Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders:
The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders are preparing for the 2024 season under new head coach Derek Mason, aiming to improve upon their 4-8 record from last year. Former head coach Rick Stockstill had been with the team since 2006, so this truly is a new era in Murfreesboro.
Offense
Redshirt junior Nicholas Vattiato is expected to lead the Blue Raiders’ offense. Vattiato showed promise last season, passing for 1,620 yards and 10 touchdowns. His growth and consistency will be essential for the team’s success in 2024.
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Redshirt senior Frank Peasant returns as the leading rusher after accumulating 700 rushing yards and five touchdowns last season. Some really good wide receivers have come through this program, including Richie James and Ty Lee, but the Blue Raiders are lacking standouts. The leading receiver last year was TE Holden Willis and he’ll be called upon a lot again, though Auburn transfer Omari Kelly is an interesting prospect.
Defense
Mason went to the XFL to get his defensive coordinator, as Brian Stewart will inherit a mostly blank slate on that side of the ball. The Blue Raiders only have two starters back on defense. He’s been a DC for the majority of the last 15 years and has a lot to replace thanks to the transfer portal.
Of course, as the wheel spins in college football, talent comes in and talent goes out and Stewart has some promising guys and maybe more talent than last year’s group had. The Blue Raiders allowed under 5.5 yards per play and actually did pretty well against the run. It was everything else that they struggled with, especially third-down defense, where opponents were at 45%.
Outlook
Middle Tennessee has the potential to make significant strides in the 2024 season. Their schedule includes challenging non-conference games against Ole Miss and Memphis, and key conference matchups such as Western Kentucky and Liberty. The T Shoe Index projects the Raiders fourth in the conference, with the fifth-best offense and seventh-best defense, getting the Blue Raiders to 5.3 wins.
Pick: Over 5 Wins
