USA. They were led by eighteenth-year head coach Rick Stockstill.

Stockstill was fired on November 27, going 113–111 through 18 seasons as head coach. At the time of his firing Stockstill was the fourth-longest tenured head coach in the FBS.[1]

The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team drew an average home attendance of 13,219 in 2023.

Schedule

Middle Tennessee and Conference USA announced the 2023 football schedule on January 10, 2023.[2][3]

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 26:30 p.m.at No. 4 Alabama*
SECNL 7–56100,077
September 96:00 p.m.at Missouri*
SECN+/ESPN+L 19–2357,645
September 166:00 p.m.Murray State*
ESPN+W 35–1416,605
September 236:00 p.m.Colorado State*
  • Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium
  • Murfreesboro, TN
ESPN+L 23–3119,806
September 286:30 p.m.at Western Kentucky
CBSSNL 10–3114,712
October 47:00 p.m.Jacksonville State
  • Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium
  • Murfreesboro, TN
ESPNUL 30–4513,066
October 106:00 p.m.Louisiana Tech
  • Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium
  • Murfreesboro, TN
CBSSNW 31–239,602
October 176:00 p.m.at Liberty
CBSSNL 35–4216,354
November 45:00 p.m.at New Mexico State
ESPN+L 7–1315,727
November 112:30 p.m.FIU
  • Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium
  • Murfreesboro, TN
ESPN+W 40–611,111
November 181:00 p.m.UTEP
  • Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium
  • Murfreesboro, TN
ESPN+W 34–309,122
November 2511:00 a.m.at Sam Houston
ESPN+L 20–235,349

Game summaries

at No. 4 Alabama

See also: 2023 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
Uniform Combination
Helmet Jersey Pants
Game One – Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (0–0) at No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide (0–0)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Middle Tennessee 0 0 707
No. 4 Alabama 14 14 141456

at Bryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, Alabama

  • Date: Saturday, September 2, 2023
  • Game time: 6:30 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 82 °F (28 °C)
  • Game attendance: 100,077
  • Referee: Daniel Gautreaux
  • TV announcers (SECN): Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (analyst), and Cole Cubelic (sideline)
  • Pregame line: Alabama -39.0 Over/Under: 52.0
Game information
First quarter
  • (10:49) ALA – Jalen Milroe 21-yard run (Will Reichard kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 63 yards, 2:58; Alabama 7-0)
  • (4:15) ALA – Jase McClellan 1-yard run (Will Reichard kick) (Drive: 11 plays, 47 yards, 5:06; Alabama 14–0)
Second quarter
  • (3:07) ALA – Jalen Milroe 13-yard run (Will Reichard kick) (Drive: 2 plays, 42 yards, 0:35; Alabama 21–0)
  • (1:58) ALA – Isaiah Bond 47-yard pass from Jalen Milroe (Will Reichard kick) (Drive: 1 play, 47 yards, 0:07; Alabama 28–0)
Third quarter
  • (12:54) ALA – Jermaine Burton 48-yard pass from Jalen Milroe (Will Reichard kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 2:06; Alabama 35-0)
  • (10:25) ALA – Amari Niblack 29-yard pass from Jalen Milroe (Will Reichard kick) (Drive: 2 plays, 34 yards, 0:41; Alabama 42-0)
  • (0:32) MTSU – Bryce Bailey 7-yard pass from Nicholas Vattiato (Zeke Rankin kick) (Drive: 11 plays, 68 yards, 5:58; Alabama 42-7)
Fourth quarter
  • (10:38) ALA – Tyler Buchner 9-yard run (Will Reichard kick) (Drive: 10 plays, 77 yards, 4:47; Alabama 49–7)
  • (5:58) ALA – Ty Simpson 1-yard run (Conor Talty kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 33 yards, 3:17; Alabama 56–7)
Statistics MTSU ALA
First downs 13 23
Total yards 211 431
Rushes/yards 26–78 40–205
Passing yards 133 226
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–35–1 17–24–0
Time of possession 30:57 29:03
Team Category Player Statistics
Middle Tennessee Passing Nicholas Vattiato 21/32, 127 yards, TD, INT
Rushing Jekail Middlebrook 8 carries, 32 yards
Receiving Jaiden Credle 4 receptions, 25 yards
Alabama Passing Jalen Milroe 13/18, 194 yards, 3 TD
Rushing Jalen Milroe 7 carries, 48 yards, 2 TD
Receiving Isaiah Bond 5 receptions, 76 yards, TD

at Missouri

See also: 2023 Missouri Tigers football team
Uniform Combination
Helmet Jersey Pants
Game Two – Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (0–1) at Missouri Tigers (1–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Middle Tennessee 0 7 3919
Missouri 3 7 6723

at Faurot Field • Columbia, Missouri

  • Date: Saturday, September 9, 2023
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 74 °F (23 °C)
  • Game attendance: 57,645
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Mark Neely (play-by-play) and Barrett Brooks (analyst)
Game information
First quarter
  • (5:21) MIZZ – Harrison Mevis 38-yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 34 yards, 3:58; Missouri 3-0)
Second quarter
  • (8:14) MTSU – Kalani Norris 3-yard pass from Nicholas Vattiato (Zeke Rankin kick) (Drive: 14 plays, 86 yards, 7:17; Middle Tennessee 7-3)
  • (0:24) MIZZ – Brady Cook 1-yard run (Harrison Mevis kick) (Drive: 16 plays, 71 yards, 7:45; Missouri 10-7)
Third quarter
  • (8:39) MTSU – Zeke Rankin 25-yard field goal (Drive: 14 plays, 68 yards, 6:21; Tied 10-10)
  • (4:58) MIZZ – Theo Wease Jr. 5-yard pass from Brady Cook (Harrison Mevis kick failed) (Drive: 8 plays, 80 yards, 3:35; Missouri 16-10)
Fourth quarter
  • (14:53) MIZZ – Nathaniel Peat 49-yard pass from Brady Cook (Harrison Mevis kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 82 yards, 2:39; Missouri 23-10)
  • (6:57) MTSU – Justin Olson 13-yard pass from Nicholas Vattiato (Zeke Rankin kick) (Drive: 11 plays, 84 yards, 3:30; Missouri 23-17)
  • (6:07) MTSU – Team Safety (Missouri 23-19)
Statistics MTSU MIZZ
First downs 16 21
Total yards 65–285 65–316
Rushes/yards 29-71 46-112
Passing yards 214 204
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22-36-0 14-19-0
Time of possession 28:00 32:00
Team Category Player Statistics
Middle Tennessee Passing Nicholas Vattiato 22-36, 214 yards, 2 TD
Rushing Frank Peasant 13 carries, 35 yards
Receiving Elijah Metcalf 5 receptions, 70 yards
Missouri Passing Brady Cook 14-19, 204 yards, 2 TD
Rushing Cody Schrader 23 carries, 84 yards
Receiving Luther Burden III 8 receptions, 117 yards

at Liberty

See also: 2023 Liberty Flames football team
Game Eight – Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (2–5) at Liberty Flames (6–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Middle Tennessee 14 7 14035
Liberty 14 7 14742

at Williams Stadium • Lynchburg, Virginia

  • Date: Tuesday, October 17, 2023
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 16,354
  • TV announcers (CBSSN): Carter Blackburn (play-by-play) and Brock Vereen (analyst)
Game information
First quarter
  • (13:36) MTSU – DJ Riles 3-yard pass from Nicholas Vattiato (Zeke Rankin kick) (Drive: 3 plays, 22 yards, 1:04; Middle Tennessee 7-0)
  • (8:37) LIB – Quinton Cooley 5-yard run (Nick Brown kick) (Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 4:59; Tied 7-7)
  • (6:43) MTSU – Elijah Metcalf 20-yard pass from Nicholas Vattiato (Zeke Rankin kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 1:54; Middle Tennessee 14-7)
  • (0:49) LIB – Quinton Cooley 9-yard run (Nick Brown kick) (Drive: 13 plays, 97 yards, 5:49; Tied 14-14)
Second quarter
  • (8:29) LIB – Billy Lucas 1-yard run (Nick Brown kick) (Drive: 9 plays, 77 yards, 4:47; Liberty 21-14)
  • (0:20) MTSU – Zack Dobson 2-yard run (Zeke Rankin kick) (Drive: 11 plays, 80 yards, 3:00; Tied 21-21)
Third quarter
  • (12:43) MTSU – DJ England-Chisholm 36-yard pass from Nicholas Vattiato (Zeke Rankin kick) (Drive: 2 plays, 47 yards, 0:21; Middle Tennessee 28-21)
  • (6:41) LIB – Bentley Hanshaw 23-yard pass from Kaidon Salter (Nick Brown kick) (Drive: 12 plays, 77 yards, 5:56; Tied 28-28)
  • (6:10) MTSU – Zack Dobson 72-yard pass from Nicholas Vattiato (Zeke Rankin kick) (Drive: 2 plays, 75 yards, 0:31; Middle Tennessee 35-28)
  • (2:50) LIB – Quinton Cooley 10-yard run (Nick Brown kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 61 yards, 3:12; Tied 35-35)
Fourth quarter
  • (14:37) LIB – CJ Daniels 37-yard pass from Kaidon Salter (Nick Brown kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 58 yards, 1:15; Liberty 42-35)
Statistics MTSU LIB
First downs 23 33
Total yards 63–428 81–541
Rushing yards 26–96 61–401
Passing yards 332 140
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–37–2 12–20–1
Time of possession 22:40 37:20
Team Category Player Statistics
Middle Tennessee Passing Nicholas Vattiato 24/37, 332 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT
Rushing Jaiden Cradle 12 carries, 50 yards
Receiving Zack Dobson 2 receptions, 82 yards, TD
Liberty Passing Kaidon Salter 12/20, 140 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing Kaidon Salter 16 carries, 160 yards
Receiving CJ Daniels 6 receptions, 71 yards, TD

at New Mexico State

See also: 2023 New Mexico State Aggies football team
Game Nine – Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (2–6) at New Mexico State Aggies (6–3) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Blue Raiders 0 7 007
Aggies 0 10 3013

at Aggie Memorial Stadium, Las Cruces, New Mexico

  • Date: Saturday, November 4, 2023
  • Game time: 5:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Sunny, 79 °F (26 °C)
  • Game attendance: 15,727
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Adam Young (play-by-play), Danny Knee (analyst) and Tatiana Favela (sideline)
Game information
'First quarter

No scoring plays

Second quarter
  • NMSU – Ron Tiavaasue 1-yard run (Ethan Albertson kick), 10:17. Aggies 7–0. Drive: 9 plays, 80 yards, 6:43.
  • MTSU – D. J. England-Chisolm 27-yard pass from Nicholas Vattiato (Zeke Rankin kick), 0:48. Tied 7–7. Drive: 6 plays, 79 yards, 0:54.
  • NMSU – Ethan Albertson 26-yard field goal, 0:00. Aggies 10–7. Drive: 7 plays, 67 yards, 0:48.
Third quarter
  • NMSU – Ethan Albertson 38-yard field goal, 0:51. Aggies 13–7. Drive: 11 plays, 66 yards, 6:18.
Fourth quarter

No scoring plays

Statistics MTSU NMSU
First downs 17 21
Total yards 346 402
Rushing yards 168 182
Passing yards 178 220
Turnovers 1 1
Time of possession 24:13 35:47
Team Category Player Statistics
Middle Tennessee Passing Nicholas Vattiato 20/36, 178 yards, TD, INT
Rushing Nicholas Vattiato 18 rushes, 96 yards
Receiving Elijah Metcalf 5 receptions, 69 yards
New Mexico State Passing Diego Pavia 16/31, 220 yards, INT
Rushing Monte Watkins 5 rushes, 68 yards
Receiving Eli Stowers 6 receptions, 83 yards

Personnel

Roster

2023 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Football

Quarterbacks

  • 4 – Kyle Lowe – Redshirt Freshman (5'11, 198)
  • 5 – DJ Riles – Redshirt Freshman (6'0, 193)
  • 10 – Jakson Judge – Freshman (6'1, 198)
  • 11 – Nicholas Vattiato – Redshirt Sophomore (6'1, 196)
  • 12 – Sam Driggers – Freshman (5'11, 205)
  • 16 – Ren Hefley – Redshirt Junior (6'1, 192)
  • 18 – Stone Frost – Redshirt Junior (5'11, 207)

Running backs

  • 19 – A'Varius Sparrow – Redshirt Sophomore (5'10, 190)
  • 22 – Jaiden Credle – Sophomore (6'1, 193)
  • 23 – Jalen Montgomery – Redshirt Sophomore (5'9, 168)
  • 24 – Frank Peasant – Junior (5'11, 196)
  • 26 – Jayce Gardener – Redshirt Junior (5'11, 210)
  • 30 – Jordan Brown – Redshirt Sophomore (5'10, 200)
  • 32 – Jakail Middlebrook - Freshman (5'9, 186)
  • 34 – Romal Webb Jr. – Junior (5'9, 202)
  • 39 – Terry Wilkins – Redshirt Sophomore (5'8, 187)
  • 45 – Raymond Banner – Redshirt Sophomore (6'0, 182)

Wide receivers

  • 3 – DJ England-Chisolm – Senior (5'8, 152)
  • 9 – Elijah Metcalf – Redshirt Sophomore (5'9, 164)
  • 13 – Javonte Sherman – Redshirt Sophomore (6'2, 189)
  • 15 – Justin Olson – Redshirt Junior (6'2, 205)
  • 17 – Kalani Norris – Redshirt Junior (6'0, 162)
  • 18 – Tyson Resper – Redshirt Freshman (5'8, 165)
  • 25 – Bryce Bailey – Redshirt Sophomore (5'10, 168)
  • 47 – Jamison Greenway – Redshirt Junior (5'9, 172)
  • 78 – Trevon Ferrell – Redshirt Freshman (5'10, 170)
  • 80 – AJ Toney – Senior (5'6, 177)
  • 81 – Mitchell Howell – Redshirt Sophomore (5'10, 196)
  • 83 – Holden Willis – Junior (6'4, 211)
  • 84 – Ethan Crite – Freshman (6'2, 177)
  • 85 – Jaylen Ward – Redshirt Freshman (6'1, 202)
  • 86 – Cam'ron Lacy – Freshman (5'8, 154)
  • 87 – Braxton Crouse – Redshirt Junior (6'1, 177)
  • 87 – Kellen Stewart – Redshirt Sophomore (5'9, 152)
  • 89 – Elijah Ealey – Redshirt Sophomore (5'11, 170)

Tight ends

  • 6 – Jeremy Tate Jr – Redshirt Senior (6'5, 259)
  • 48 – Caden Williams – Redshirt Sophomore (6'0, 235)
  • 82 – Taharin Sudderth – Redshirt Sophomore (6'2, 230)
  • 88 – Jacob Coleman – Redshirt Sophomore (6'3, 228)
  

Offensive Lineman

  • 53 – Trenton Taylor-Ricker – Redshirt Freshman (6'4, 265)
  • 54 – Aaron Wood – Freshman (6'5, 271)
  • 55 – Mateo Guevara – Redshirt Freshman (6'4, 302)
  • 56 – Devin Hayes – Redshirt Senior (6'6, 284)
  • 61 – J'Shun Bodiford – Redshirt Junior (6'3, 283)
  • 62 – Simon Wilson – Redshirt Sophomore (6'1, 316)
  • 63 – Wilson Kelly – Redshirt Sophomore (6'2, 300)
  • 64 – Jacqui Graham – Redshirt Senior (6'4, 263)
  • 65 – Julius Pierce – Redshirt Junior (6'4, 288)
  • 66 – Daniel Gonzalez – Sophomore (6'5, 291)
  • 67 – Cooper Koch – Redshirt Freshman (6'3, 299)
  • 70 – Isaac Rue – Freshman (6'6, 303)
  • 71 – Luke Marek – Freshman (6'1, 295)
  • 72 – Morgan Scott – Redshirt Sophomore (6'5, 309)
  • 73 – Connor Farris – Freshman (6'4, 315)
  • 74 – Ethan Ellis – Senior (6'6, 295)
  • 75 – Jamari Williams – Redshirt Junior (6'3 317)
  • 76 – Ryan Hunt – Freshman (6'1, 280)
  • 77 – Keylan Rutledge – Sophomore (6'4, 308)
  • 79 – Sterling Porcher – Junior (6'4, 304)

Defensive Line

  • 0 – Richard Kinley – Redshirt Junior (6'3, 235)
  • 2 – Jorden Starling – Redshirt Senior (6'5, 272)
  • 5 – Jordan Branch – Redshirt Senior (6'0, 290)
  • 7 – Zaylin Wood – Redshirt Junior (6'2, 273)
  • 38 – Zabrien Harden – Redshirt Sophomore (6'3, 246)
  • 40 – Anthony Bynum – Freshman (6'3, 258)
  • 49 – James Steward – Redshirt Sophomore (6'3, 248)
  • 57 – Marley Cook – Redshirt Junior (6'2, 298)
  • 89 – Brandon Buckner – Redshirt Sophomore (6'0, 241)
  • 90 – Chayce Smith – Freshman (6'2, 267)
  • 91 – Javon Nelson – Redshirt Sophomore (6'4, 300)
  • 92 – Damonte Smith – Redshirt Sophomore (6'3, 284)
  • 93 – Vincent Dinkins – Redshirt Sophomore (6'1, 286)
  • 94 – Ralph Mency – Junior (6'2, 246)
  • 95 – Tyrece Edwards – Redshirt Sophomore (6'2, 274)
  • 96 – Kasey Bonds – Redshirt Freshman (5'8, 263)
  • 97 – Quindarius Dunnigan – Redshirt Junior (6'4, 256)
  • 98 – Shakai Woods – Freshman (6'1, 270)
  • 99 – Ja'Darious Morris – Freshman (6'1, 250)
  

Linebackers

  • 4 – Johnathan Butler – Redshirt Senior (6'1, 223)
  • 8 – Devyn Curtis – Redshirt Sophomore (6'2, 235)
  • 10 – Drew Francis – Junior (6'3, 222)
  • 12 – Jalen Davis – Redshirt Junior (5'11, 200)
  • 18 – James Douglas – Redshirt Sophomore (6'1, 204)
  • 21 – Parker Hughes – Redshirt Sophomore (6'2, 210)
  • 32 – Slade Alexander – Redshirt Sophomore (6'2, 220)
  • 33 – Sam Brumfield – Junior (5'11, 226)
  • 36 – Jordan Thompson – Freshman (5'11, 209)
  • 41 – Raquon Hartley – Redshirt Junior (6'1, 192)
  • 42 – Da'Shawn Elder – Redshirt Sophomore (6'0, 218)
  • 43 – Markel James – Freshman (6'2, 217)
  • 44 – Jalen Rayam – Redshirt Senior (6'1, 219)
  • 50 – Timar Rogers – Redshirt Sophomore (6'2, 214)
  • 51 – Nash Stidham – Redshirt Freshman (5'10, 207)
  • 52 – Muaaz Byard – Redshirt Freshman (6'1, 238)
  • 58 – Dylan Kling – Redshirt Freshman (6'0, 200)
  • 59 – Jacob Jackson – Redshirt Junior (5'11, 203)

Defensive backs

  • 1 – Teldrick Ross – Redshirt Senior (5'11, 194)
  • 17 – Tra Fluellen – Senior (6'2, 210)
  • 22 – Chris Johnson – Redshirt Sophomore (5'10, 183)
  • 23 – Jalen Jackson – Redshirt Junior (6'2, 177)
  • 25 – Tylus Hancock – Senior (6'2, 203)
  • 26 – Emmanuel Mann – Junior (6'0, 179)
  • 27 – Rickey Smith – Redshirt Sophomore (6'0, 170)
  • 28 – De'Arre McDonald – Redshirt Sophomore (6'0, 208)
  • 29 – Tyrell Raby – Redshirt Sophomore (5'11, 173)
  • 30 – Jakobe Thomas – Redshirt Sophomore (6'2, 190)
  • 31 – Deonte Stanley – Redshirt Junior (6'3, 194)
  • 35 – James Jackson III – Freshman (6'0, 161)
  • 37 – James Shellman IV – Junior (6'0, 190)
  • 46 – Marvae Myers – Redshirt Junior (6'0, 188)

Kicker/Punter

  • 7 – Zeke Rankin – Junior (5'8, 200) (K)
  • 24 – Scott Payne – Redshirt Junior (5'10, 177) (K)
  • 36 – Justus Chadwick – Redshirt Freshman (6'0, 191) (K)
  • 38 – Miles Tillman – Redshirt Sophomore (5'11, 207) (P)
  • 99 – Trey Turk – Junior (6'1, 204) (P)

Long snappers

  • 54 – Connor Dougherty – Redshirt Freshman (6'3, 257)
  • 69 – Brody Butler – Junior (5'11, 220)

Legend

  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt
Source and player details, 2023 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Football Commits (08/07/2023):[4]

References

  1. ^ Rittenberg, Adam (November 27, 2023). "Middle Tennessee fires coach Rick Stockstill after 18 seasons". ESPN. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  2. ^ Joyce, Cecil (January 10, 2023). "MTSU football schedule 2023 opens at Alabama, includes four mid-week games". Murfreesboro Daily News Journal. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  3. ^ MT Athletic Communications (January 10, 2023). "MTSU football to play six home games in 2023". Murfreesboro Post. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  4. ^ "2023 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football roster". goblueraiders.com.