Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Steele: ‘Raiders in for another 8-win season, at least’
7/19/2017 11:30:00 AM | Football
Likes MT to compete for league title
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – As the college football season inches closer, national media members are giving their predictions and probabilities for every team throughout the country.
One of the most respected national football analysts, Phil Steele, recently shared what he thinks Middle Tennessee's 2017 season could look like, and it's obvious that he's optimistic about the Blue Raiders' year to come.
"I think they will get back to another bowl game this year," he said. "As far as to win Conference USA, I think they have a couple of big games – Marshall at home and at WKU Friday night on Nov. 17 – which could determine who gets to the C-USA title game.
"To win the conference is the one that I have circled, and other than that I think clearly Middle Tennessee gets to a bowl. I'm looking for probably another eight-win season this year, at least."
The Blue Raiders' returning talent from an 8-5 team in 2016 are the cause for Steele's optimism.
Head coach Rick Stockstill and Middle Tennessee return 15 starters (six each on offense and defense and three on special teams) from last year's team that finished third in the C-USA East division. Most importantly, quarterback Brent Stockstill and wide receiver Richie James, both upcoming redshirt juniors, are back.
The pass-catching duo has proven to be one of the most productive in the nation over the past two seasons. They enter 2017 as the nation's active leaders in hookups with 168.
Stockstill currently ranks fourth in the FBS in passing yards per game (303.3), and he owns MT career records in touchdown passes (61), 300-yard passing games (14), 400-yard passing games (2) and passing yards per game (303.3). He will also likely set school career records in completions, passing attempts and passing yards in 2017.
"I think he's a guy that's very underrated," Steele said. "He's your typical coach's son … every time you talk to a coach they talk about how a coach's son is someone who's studied the game since they were small, and that's him. He makes the right decisions on the field."
James is the current active leader nationally with 8.2 receptions and 114.3 receiving yards per contest. He also ranks second on Middle Tennessee's career list for receptions and receiving yards and fourth in receiving touchdowns, and he's caught at least one pass in all 26 games he's played as a Blue Raider.
"He's one of the more underrated receivers in the country, so I love that combination [with Stockstill]," Steele said. "He's only 5-foot-9, but I think he has a little more potential to be up there on Draft Day. I think size is probably the biggest concern, but his productivity is tremendous."
Steele said with the fast-paced, quick-throw type of offense second-year offensive coordinator Tony Franklin likes to run, the losses of offensive linemen Daniel Stephens, Josh Chester and Maurquice Shakir shouldn't be felt as much as some in other position groups.
One of the key spots that has a void created by graduation is the running back unit.
Murfreesboro native I'Tavius Mathers had one of the best offensive seasons in MT history in 2016, setting school regular-season records in rushing yards (1,561), all-purpose yards (2,194) and receptions by a running back (66). Steele thinks the Blue Raiders may have to use a committee to replace some of his lost production.
"I don't think they're going to get the type of production out of one back like they got out of Mathers last year, but I think combined they could come pretty close to that," he said.
The sting of graduation felt along the offensive line and in the running back group is only intensified when looking at Middle Tennessee's defensive front.
New defensive coordinator Scott Shafer steps into a tough situation in his first year with the Blue Raiders. He will have to find a way to replace five players along the defensive line as well as his No. 1 cornerback from a year ago (Jeremy Cutrer).
Luckily, Shafer will have an experienced linebacking corps that returns four players from last year, and overall eight of the top nine tacklers from 2016 are back to add to Walter Brady, a Missouri transfer who led the nation's freshmen in sacks in 2015 (7).
Steele believes what the Raiders have returning should be enough to make the new coordinator's job easier than some expected when he was hired in January.
"I think the front four will be better than zero returning starters would indicate," he said. "I'm a big fan of Shafer as far as his pressure defense goes. They can come at you from all different areas, and the big belief there, of course, is to pressure the quarterback.
"The first few opponents could be surprised by the type of defense they see on the field from Middle Tennessee. It wouldn't surprise me if in that first game against Vanderbilt they see some looks they haven't seen before, and maybe Middle Tennessee's defense could have the upper hand out of the box."
If Shafer can help show improvements on the defensive side of the ball, the Blue Raiders should be able to contend in C-USA's East division, according to Steele.
However, an East title may come down to if MT can get back over the hump against WKU. The Hilltoppers have won the last two meetings in the 100 Miles of Hate rivalry, and while they had to replace head coach Jeff Brohm in the offseason, they have one of the best quarterbacks in the country returning in Mike White (2016 All-CUSA second-teamer and Newcomer of the Year).
"When you look at WKU, it was a team that was absolutely dominant down the stretch [in 2016]," Steele said. "They lose their head coach, but with Mike White back I think if you look at WKU's overall talent they deserve to be the favorite in the East.
"There's a lot of depth in C-USA, and it's a very talented conference."
While WKU has proven to be the class of the conference over the last few seasons, Steele thinks Middle Tennessee could have one of its best chances to grab its coveted first conference title since moving to the FBS level in 2000.
"I'm pretty optimistic," he said. "I think this is a team that in my mind is a contender in the C-USA East."
Other notes
Steele praises Coach Stockstill
With the recent retirement of longtime Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops, Coach Stockstill moved up another spot on the list of longest-tenured head coaches in the nation.
The 12-year Blue Raider front man is tied with Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald as the sixth-longest tenured head coach at the FBS level, and Steele said there are several reasons why Stockstill and MT have proven to be such a good fit over the years.
"I think Coach Stockstill does a tremendous job, so that's the main reason he's been there so long," he said. "He puts the product on the field and continues to recruit extremely well. He's an outstanding game day coach and develops his players well, so I think when you put all of those factors together it sums up how he's been there for 12 years. He's definitely an outstanding coach."
Steele high on Marshall
Steele thinks Marshall could surprise a lot of people in C-USA with a bounce-back year. The Thundering Herd finished just 3-9 in 2016, but prior to that had three straight 10-plus win seasons. One of their wins in 2016 came in a 42-17 fashion at home over MT as the Blue Raiders played their first game without injured Brent Stockstill.
"I think Marshall will surprise a lot of folks this year, too," he said. "Marshall is a team that won 10 or more each of the previous three years then took a step back last year. I like the talent they have coming back … I think Marshall will be a surprise team."
Middle Tennessee and Marshall will meet on the turf on Friday, Oct. 20, in Murfreesboro. It will be broadcast on ESPN 2 starting at 6 p.m.
One of the most respected national football analysts, Phil Steele, recently shared what he thinks Middle Tennessee's 2017 season could look like, and it's obvious that he's optimistic about the Blue Raiders' year to come.
"I think they will get back to another bowl game this year," he said. "As far as to win Conference USA, I think they have a couple of big games – Marshall at home and at WKU Friday night on Nov. 17 – which could determine who gets to the C-USA title game.
"To win the conference is the one that I have circled, and other than that I think clearly Middle Tennessee gets to a bowl. I'm looking for probably another eight-win season this year, at least."
The Blue Raiders' returning talent from an 8-5 team in 2016 are the cause for Steele's optimism.
Head coach Rick Stockstill and Middle Tennessee return 15 starters (six each on offense and defense and three on special teams) from last year's team that finished third in the C-USA East division. Most importantly, quarterback Brent Stockstill and wide receiver Richie James, both upcoming redshirt juniors, are back.
The pass-catching duo has proven to be one of the most productive in the nation over the past two seasons. They enter 2017 as the nation's active leaders in hookups with 168.
Stockstill currently ranks fourth in the FBS in passing yards per game (303.3), and he owns MT career records in touchdown passes (61), 300-yard passing games (14), 400-yard passing games (2) and passing yards per game (303.3). He will also likely set school career records in completions, passing attempts and passing yards in 2017.
"I think he's a guy that's very underrated," Steele said. "He's your typical coach's son … every time you talk to a coach they talk about how a coach's son is someone who's studied the game since they were small, and that's him. He makes the right decisions on the field."
James is the current active leader nationally with 8.2 receptions and 114.3 receiving yards per contest. He also ranks second on Middle Tennessee's career list for receptions and receiving yards and fourth in receiving touchdowns, and he's caught at least one pass in all 26 games he's played as a Blue Raider.
"He's one of the more underrated receivers in the country, so I love that combination [with Stockstill]," Steele said. "He's only 5-foot-9, but I think he has a little more potential to be up there on Draft Day. I think size is probably the biggest concern, but his productivity is tremendous."
Steele said with the fast-paced, quick-throw type of offense second-year offensive coordinator Tony Franklin likes to run, the losses of offensive linemen Daniel Stephens, Josh Chester and Maurquice Shakir shouldn't be felt as much as some in other position groups.
One of the key spots that has a void created by graduation is the running back unit.
Murfreesboro native I'Tavius Mathers had one of the best offensive seasons in MT history in 2016, setting school regular-season records in rushing yards (1,561), all-purpose yards (2,194) and receptions by a running back (66). Steele thinks the Blue Raiders may have to use a committee to replace some of his lost production.
"I don't think they're going to get the type of production out of one back like they got out of Mathers last year, but I think combined they could come pretty close to that," he said.
The sting of graduation felt along the offensive line and in the running back group is only intensified when looking at Middle Tennessee's defensive front.
New defensive coordinator Scott Shafer steps into a tough situation in his first year with the Blue Raiders. He will have to find a way to replace five players along the defensive line as well as his No. 1 cornerback from a year ago (Jeremy Cutrer).
Luckily, Shafer will have an experienced linebacking corps that returns four players from last year, and overall eight of the top nine tacklers from 2016 are back to add to Walter Brady, a Missouri transfer who led the nation's freshmen in sacks in 2015 (7).
Steele believes what the Raiders have returning should be enough to make the new coordinator's job easier than some expected when he was hired in January.
"I think the front four will be better than zero returning starters would indicate," he said. "I'm a big fan of Shafer as far as his pressure defense goes. They can come at you from all different areas, and the big belief there, of course, is to pressure the quarterback.
"The first few opponents could be surprised by the type of defense they see on the field from Middle Tennessee. It wouldn't surprise me if in that first game against Vanderbilt they see some looks they haven't seen before, and maybe Middle Tennessee's defense could have the upper hand out of the box."
If Shafer can help show improvements on the defensive side of the ball, the Blue Raiders should be able to contend in C-USA's East division, according to Steele.
However, an East title may come down to if MT can get back over the hump against WKU. The Hilltoppers have won the last two meetings in the 100 Miles of Hate rivalry, and while they had to replace head coach Jeff Brohm in the offseason, they have one of the best quarterbacks in the country returning in Mike White (2016 All-CUSA second-teamer and Newcomer of the Year).
"When you look at WKU, it was a team that was absolutely dominant down the stretch [in 2016]," Steele said. "They lose their head coach, but with Mike White back I think if you look at WKU's overall talent they deserve to be the favorite in the East.
"There's a lot of depth in C-USA, and it's a very talented conference."
While WKU has proven to be the class of the conference over the last few seasons, Steele thinks Middle Tennessee could have one of its best chances to grab its coveted first conference title since moving to the FBS level in 2000.
"I'm pretty optimistic," he said. "I think this is a team that in my mind is a contender in the C-USA East."
Other notes
Steele praises Coach Stockstill
With the recent retirement of longtime Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops, Coach Stockstill moved up another spot on the list of longest-tenured head coaches in the nation.
The 12-year Blue Raider front man is tied with Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald as the sixth-longest tenured head coach at the FBS level, and Steele said there are several reasons why Stockstill and MT have proven to be such a good fit over the years.
"I think Coach Stockstill does a tremendous job, so that's the main reason he's been there so long," he said. "He puts the product on the field and continues to recruit extremely well. He's an outstanding game day coach and develops his players well, so I think when you put all of those factors together it sums up how he's been there for 12 years. He's definitely an outstanding coach."
Steele high on Marshall
Steele thinks Marshall could surprise a lot of people in C-USA with a bounce-back year. The Thundering Herd finished just 3-9 in 2016, but prior to that had three straight 10-plus win seasons. One of their wins in 2016 came in a 42-17 fashion at home over MT as the Blue Raiders played their first game without injured Brent Stockstill.
"I think Marshall will surprise a lot of folks this year, too," he said. "Marshall is a team that won 10 or more each of the previous three years then took a step back last year. I like the talent they have coming back … I think Marshall will be a surprise team."
Middle Tennessee and Marshall will meet on the turf on Friday, Oct. 20, in Murfreesboro. It will be broadcast on ESPN 2 starting at 6 p.m.
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