Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Bright future ahead for Raiders
12/17/2015 3:30:00 PM | Football
Freshmen play key roles in bowl season
MURFREESBORO – Going into the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl, the 2015 senior class for Middle Tennessee has enjoyed tremendous success.
In fact, they've had the most success.
Entering the bowl game, MT's 2015 class has 29 victories in the past four years, which ranks as the most ever by a class in the FBS era (since 1999) for the Blue Raiders.
The group of seniors have also been bowl eligible all four years.
But, even experienced players can benefit from freshmen.
"I think it's a really, really talented class," MT offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner said. "And there are some guys that haven't even gotten to play as much, like [redshirt freshman tight end] Sean Smith who played only six games and played through a torn labrum. It's a very good freshmen class, along with the returning sophomores and juniors."
Many of the Blue Raiders' top contributors this season have been newcomers.
MT freshman quarterback Brent Stockstill highlights the class after completing 66.7 percent (301-of-451) of his passes for 3,678 yards and 27 touchdowns, prior to the Bahamas Bowl.
Stockstill's 3,678 passing yards ranks him first in the NCAA for all freshmen, and he is 380 yards shy of breaking former Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston's NCAA freshman passing yards record.
His breakout performance earned him recognition as the C-USA Freshman of the Year.
Stockstill's go-to target, freshman receiver Richie James, also shines a spotlight on MT's 2015 freshmen class.
Before finishing out the season in the Bahamas Bowl, James has compiled school records in receptions (100) and receiving yards (1,220), and ranks second on the Blue Raiders with six touchdowns.
James' outburst led to him being honored as a Freshman All-American by USA Today.
"The accolades and stats and all that stuff… we never talk about it," Faulkner said. "[Stockstill and James] don't care about that, they care about winning. Bowl games, championship games, anything like that, they treat them all the same. They treat it like it's the last game of their career and that's what you truly appreciate about both of them."
Stockstill and James have the accolades, but a bowl win is the cherished prize for the freshmen.
"It's very fulfilling," James said about being in a bowl. "It's something you dream about as a kid because you always want to play in these bowl games. It's a great feeling for someone like me who hasn't had that bowl experience until now."
"It's exciting to be playing in a bowl game," Stockstill added. "Right now, we've just been talking about how to balance fun and working at the same time. But right now, we're having fun and working at the same time for this game, and we'll see how it pays off."
Apart from Stockstill and James, MT had other key contributors in its 2015 freshmen class, most notably in running back Desmond Anderson, running back Ruben Garnett, guard Chandler Brewer, tackle Carlos Johnson, tight end Sean Smith and linebacker Darius Harris.
As Middle Tennessee advances towards the Bahamas Bowl on Dec. 24, the future appears to be in good hands.
And the future starts in Nassau, Bahamas.
"I think we can take this year, and this bowl game, and run with it," James said. "We've experienced a lot and went through lots of ups and downs, and I think that's made us even better. The next few years, MT can be a really top-tier program with all of these young guys."
In fact, they've had the most success.
Entering the bowl game, MT's 2015 class has 29 victories in the past four years, which ranks as the most ever by a class in the FBS era (since 1999) for the Blue Raiders.
The group of seniors have also been bowl eligible all four years.
But, even experienced players can benefit from freshmen.
"I think it's a really, really talented class," MT offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner said. "And there are some guys that haven't even gotten to play as much, like [redshirt freshman tight end] Sean Smith who played only six games and played through a torn labrum. It's a very good freshmen class, along with the returning sophomores and juniors."
Many of the Blue Raiders' top contributors this season have been newcomers.
MT freshman quarterback Brent Stockstill highlights the class after completing 66.7 percent (301-of-451) of his passes for 3,678 yards and 27 touchdowns, prior to the Bahamas Bowl.
Stockstill's 3,678 passing yards ranks him first in the NCAA for all freshmen, and he is 380 yards shy of breaking former Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston's NCAA freshman passing yards record.
His breakout performance earned him recognition as the C-USA Freshman of the Year.
Stockstill's go-to target, freshman receiver Richie James, also shines a spotlight on MT's 2015 freshmen class.
Before finishing out the season in the Bahamas Bowl, James has compiled school records in receptions (100) and receiving yards (1,220), and ranks second on the Blue Raiders with six touchdowns.
James' outburst led to him being honored as a Freshman All-American by USA Today.
"The accolades and stats and all that stuff… we never talk about it," Faulkner said. "[Stockstill and James] don't care about that, they care about winning. Bowl games, championship games, anything like that, they treat them all the same. They treat it like it's the last game of their career and that's what you truly appreciate about both of them."
Stockstill and James have the accolades, but a bowl win is the cherished prize for the freshmen.
"It's very fulfilling," James said about being in a bowl. "It's something you dream about as a kid because you always want to play in these bowl games. It's a great feeling for someone like me who hasn't had that bowl experience until now."
"It's exciting to be playing in a bowl game," Stockstill added. "Right now, we've just been talking about how to balance fun and working at the same time. But right now, we're having fun and working at the same time for this game, and we'll see how it pays off."
Apart from Stockstill and James, MT had other key contributors in its 2015 freshmen class, most notably in running back Desmond Anderson, running back Ruben Garnett, guard Chandler Brewer, tackle Carlos Johnson, tight end Sean Smith and linebacker Darius Harris.
As Middle Tennessee advances towards the Bahamas Bowl on Dec. 24, the future appears to be in good hands.
And the future starts in Nassau, Bahamas.
"I think we can take this year, and this bowl game, and run with it," James said. "We've experienced a lot and went through lots of ups and downs, and I think that's made us even better. The next few years, MT can be a really top-tier program with all of these young guys."
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