Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Position Breakdown: The Wide Receivers
4/4/2017 5:58:00 PM | Football
James, Lee lead group
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – If Middle Tennessee is going to replicate its high-octane offense from the last few seasons, a lot will come down to the continued exceptional play from its wide receivers.
Led by redshirt junior Richie James, who was named a 2016 Third Team All-American by Phil Steele, the Blue Raider receivers helped guide the offense to record-setting marks in both 2015 and 2016.
With a lot of talent returning behind James, they hope to continue to make life easier for redshirt junior quarterback Brent Stockstill this season.
"I've been pleased with that group [this spring]," second-year offensive coordinator Tony Franklin said. "The kids have gotten a lot better. Their blocking has gotten a lot better, and their fundamentals and competitive nature have gotten better."
James has been the bell cow of the group over the past two seasons. The two-time All-Conference USA First Team member currently ranks second all-time at MT in receptions (213) and receiving yards (2,971) and is fourth in touchdown catches (20). He's also ranked first nationally among active players in receptions per game and receiving yards per game.
But James is not the only returning talent for the Blue Raiders. 2016 break-out receivers sophomore Ty Lee, a FWAA Freshman All-American who led the nation's freshmen with 63 receptions, and redshirt senior Patrick Smith (28 catches, 332 yards) are back, and the only player they lost with more than three receptions last year was Dennis Andrews (32 catches, 428 yards, eight TDs).
Even with the experience the returners may have, James sees plenty of room for improvement.
"I think we all as a receiving corps have to get better," he said. "Everybody, including me, has to get better, and we have to come out here every day to work. Every day you have to work on details and the fundamentals, and if you can't do that you can't play."
With James, Lee and Smith possibly filling three of the starting receiver spots on Sept. 2 in Middle Tennessee's season opener against Vanderbilt, Andrews' vacated spot could be the only one in need of a new starter. That could create some much-needed competition among the 22 receivers on the roster once freshmen and transfers have all arrived on campus.
Some names to keep an eye on this spring who could be frontrunners for the fourth starting spot include redshirt sophomore Isiah Upton, sophomore CJ Windham and redshirt freshman Reginald Henderson. Upton and Windham both saw significant playing time last season, while Henderson took a redshirt.
Incoming freshmen Zack Dobson and Zeke Cobb, the Blue Raiders' two highest-rated receivers in the 2017 class, according to 247Sports, and junior Mt. San Antonio College transfer Tavonn Salter could also vie for playing time.
"We like the class we have coming in, and we'll be counting on those guys coming in to fill in," Franklin said. "If they don't, we're in trouble. They have to come in and play."
All of the receivers on the roster are learning under a new position coach this season. Austin Silvoy was promoted from quality control to the wide receiver coach spot in the offseason.
Franklin and Silvoy have options at the position moving forward, and through a few weeks of spring drills, which conclude April 15, it's clear plenty of improvements across the group can be made.
"I think we can be way better than we are right now," James said. "It's going to take time, and that's fine. We have camp and we have summer, so we'll be fine."
Here are some headlines from the wide receiver group:
Key losses: Demetrius Frazier, Dennis Andrews, Terry Pettis
Key returners: Richie James, Ty Lee, Patrick Smith
Key newcomers: Zack Dobson, Zeke Cobb, Tavonn Salter
Players to watch: Isaiah Upton, CJ Windham, Ruben Garnett, Reginald Henderson
Roster:
3 Richie James [5-9, 178, R-Jr.]
5 Jocquez Bruce [5-10, 178, R-So.]
9 Isiah Upton [6-0, 178, R-So.]Led by redshirt junior Richie James, who was named a 2016 Third Team All-American by Phil Steele, the Blue Raider receivers helped guide the offense to record-setting marks in both 2015 and 2016.
With a lot of talent returning behind James, they hope to continue to make life easier for redshirt junior quarterback Brent Stockstill this season.
"I've been pleased with that group [this spring]," second-year offensive coordinator Tony Franklin said. "The kids have gotten a lot better. Their blocking has gotten a lot better, and their fundamentals and competitive nature have gotten better."
James has been the bell cow of the group over the past two seasons. The two-time All-Conference USA First Team member currently ranks second all-time at MT in receptions (213) and receiving yards (2,971) and is fourth in touchdown catches (20). He's also ranked first nationally among active players in receptions per game and receiving yards per game.
But James is not the only returning talent for the Blue Raiders. 2016 break-out receivers sophomore Ty Lee, a FWAA Freshman All-American who led the nation's freshmen with 63 receptions, and redshirt senior Patrick Smith (28 catches, 332 yards) are back, and the only player they lost with more than three receptions last year was Dennis Andrews (32 catches, 428 yards, eight TDs).
Even with the experience the returners may have, James sees plenty of room for improvement.
"I think we all as a receiving corps have to get better," he said. "Everybody, including me, has to get better, and we have to come out here every day to work. Every day you have to work on details and the fundamentals, and if you can't do that you can't play."
With James, Lee and Smith possibly filling three of the starting receiver spots on Sept. 2 in Middle Tennessee's season opener against Vanderbilt, Andrews' vacated spot could be the only one in need of a new starter. That could create some much-needed competition among the 22 receivers on the roster once freshmen and transfers have all arrived on campus.
Some names to keep an eye on this spring who could be frontrunners for the fourth starting spot include redshirt sophomore Isiah Upton, sophomore CJ Windham and redshirt freshman Reginald Henderson. Upton and Windham both saw significant playing time last season, while Henderson took a redshirt.
Incoming freshmen Zack Dobson and Zeke Cobb, the Blue Raiders' two highest-rated receivers in the 2017 class, according to 247Sports, and junior Mt. San Antonio College transfer Tavonn Salter could also vie for playing time.
"We like the class we have coming in, and we'll be counting on those guys coming in to fill in," Franklin said. "If they don't, we're in trouble. They have to come in and play."
All of the receivers on the roster are learning under a new position coach this season. Austin Silvoy was promoted from quality control to the wide receiver coach spot in the offseason.
Franklin and Silvoy have options at the position moving forward, and through a few weeks of spring drills, which conclude April 15, it's clear plenty of improvements across the group can be made.
"I think we can be way better than we are right now," James said. "It's going to take time, and that's fine. We have camp and we have summer, so we'll be fine."
Here are some headlines from the wide receiver group:
Key losses: Demetrius Frazier, Dennis Andrews, Terry Pettis
Key returners: Richie James, Ty Lee, Patrick Smith
Key newcomers: Zack Dobson, Zeke Cobb, Tavonn Salter
Players to watch: Isaiah Upton, CJ Windham, Ruben Garnett, Reginald Henderson
Roster:
3 Richie James [5-9, 178, R-Jr.]
5 Jocquez Bruce [5-10, 178, R-So.]
24 Ty Lee [5-9, 160, So.]
27 Ruben Garnett [5-9, 170, R-So.]
34 Tyshawn Brown [6-1, 179, So.]
37 Patrick Smith [6-0, 179, R-Sr.]
47 Tristan Walker [5-9, 170, R-Sr.]
48 Max Linder [6-3, 234, R-Jr.]
81 CJ Windham [6-2, 198, So.]
82 Reginald Henderson [6-2, 207, R-Fr.]
87 Ricky Blair [6-3, 190, Sr.]
-- Aidan Black [6-3, 216, R-So.]*
-- Zeke Cobb [6-3, 202, Fr.]
-- Zack Dobson [5-8, 165, Fr.]
-- Chris Dunnum [5-11, 180, R-Jr.]*
-- Xavier Dupree [5-11, 160, R-Fr.]*
-- Tyrese Johnson [5-8, 160, Fr.]
-- Robert Kelley [5-9, 176, R-Sr.]
-- Jimmy Marshall [6-5, 216, Fr.]
-- Fundrail Quimbley [6-0, 193, R-So.]
-- Tavonn Salter [6-2, 200, Jr.]
*Denotes player already enrolled at MTSU.
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