2024 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team

2024 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football
2024 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football
Conference	Conference USA
Record	3–9 (2–6 C-USA)
Head coach	Derek Mason (1st season);
Offensive coordinator	Bodie Reeder (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Spread
Defensive coordinator	Brian Stewart (1st season)
Base defense	3–4
Home stadium	Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium
	Seasons ← 2023 2025 →

2024 Conference USA football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
Jacksonville State y$	7	–	1	9	–	5
Western Kentucky y	6	–	2	8	–	6
Sam Houston	6	–	2	10	–	3
Liberty	5	–	3	8	–	4
Louisiana Tech	4	–	4	5	–	8
UTEP	3	–	5	3	–	9
FIU	3	–	5	4	–	8
New Mexico State	2	–	6	3	–	9
Middle Tennessee	2	–	6	3	–	9
Kennesaw State*	2	–	6	2	–	10
Championship: Jacksonville State 52, Western Kentucky 12
$ – Conference champion y – Championship game participant * – Ineligible for postseason play due to FCS-to-FBS transition rules

The 2024 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team represented Middle Tennessee State University in Conference USA (C-USA) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Blue Raiders are led by Derek Mason in his first year as the head coach. The Blue Raiders will play home games at Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium, located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.^[1]

Preseason

C-USA media poll

The Conference USA preseason media poll was released on July 19. The Blue Raiders were predicted to finish fourth in the conference.^[2]

Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
Media poll
1	Liberty	197 (18)
2	Western Kentucky	173 (2)
3	Jacksonville State	166
4	Middle Tennessee	98
5	New Mexico State	97
5	Sam Houston	97
7	Louisiana Tech	88
8	FIU	81
9	UTEP	76
10	Kennesaw State	27

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 31	6:00 p.m.	Tennessee Tech*	Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium Murfreesboro, TN	ESPN+	W 32–25	16,000
September 7	3:15 p.m.	at No. 6 Ole Miss*	Vaught–Hemingway Stadium Oxford, MS	SECN	L 3–52	66,427
September 14	6:00 p.m.	Western Kentucky	Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium Murfreesboro, TN (100 Miles of Hate)	ESPN+	L 21–49	12,227
September 21	3:00 p.m.	Duke*	Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium Murfreesboro, TN	ESPNU	L 17–45	15,209
September 28	6:30 p.m.	at Memphis*	Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium Memphis, TN	ESPNU	L 7–24	25,266
October 10	7:00 p.m.	at Louisiana Tech	Joe Aillet Stadium Ruston, LA	CBSSN	L 21–48	15,072
October 15	7:00 p.m.	Kennesaw State	Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium Murfreesboro, TN	CBSSN	W 14–5	10,200
October 23	6:30 p.m.	at Jacksonville State	JSU Stadium Jacksonville, AL	ESPN2	L 20–42	17,988
November 2	2:30 p.m.	at UTEP	Sun Bowl El Paso, TX	CBSSN	W 20–13	14,775
November 9	12:00 p.m.	Liberty	Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium Murfreesboro, TN	CBSSN	L 17–37	13,500
November 23	1:30 p.m.	New Mexico State	Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium Murfreesboro, TN	ESPN+	L 21–36	10,123
November 30	1:00 p.m.	at FIU	Pitbull Stadium Miami, FL	ESPN+	L 24–35	14,686
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings released prior to game All times are in Eastern time

^[3]

Game summaries

Tennessee Tech

	1	2	3	4	Total
Golden Eagles	0	5	6	14	25
Blue Raiders	7	14	0	11	32

Statistics	TNTC	MTSU
First downs	21	20
Total yards	341	328
Rushing yards	67	118
Passing yards	274	210
Turnovers	1	1
Time of possession	27:09	32:51

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Tennessee Tech	Passing	Jordyn Potts	27/38, 256 yards, 3 TD
	Rushing	Jalen Mitchell	11 rushes, 52 yards
	Receiving	D. J. Linkins	7 recptions, 61 yards
Middle Tennessee	Passing	Nicholas Vattiao	20/35, 210 yards, TD, INT
	Rushing	Frank Peasant	10 rushes, 49 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Omari Kelly	4 receptions, 47 yards

At No. 6 Ole Miss

	1	2	3	4	Total
Blue Raiders	0	3	0	0	3
No. 6 Rebels	17	14	14	7	52

Statistics	MTSU	MISS
First downs	18	34
Total yards	278	655
Rushing yards	28	258
Passing yards	250	397
Turnovers	2	0
Time of possession	33:03	26:57

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Middle Tennessee	Passing	Nicholas Vattiato	21/33, 209 yards, INT
	Rushing	Terry Wilkins	7 rushes, 19 yards
	Receiving	Holden Willis	6 receptions, 93 yards
Ole Miss	Passing	Jaxson Dart	25/27, 377 yards, TD
	Rushing	Henry Parrish Jr.	14 rushes, 165 yards, 4 TD
	Receiving	Tre Harris	9 receptions, 130 yards

Western Kentucky (100 Miles of Hate)

	1	2	3	4	Total
Hilltoppers	14	7	21	7	49
Blue Raiders	0	0	14	7	21

Statistics	WKU	MTSU
First downs	30	21
Total yards	631	514
Rushing yards	150	58
Passing yards	481	456
Turnovers	0	1
Time of possession	31:22	28:38

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Kentucky	Passing	Caden Veltkamp	27/30, 398 yards, 5 TD
	Rushing	L. T. Sanders	8 rushes, 54 yards
	Receiving	Kisean Johnson	8 receptions, 129 yards, 2 TD
Middle Tennessee	Passing	Nicholas Vattiato	24/31, 456 yards, 3 TD, INT
	Rushing	Nicholas Vattiato	9 rushes, 21 yards
	Receiving	Omari Kelly	9 receptions, 239 yards, 3 TD

Duke

	1	2	3	4	Total
Blue Devils	28	7	3	7	45
Blue Raiders	10	0	7	0	17

Statistics	DUKE	MTSU
First downs	17	18
Total yards	340	295
Rushing yards	124	168
Passing yards	216	127
Turnovers	1	4
Time of possession	23:45	36:15

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Duke	Passing	Maalik Murphy	14/21, 216 yards, 3 TD, INT
	Rushing	Star Thomas	17 carries, 111 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Nicky Dalmolin	4 receptions, 100 yards, 2 TD
Middle Tennessee	Passing	Nicholas Vattiato	21/33, 127 yards, TD, INT
	Rushing	Jaiden Credle	12 carries, 125 yards, TD
	Receiving	Holden Willis	3 receptions, 60 yards, TD

At Memphis

	1	2	3	4	Total
Blue Raiders	0	0	7	0	7
Tigers	0	14	10	0	24

Statistics	MTSU	MEM
First downs	13	22
Total yards	312	413
Rushing yards	29	186
Passing yards	283	227
Turnovers	2	1
Time of possession	25:51	34:09

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Middle Tennessee	Passing	Nicholas Vattiato	21/31, 283 yards
	Rushing	Jaiden Credle	10 carries, 39 yards
	Receiving	Omari Kelly	6 receptions, 174 yards
Memphis	Passing	Seth Henigan	26/41, 227 yards
	Rushing	Mario Anderson Jr.	18 carries, 118 yards, TD
	Receiving	Roc Taylor	6 receptions, 69 yards

At Louisiana Tech

	1	2	3	4	Total
Blue Raiders	14	0	7	0	21
Bulldogs	20	14	14	0	48

Statistics	MTSU	LT
First downs	17	27
Total yards	336	551
Rushing yards	60	222
Passing yards	276	329
Turnovers	2	1
Time of possession	25:37	34:23

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Middle Tennessee	Passing	Nicholas Vattiato	24/39, 276 yards, 2 TD, INT
	Rushing	Jekail Middlebrook	5 carries, 30 yards
	Receiving	Omari Kelly	8 receptions, 103 yards
Louisiana Tech	Passing	Evan Bullock	18/25, 290 yards, 5 TD
	Rushing	Omiri Wiggins	8 carries, 49 yards
	Receiving	Tru Edwards	6 receptions, 127 yards, TD

Kennesaw State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Owls	2	0	0	3	5
Blue Raiders	7	0	7	0	14

Statistics	KENN	MTSU
First downs	10	17
Total yards	234	284
Rushing yards	131	85
Passing yards	103	199
Turnovers	2	0
Time of possession	29:48	30:12

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Kennesaw State	Passing	Khalib Johnson	5/17, 52 yards, 2 INT
	Rushing	Qua Ashley	11 carries, 79 yards
	Receiving	Carson Kent	4 receptions, 59 yards
Middle Tennessee	Passing	Nicholas Vattiato	19/34, 199 yards
	Rushing	Jaiden Credle	10 carries, 49 yards
	Receiving	Holden Willis	8 receptions, 92 yards

At Jacksonville State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Blue Raiders	10	0	3	7	20
Gamecocks	14	0	21	7	42

Statistics	MTSU	JVST
First downs	17	30
Total yards	364	575
Rushing yards	67	438
Passing yards	297	137
Turnovers	0	1
Time of possession	29:56	30:04

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Middle Tennessee	Passing	Nicholas Vattiato	25/36, 297 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	Jaiden Credle	8 carries, 39 yards
	Receiving	Omari Kelly	8 receptions, 128 yards
Jacksonville State	Passing	Tyler Huff	10/18, 137 yards, TD
	Rushing	Tre Stewart	21 carries, 210 yards, TD
	Receiving	Cam Vaughn	4 receptions, 82 yards

At UTEP

	1	2	3	4	Total
Blue Raiders	3	7	3	7	20
Miners	3	7	3	0	13

Statistics	MTSU	UTEP
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Middle Tennessee	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
UTEP	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Liberty

	1	2	3	4	Total
Flames	7	20	3	7	37
Blue Raiders	7	0	0	10	17

Statistics	LIB	MTSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Liberty	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Middle Tennessee	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

New Mexico State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Aggies					0
Blue Raiders					0

Statistics	NMSU	MTSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
New Mexico State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Middle Tennessee	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

At FIU

	1	2	3	4	Total
Blue Raiders					0
Panthers					0

Statistics	MTSU	FIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Middle Tennessee	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
FIU	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Personnel

Roster

2024 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Football

Quarterbacks

10 – Luther Richesson – Sophomore (6'3, 217)
11 – Nicholas Vattiato – Junior (6'1, 205)
16 – Roman Gagliano – Freshman (6'3, 224)
18 – Stone Frost – Graduate Student (5'11, 215)

Running backs

0 – Brian Brewton – Senior (5'7, 173)
4 – Terry Wilkins – Senior (5'8, 186)
22 – Jaiden Credle – Junior (6'1, 195)
24 – Frank Peasant – Senior (5'11, 196)
26 – Jayce Gardener – Senior (5'11, 214)
31 – Austin Clemons – Freshman (6'0, 204)
32 – Jekail Middlebrook - Freshman (5'9, 191)

Wide receivers

1 – Omari Kelly – Junior (6'0, 180)
5 – Myles Butler – Junior (6'2, 198)
7 – Sam Driggers – Freshman (5'11, 201)
9 – Hayes Sutton – Graduate Student (6'1, 199)
13 – Javonte Sherman – Junior (6'2, 216)
15 – Josh Evans – Freshman (6'3, 215)
17 – Gamarion Carter – Junior (6'2, 189)
18 – Ethan Crite – Freshman (6'2, 188)
19 – Kellen Stewart – Junior (5'9, 164)
27 – Caleb Dochnahl – Junior (6'1, 201)
28 – Christopher Kaup – Freshman (6'2, 184)
81 – Mitchell Howell – Senior (5'10, 204)
84 – Tyson Resper – Sophomore (5'8, 167)
86 – Cam'ron Lacy – Freshman (5'8, 153)
87 – Elijah Ealey – Junior (5'11, 166)

Tight ends

41 – Slade Alexander – Junior (6'2, 222)
42 – Evan Poticher – Freshman (6'3, 237)
45 – Bobby Council – Freshman (5'11, 234)
46 – Sawyer Lovvorn – Freshman (6'1, 217)
80 – Ryan Hoerstkamp – Graduate Student (6'2, 240)
82 – Taharin Sudderth – Junior (6'2, 239)
83 – Holden Willis – Senior (6'4, 212)
85 – Brody Benke – Freshman (6'4, 249)
88 – Jacob Coleman – Junior (6'3, 230)

Offensive Lineman

48 – Nash Stidham – Sophomore (5'10, 210)
55 – Mateo Guevara – Sophomore (6'4, 309)
60 – Ayden Merrihew – Junior (6'4, 280)
61 – Lantz Peoples – Freshman (6'5, 372)
62 – Simon Wilson – Junior (6'1, 317)
63 – Alex Gale – Freshman (6'3, 300)
65 – Julius Pierce – Graduate Student (6'4, 293)
68 – Jason Overton – Freshman (6'2, 285)
70 – Isaac Rue – Freshman (6'6, 307)
71 – Ellis Adams – Graduate Student (6'4, 372)
72 – Morgan Scott – Junior (6'5, 298)
73 – Marcus Miller – Junior (6'4, 299)
74 – Ethan Ellis – Graduate Student (6'6, 309)
75 – Dumela Knox – Junior (6'7, 310)
76 – Shamar Crawford – Sophomore (6'5, 287)
77 – Jaylen Robinson – Sophomore (6'7, 270)
78 – Daniel Gonzalez – Senior (6'5, 289)
79 – Zach Clayton – Freshman (6'5, 296)

Defensive Line

34 – Kedrick Burley – Freshman (6'2, 241) (DE/OLB)
35 – Zeion Simpson-Smith – Freshman (6'1, 235)
40 – Anthony Bynum – Freshman (6'3, 257)
44 – Andy Nwaoko – Senior (6'3, 251)
45 – Ja'Darious Morris – Freshman (6'1, 255)
46 – Reggie Johnson – Junior (6'4, 220)
47 – Tiyyan Robinson – Freshman (6'5, 232)
49 – James Stewart – Junior (6'3, 247)
89 – Brandon Buckner – Junior (6'0, 248)
90 – Chayce Smith – Freshman (6'2, 250)
91 – Felix Hixon – Sophomore (6'3, 302)
92 – Damonte Smith – Junior (6'3, 298)
93 – Aidan Butts – Freshman (6'3, 252)
96 – James Gillespie – Junior (6'3, 295)
98 – Shakai Woods – Freshman (6'1, 292)
99 – Alex Williams – Graduate Student (6'7, 291)

Linebackers

8 – Devyn Curtis – Senior (6'2, 235)
9 – Parker Hughes – Junior (6'2, 212)
10 – Drew Francis – Senior (6'3, 228)
12 – Jalen Davis – Graduate Student (5'11, 200)
30 – Caleb Reid – Freshman (6'3, 236)
33 – Malik Love – Freshman (6'4, 207)
36 – Jordan Thompson – Freshman (5'11, 214)
43 – Markel James – Freshman (6'2, 227)
50 – Elijah Carney – Freshman (6'0, 222)
51 – Amarrien Bailey – Freshman (6'0, 212)
52 – Muaaz Byard – Sophomore (6'1, 223)
54 – Nolan Forsha – Junior (6'2, 211)
56 – Jayson Lowe – Sophomore (6'2, 220)
57 – Brady Russell – Freshman (6'0, 220)
58 – Korey Smith – Freshman (6'0, 220)
59 – Jacob Jackson – Senior (5'11, 206)

Defensive backs

2 – De'Arre McDonald – Senior (6'0, 205)
4 – James Monds III – Sophomore (5'11, 185)
6 – Marvae Myers – Graduate Student (6'0, 196)
7 – Brendon Harris – Graduate Student (6'1, 210)
18 – Xavier Williams – Graduate Student (6'2, 205)
21 – Abdul Muhammad – Junior (6'2, 175)
22 – Chris Johnson – Junior (5'10, 188)
24 – Trevon Ferrell – Sophomore (5'10, 178)
25 – Jackson Lowe – Freshman (6'1, 188)
26 – Jared Douglas – Junior (6'1, 181)
27 – Rickey Smith – Junior (6'0, 177)
28 – Da'Shawn Elder – Junior (6'0, 215)
29 – Tyrell Raby – Junior (5'11, 183)
31 – John Howse IV – Junior (6'1, 198)
32 – Alan Young – Freshman (6'0, 209)
33 – Taylor Ratinaud – Freshman (6'0, 190)
39 – Jordan Beasley – Freshman (6'1, 195)

Kicker/Punter

7 – Zeke Rankin – Senior (5'8, 215) (K)
35 – Zach Benedict – Sophomore (6'1, 195) (K)
36 – Wyatt Joyce – Freshman (5'10, 166) (K)
96 – Jacob Taylor – Freshman (5'10, 190) (P)
97 – Grant Chadwick – Freshman (6'4, 190) (P)
99 – Trey Turk – Senior (6'1, 212) (P)

Long snappers

54 – Connor Dougherty – Sophomore (6'3, 253)
67 – Henry Hamlin – Freshman (6'3, 230)
69 – Brody Butler – Senior (6'0, 229)

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
Injured
Redshirt

Source and player details, 2024 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Football Commits (01/14/2025):^[4]

References

^ "2024 Football Coaching Staff". Middle Tennessee State University Athletics. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
^ "FB: CUSA Announces Media's Predicted Order of Finish". conferenceUSA.com. Conference USA. July 19, 2024. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
^ "2024 Middle Tennessee Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
^ "2024 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football roster". goblueraiders.com.

[1] "2024 Football Coaching Staff". Middle Tennessee State University Athletics. Retrieved February 2, 2024.

[2] "FB: CUSA Announces Media's Predicted Order of Finish". conferenceUSA.com. Conference USA. July 19, 2024. Retrieved September 24, 2024.

[3] "2024 Middle Tennessee Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 2, 2024.

[4] "2024 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football roster". goblueraiders.com.

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