Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Position Breakdown: The Quarterbacks and Running Backs
4/6/2017 6:00:00 PM | Football
Stockstill the headliner; Tucker brings experience
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee has benefitted from having one of the nation's best offenses the last two seasons.
After setting school records in several offensive categories in 2015, the Blue Raiders rose the bar even higher last year by having the best offensive season in school history, breaking records in total offense (6,730 yards), points (516), total touchdowns (67), passing yards (4,236), passing TDs (39), all-purpose yards (7,636) and other categories.
If Blue Raider faithful are going to see another outstanding offense from Middle Tennessee in 2017, the blue and white will have to find a way to replace running back I'Tavius Mathers and keep redshirt junior quarterback Brent Stockstill healthy for the whole season.
So far through a few weeks of spring drills, which conclude April 15, the health part hasn't gone the way of MT and second-year offensive coordinator Tony Franklin.
Stockstill underwent surgery on his left shoulder, his throwing side, on Feb. 28 and is not participating in drills this spring.
The loss of MT's all-time leading TD passer (61) has created an opportunity for backups John Urzua, a redshirt sophomore, and redshirt freshman Kyle Banks to get plenty of reps over the spring's 15 practices.
Franklin said the added reps have definitely brought back good returns for his backup QBs.
"They've both gotten better," he said. "We've let them go live several times, which they both needed, and they've gotten better in the pocket. They're still not 100 percent, but they've definitely been a lot better and the reps have helped them both a lot."
While Stockstill may have the starting QB spot locked up once he comes back healthy, his backfield mate has yet to be determined.
The loss of Mathers, a Murfreesboro native who set single-season school records last year in rushing yards (1,561), all-purpose yards (2,194) and receptions by a running back (66), creates a big void that has to be filled for the Blue Raider offense to be at its peak.
A player who was expected to come in and help fill that void hasn't been able to see the field much in the last few practices. Junior Maurice Gordon, a Navarro College transfer, enrolled early to take part in spring drills but has been hampered with a minor injury that has limited his effectiveness early on.
"He's been hurt the last several days with a hamstring," Franklin said. "He has a long way to go and a lot of work to do to be a factor."
With Gordon missing some time, redshirt sophomore Terelle West, junior Desmond Anderson and redshirt senior Shane Tucker have seen most of the reps.
Anderson and Tucker are both making the switch back to running back after transitioning to wide receivers last season. Tucker missed all of 2016 with an injury, while Anderson caught 10 balls for 135 yards.
West was the primary backup to Mathers last season and was second among RBs with 168 total rushing yards on 40 attempts. He is the early leader to see a lot of reps in the season opener on Sept. 2 against Vanderbilt.
"I think Terrelle has gotten better, and I think he has to get even better because he expects to take the role that I'Tavius had," Franklin said. "So he has a long way to go between now and August to get a lot better."
Whichever back gets the nod will have to be a receiver as much as a runner.
Last season, Mathers proved to be the best receiving running back MT has ever had, setting a school record for receptions by a RB. But, while it may seem this year's backs will have a lot to improve on to reach those same numbers, they actually are quite a bit further along than Mathers was in the spring of 2016.
"I'Tavius wasn't very good at catching it in the spring last year, so both of those guys are probably further along than where I'Tavius was at the same time," Franklin said.
Here are some headlines from the running back and quarterback groups:
QB:
Key losses: None
Key returners: Brent Stockstill
Newcomers: John Turner
Players to watch: John Urzua, Kyle Banks
Roster:
After setting school records in several offensive categories in 2015, the Blue Raiders rose the bar even higher last year by having the best offensive season in school history, breaking records in total offense (6,730 yards), points (516), total touchdowns (67), passing yards (4,236), passing TDs (39), all-purpose yards (7,636) and other categories.
If Blue Raider faithful are going to see another outstanding offense from Middle Tennessee in 2017, the blue and white will have to find a way to replace running back I'Tavius Mathers and keep redshirt junior quarterback Brent Stockstill healthy for the whole season.
So far through a few weeks of spring drills, which conclude April 15, the health part hasn't gone the way of MT and second-year offensive coordinator Tony Franklin.
Stockstill underwent surgery on his left shoulder, his throwing side, on Feb. 28 and is not participating in drills this spring.
The loss of MT's all-time leading TD passer (61) has created an opportunity for backups John Urzua, a redshirt sophomore, and redshirt freshman Kyle Banks to get plenty of reps over the spring's 15 practices.
Franklin said the added reps have definitely brought back good returns for his backup QBs.
"They've both gotten better," he said. "We've let them go live several times, which they both needed, and they've gotten better in the pocket. They're still not 100 percent, but they've definitely been a lot better and the reps have helped them both a lot."
While Stockstill may have the starting QB spot locked up once he comes back healthy, his backfield mate has yet to be determined.
The loss of Mathers, a Murfreesboro native who set single-season school records last year in rushing yards (1,561), all-purpose yards (2,194) and receptions by a running back (66), creates a big void that has to be filled for the Blue Raider offense to be at its peak.
A player who was expected to come in and help fill that void hasn't been able to see the field much in the last few practices. Junior Maurice Gordon, a Navarro College transfer, enrolled early to take part in spring drills but has been hampered with a minor injury that has limited his effectiveness early on.
"He's been hurt the last several days with a hamstring," Franklin said. "He has a long way to go and a lot of work to do to be a factor."
With Gordon missing some time, redshirt sophomore Terelle West, junior Desmond Anderson and redshirt senior Shane Tucker have seen most of the reps.
Anderson and Tucker are both making the switch back to running back after transitioning to wide receivers last season. Tucker missed all of 2016 with an injury, while Anderson caught 10 balls for 135 yards.
West was the primary backup to Mathers last season and was second among RBs with 168 total rushing yards on 40 attempts. He is the early leader to see a lot of reps in the season opener on Sept. 2 against Vanderbilt.
"I think Terrelle has gotten better, and I think he has to get even better because he expects to take the role that I'Tavius had," Franklin said. "So he has a long way to go between now and August to get a lot better."
Whichever back gets the nod will have to be a receiver as much as a runner.
Last season, Mathers proved to be the best receiving running back MT has ever had, setting a school record for receptions by a RB. But, while it may seem this year's backs will have a lot to improve on to reach those same numbers, they actually are quite a bit further along than Mathers was in the spring of 2016.
"I'Tavius wasn't very good at catching it in the spring last year, so both of those guys are probably further along than where I'Tavius was at the same time," Franklin said.
Here are some headlines from the running back and quarterback groups:
QB:
Key losses: None
Key returners: Brent Stockstill
Newcomers: John Turner
Players to watch: John Urzua, Kyle Banks
Roster:
10 Kyle Banks [6-2, 198, R-Fr.]
12 Brent Stockstill [6-0, 223, R-Jr.]
19 John Urzua [6-3, 184, R-So.]
-- Miller Armstrong [6-0, 204, R-Fr.]
-- Peyton Burke [5-11, 181, R-Fr.]
-- Jordan Middleton [6-1, 186, R-Fr.]
-- John Turner [6-1, 205, Fr.]
-- Davis Witt [6-2, 204, R-Fr.]
RB:
Key losses: I'Tavius Mathers
Key returners: Terelle West, Desmond Anderson
Key newcomers: Maurice Gordon
Players to watch: Maurice Gordon, Terelle West, Desmond Anderson, Shane Tucker
Roster:
1 Shane Tucker [6-0, 218, R-Sr.]
25 Desmond Anderson [5-10, 171, Jr.]
26 Kamani Thomas [5-9, 198, R-Sr.]
35 Terelle West [5-10, 187, R-So.]
-- Brad Anderson [5-8, 170, Fr.]
-- Maurice Gordon [5-10, 196, Jr.]*
-- Will Mitchell [5-6, 181, R-Fr.]
*Denotes player already enrolled at MTSU
Players Mentioned
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