MTSU football coach Derek Mason discusses Tennessee Tech
Middle Tennessee State football coach Derek Mason discusses the Blue Raiders’ upcoming season opener at home vs. Tennessee Tech.
Middle Tennessee State football will begin the Derek Mason era Saturday.
The Blue Raiders will open the season at home against old rival Tennessee Tech (6 p.m., ESPN+).
MTSU is coming off a 4-8 season, which prompted the firing of longtime coach Rick Stockstill and the hiring of Mason in December. Tennessee Tech is coming off a 4-7 season in which Coach Dewayne Alexander was fired and replaced by Bobby Wilder.
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Here is a preview of the matchup, including a score prediction by The Daily News Journal’s Cecil Joyce:
Tennessee Tech football coach Bobby Wilder is no stranger to CUSA
Wilder is familiar with MTSU and Conference USA teams, having been the head coach at Old Dominion from 2009-19, including the team’s time in CUSA from 2014 until he left.
The team tied for the conference’s East Division title in 2016, finishing 7-1 in league play and 10-3 overall, reaching the program’s first bowl game.
Wilder is in a similar position as Mason. Both coaches have numerous new players on the roster following the coaching changes in the offseason.
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Tennessee Tech returns a lot of talent on defense
Tennessee Tech had one of the top defenses in FCS last season, finishing 13th in yards per game (306.1).
The Golden Eagles return defensive linemen Daniel Rickert (49 tackles, nine sacks) and Hudson Tucker (six sacks, nine tackles for loss), linebacker Aaron Swafford (72 tackles, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions) and defensive back Tim Coutras (55 tackles, four interceptions).
Tennessee Tech had 32 sacks and forced 19 turnovers last season, including 12 interceptions, and scored four defensive TDs.
MTSU will counter with veterans at skill positions, including redshirt junior quarterback Nick Vattiato (286 of 428 for 3,092 yards, 23 touchdowns, 397 rushing yards) and an experienced running back group led by junior Frank Peasant (306 yards rushing, four TDs).
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Golden Eagles struggled on offense last season
The Tech offense had a bad year in 2023, averaging 17 points and 300 yards per game. Quarterback Jordyn Potts (108 of 204, 1,132 yards, 8 TDs, 6 interceptions) returns, as well as four starting offensive linemen.
The Golden Eagles added Missouri quarterback transfer Dylan Laible, who didn’t play for the Tigers in 2023 but had success in junior college before going to Missouri as a preferred walk-on. He was listed as a player to watch in the Big South-OVC preseason list.
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UConn transfer Jalen Mitchell, who also played three seasons at Louisville, should take on a big role at running back. He had just 72 yards on 22 carries last season after rushing for more than 1,117 combined in his time at Louisville.
Score prediction
MTSU 38, Tennessee Tech 14: The Blue Raiders should flex their FBS muscle and give Mason his first win at MTSU, dominating a Golden Eagles team that will play tough defense early, but won’t have the depth to hang around in the second half.
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Cecil Joyce covers high school sports and MTSU athletics for The Daily News Journal. Contact him at cjoyce@dnj.com and follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @Cecil_Joyce.
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Publish date : 2024-08-29 00:00:00
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