Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Raiders honored by watch list presence
7/23/2016 8:00:00 AM | Football
Brings great exposure to program
MURFREESBORO - Every summer as football season inches closer, the nation's top awards release their watch lists filled with players across the country hoping to leave their mark on college football.
This season, Middle Tennessee has four players listed among some of the top award watch lists in the country.
Sophomore quarterback Brent Stockstill has been named to the Maxwell and Davey O'Brien watch lists, sophomore wide receiver Richie James is on the Maxwell and Biletnikoff lists, senior defensive back Jeremy Cutrer was named to the Jim Thorpe watch list and senior center Daniel Stephens landed on the Rimington list.
"A lot of it is based on what they did last year and projecting what they can do this year," head coach Rick Stockstill said. "It's a credit to our coaching staff that we can develop players, and it's also a credit to these players individually in how hard they've worked to improve their skillset since they've been here."
The Maxwell Award is given every year to America's Player of the Year. This year marks the first time in school history MTSU has a player, not to mention two players, named to the Maxwell watch list.
Brent Stockstill, who is also on the O'Brien list that awards the nation's top quarterback, and James, who is also in the running for the Biletnikoff Award that goes to the nation's top receiver, became one of college football's most feared offensive tandems a year ago. The two were named Freshman All-Americans, and Stockstill was named the C-USA Freshman of the Year.
"We're both humbled to be on the Maxwell Award list, but we don't focus on the awards and stuff like that," James said. "We continue to try get better as a team, as a unit, and we continue to try and ignore the awards until later on so we can be successful."
The Jim Thorpe Award goes each year to the nation's top defensive back. Cutrer, one of 39 players who were named to the list, had a team-high 13 pass break-ups a year ago. He was named to the C-USA Second Team.
He said his first thought after finding out he had been named to the watch list was of one of the award's past winners – Arizona Cardinals defensive back Patrick Peterson.
"I thought about Patrick Peterson and the trophy he was holding, and was like 'Wow, that's a big award, I have a big step to make,'" Cutrer said. "I have a lot of progress to make and have to put in a lot of effort this year and can't take anything for granted. I just have to give it my all – I really want that trophy."
After helping the Blue Raider offense to one of the best seasons in school history, Stephens was named to the Rimington Award watch list in May. The award goes to the nation's best center
Stephens started all 13 games a year ago for Middle Tennessee, playing in 963, and was an integral part to an offensive line that set school records in total offense, scoring and passing yards.
"It was a little bit of a surprise [being named to the watch list], but at the same time it's a great honor," he said. "As a little kid, it's kind of something you imagine about, being on a list like that. Now that I'm on it, it humbles me and it's a great honor for me, as well."
Being named to awards watch lists may not be as important to the players as having a great 2016 season, but the individual recognition is a pleasant sight for their head coach who knows how hard they have worked.
"They're all four very humble kids," Rick Stockstill said. "If you came out here and watched them … they haven't relaxed or gotten comfortable. They still have a great edge about them, a great desire to be great, and they're extremely hard workers.
"It makes it that much more satisfying for a coach that these are really good kids, these are good young people who are getting recognized."
Even though the recognition is nice, all four of MTSU's watch-listers know being named to the lists doesn't guarantee them anything in the coming season. They still have to go out and perform to make 2016 a special year.
"It's always a good honor for our program and this team for guys to get national recognition," Brent Stockstill said. "But, that being said, it doesn't mean much … later on through the year if we have the success we are supposed to have and we have a semifinalist or finalist that would be an even bigger honor."
This season, Middle Tennessee has four players listed among some of the top award watch lists in the country.
Sophomore quarterback Brent Stockstill has been named to the Maxwell and Davey O'Brien watch lists, sophomore wide receiver Richie James is on the Maxwell and Biletnikoff lists, senior defensive back Jeremy Cutrer was named to the Jim Thorpe watch list and senior center Daniel Stephens landed on the Rimington list.
"A lot of it is based on what they did last year and projecting what they can do this year," head coach Rick Stockstill said. "It's a credit to our coaching staff that we can develop players, and it's also a credit to these players individually in how hard they've worked to improve their skillset since they've been here."
The Maxwell Award is given every year to America's Player of the Year. This year marks the first time in school history MTSU has a player, not to mention two players, named to the Maxwell watch list.
Brent Stockstill, who is also on the O'Brien list that awards the nation's top quarterback, and James, who is also in the running for the Biletnikoff Award that goes to the nation's top receiver, became one of college football's most feared offensive tandems a year ago. The two were named Freshman All-Americans, and Stockstill was named the C-USA Freshman of the Year.
"We're both humbled to be on the Maxwell Award list, but we don't focus on the awards and stuff like that," James said. "We continue to try get better as a team, as a unit, and we continue to try and ignore the awards until later on so we can be successful."
The Jim Thorpe Award goes each year to the nation's top defensive back. Cutrer, one of 39 players who were named to the list, had a team-high 13 pass break-ups a year ago. He was named to the C-USA Second Team.
He said his first thought after finding out he had been named to the watch list was of one of the award's past winners – Arizona Cardinals defensive back Patrick Peterson.
"I thought about Patrick Peterson and the trophy he was holding, and was like 'Wow, that's a big award, I have a big step to make,'" Cutrer said. "I have a lot of progress to make and have to put in a lot of effort this year and can't take anything for granted. I just have to give it my all – I really want that trophy."
After helping the Blue Raider offense to one of the best seasons in school history, Stephens was named to the Rimington Award watch list in May. The award goes to the nation's best center
Stephens started all 13 games a year ago for Middle Tennessee, playing in 963, and was an integral part to an offensive line that set school records in total offense, scoring and passing yards.
"It was a little bit of a surprise [being named to the watch list], but at the same time it's a great honor," he said. "As a little kid, it's kind of something you imagine about, being on a list like that. Now that I'm on it, it humbles me and it's a great honor for me, as well."
Being named to awards watch lists may not be as important to the players as having a great 2016 season, but the individual recognition is a pleasant sight for their head coach who knows how hard they have worked.
"They're all four very humble kids," Rick Stockstill said. "If you came out here and watched them … they haven't relaxed or gotten comfortable. They still have a great edge about them, a great desire to be great, and they're extremely hard workers.
"It makes it that much more satisfying for a coach that these are really good kids, these are good young people who are getting recognized."
Even though the recognition is nice, all four of MTSU's watch-listers know being named to the lists doesn't guarantee them anything in the coming season. They still have to go out and perform to make 2016 a special year.
"It's always a good honor for our program and this team for guys to get national recognition," Brent Stockstill said. "But, that being said, it doesn't mean much … later on through the year if we have the success we are supposed to have and we have a semifinalist or finalist that would be an even bigger honor."
Players Mentioned
CB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
OL
/ Football
QB
/ FootballA look back: 1965 and 1985 Undefeated Blue Raider Football Teams
Wednesday, September 17
MTSU Football at Nevada cinematic recap – 9/13/25
Tuesday, September 16
Derek Mason LIVE: Presented by The Boulevard Bar & Grille Week 4 (Video)
Monday, September 15
MTSU Football Weekly Press Conference 9/15/25
Monday, September 15
