Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Spring Position Update: Wide Receivers
4/3/2018 5:00:00 PM | Football
Lee leads deep group
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Perhaps the top wide receiver to ever put on a Middle Tennessee uniform is no longer a Blue Raider, but that doesn't mean head coach Rick Stockstill's receiver cupboard is bare. In fact, it may be the fullest it's been in some time.
Richie James will forgo his redshirt senior season in favor of getting a crack at the NFL, and he'll leave big shoes to fill after setting MT career marks in receptions (244), receiving yards (3,261) and receiving touchdowns (23). But, there are a few guys left on the roster who could step up and fill those shoes, including one guy who James has labeled a better receiver than himself.
This spring, the big group of receivers (20 in total) will work at coming up with a solid rotation while also forming comfortability and consistency with redshirt senior quarterback Brent Stockstill. They'll also try to take advantage of a good bill of health.
"We just want consistency with the details and to be competitive," second-year receivers coach Austin Silvoy said. "They're competing every single rep right now, and there's a fight in them and a hunger to get better.
"The last two years, it's kind of been a roller coaster ride with who's the next man up. This spring, I think we really do have a good rotation of depth. Even our new guys are catching on quick."
Here are the receivers on the roster:
X
Ty Lee, Jr., 5-9, 175
In two seasons at Middle Tennessee, Lee, a 2016 FWAA Freshman All-American and 2017 C-USA Second Team member, has established himself as one of the best receivers in Conference USA despite a small stature.
James has often touted Lee as a better receiver than himself, and the numbers may come to prove that once Lee is done in Murfreesboro. Through two seasons, his 142 receptions (fifth all-time), 1,654 receiving yards (seventh all-time) and 14 TDs (10th all-time) are all on pace to come close to breaking James' record in each category.
The Moultrie, Georgia, native is still chasing his first 1,000-yard receiving season, and this spring he's working to fine tune his game. He'll be one of the leaders of the offense, though you won't hear him barking orders during practice.
"He's one of those guys who's not going to say much, but he comes to work every day," Silvoy said. "He's a smart football player, and he loves the game. You see that through his play."
Tavonn Salter, Sr., 6-2, 191
Salter emerged as a deep-play threat for the Blue Raiders last season, his first in Murfreesboro after spending two years at Mt. San Antonio.
With his speed, Salter could become a huge asset for a team looking for someone to stretch the field vertically. He'll have to show better consistency catching the football with only six catches last season, but his 20.8-yard average per catch proves his big-play ability. He also had two touchdowns on just six catches.
Tyrese Johnson, So., 5-8, 175
Johnson, a small, speedy receiver out of Halls, Tennessee, played in nine games as a freshman last season and made two starts.
He's a great athlete despite his size, as evidenced by his lettering in football, basketball, baseball and track and field at Halls High School, where he was named a 2015 and 2016 all-state recipient in football.
As a freshman, Johnson hauled in eight catches for 86 yards.
Peyton Burke, R-So., 5-11, 183
A former high school quarterback, Burke didn't see any time as a redshirt freshman last season.
At Tates Creek High School in Lexington, Kentucky, Burke starred under center, finishing as the Class 6A passing leader his senior season with a school-record 2,651 yards and 34 touchdowns.
Gatlin Casey, Gr., 6-3, 210
Casey is a graduate transfer coming to Middle Tennessee this year from Lehigh. He won't be on campus for spring drills.
After a first team all-conference season as a junior when he had 62 receptions for 1,135 yards and 14 touchdowns, the big receiver was second on the team with 60 catches for 854 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior.
He'll provide a lot of playing experience to the receiving corps, as well as some pretty nice size at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds.
H
Patrick Smith, R-Sr., 6-0, 187
Injury caused Smith to miss two games in 2017, but when he was on the field he was one of the more reliable Blue Raider wide-outs.
The Nashville native set a new career high with 29 receptions on the season and his 329 receiving yards were three off his career high.
As a senior, Smith will be relied upon to keep being consistent, something Silvoy wants to see a lot of this spring to ensure the group has plenty of leadership.
Ruben Garnett, R-Jr., 5-9, 175
This spring will be Garnett's second as a wide receiver after switching from running back last year.
In his first season as a wide-out, Garnett caught just five passes for 71 yards, but he showed potential on the Blue Raiders' biggest stage. Against Arkansas State in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl, he had four receptions 57 yards and a touchdown.
Zack Dobson, Fr., 5-8, 175
Dobson's football career at Middle Tennessee will finally start this season after he spent a year away in 2017.
The former three-star recruit out of Knoxville and Fulton High School has a lot of similar qualities to Lee in that he's small but runs precise routes and has great hands, and he could see a lot of playing time right away.
At Fulton, Dobson, the younger brother of 2016 Arthur Ashe Courage Award winner Zaevion Dobson, finished his career with 1,411 receiving yards, 2,824 all-purpose yards, 80 tackles and five interceptions.
Will Mitchell, R-So., 5-6, 183
Mitchell is making a switch from running back to wide receiver this spring.
As a running back in 2017, the Jacksonville, Florida, native finished with 64 rushing yards on 11 attempts, including a career-best 47 rushing yards on just seven carries in win over Old Dominion.
Yusuf Ali, R-Fr., 5-9, 170
Ali took a redshirt season in 2017 and made the most of it, being named the Blue Raiders Special Teams Scout Player of the Year by the coaches.
Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Ali played his high school football at Maplewood in Tennessee.
Y
Jimmy Marshall, So., 6-5, 226
Marshall provided Middle Tennessee with much-needed size on the outside as a freshman, and the coaches hope he takes a big step this spring.
He played in all 13 games in 2017, finishing with eight catches for 79 yards and two TDs, and could be in for a lot more looks in 2018.
At Tattnall Square Academy in his hometown Macon, Georgia, Marshall was maybe a bigger basketball recruit than football as a senior. The all-state football player was also a GHSA-Private All-Star selection in basketball and was invited to the Future 150 Camp.
Tyshawn Brown, Jr., 6-1, 176
A former safety, Brown is attempting to find more playing time as a receiver for the Blue Raiders.
As a sophomore, Brown played in 12 games and finished with just two catches for eight yards. That followed a freshman year where he hauled in five receptions for 84 yards and a TD.
Jocquez Bruce, R-Jr., 5-10, 177
Bruce had a nice comeback season in 2017 after missing all but the Hawaii Bowl in 2016 with a leg injury.
He proved his versatility by lining up both as a receiver and running back for the Blue Raiders in 2017, finishing fourth on the team in rushing with 206 yards on 42 attempts and a touchdown while hauling in nine receptions for 59 yards and a touchdown.
Xavier Dupree, R-So., 5-11, 170
Dupree didn't compete in any games in 2017 after taking a redshirt in 2016.
The Decatur, Georgia, native lettered in both football and track and field at South Gwinnett High School and won the 2014 Kevin Maloof Award in football.
Zeke Cobb, R-Fr., 6-3, 215
Like Marshall, Cobb offers the Blue Raiders a lot of size on the outside that they need. The problem is Cobb hasn't been able to get on the field.
A knee injury in fall camp caused Cobb to miss the entire 2017 season and he is limited in this year's spring drills as a result. If he can get in shape and onto the field in time to be completely ready for the season, he could be a big impact on the outside. At Dalton High School in Dalton, Georgia, he had 97 catches for 1,786 yards and 20 TDs during his career for an 18.4-yard average and was also all-region in the high jump on the track and field team.
Z
CJ Windham, Jr., 6-2, 205
Windham became a starter for Middle Tennessee in 2017 and responded with a solid season, finishing third on the team with 351 receiving yards and one TD on a career-high 25 catches.
In last year's spring drills, Windham was the recipient of Most Improved Receiver and the team's Grinder Award. If he can have a similar spring of improvement, he could turn into one of MT's most trusted wide-outs in 2018.
Devon Jackson, Jr., 6-2, 196
A transfer from Santa Ana College in Santa Ana, California, Jackson was one of the better junior college receivers available in this year's class.
He'll bring a CCCFCA First Team All-America honor with him after leading SAC in receiving with 67 receptions for 1,270 yards and 14 touchdowns last year.
Jackson could very well see a lot of time right away in the blue and white when the 2018 season starts, but before then he'll have to get in better shape this spring.
"He's really eager to learn and really focused," Silvoy said. "What I love about him the most is his fire to get better. He takes every coaching point to heart, and you can see it translate from the film room to practice."
Isiah Upton, R-Jr., 6-0, 195
A former three-star recruit as a quarterback out of East Nashville Magnet, Upton has yet to see significant time with the Blue Raiders.
He played in 11 games last season with one start and finished the year with two receptions for 44 yards.
Ulysses Williams, So., 6-3, 212
Williams saw limited action in 2017 as a freshman, ending with two catches on the year.
The big wide-out is a former all-region recipient at Albany, Georgia's Monroe High School, where as a senior he finished with 63 receptions for 797 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Richie James will forgo his redshirt senior season in favor of getting a crack at the NFL, and he'll leave big shoes to fill after setting MT career marks in receptions (244), receiving yards (3,261) and receiving touchdowns (23). But, there are a few guys left on the roster who could step up and fill those shoes, including one guy who James has labeled a better receiver than himself.
This spring, the big group of receivers (20 in total) will work at coming up with a solid rotation while also forming comfortability and consistency with redshirt senior quarterback Brent Stockstill. They'll also try to take advantage of a good bill of health.
"We just want consistency with the details and to be competitive," second-year receivers coach Austin Silvoy said. "They're competing every single rep right now, and there's a fight in them and a hunger to get better.
"The last two years, it's kind of been a roller coaster ride with who's the next man up. This spring, I think we really do have a good rotation of depth. Even our new guys are catching on quick."
Here are the receivers on the roster:
X
Ty Lee, Jr., 5-9, 175
In two seasons at Middle Tennessee, Lee, a 2016 FWAA Freshman All-American and 2017 C-USA Second Team member, has established himself as one of the best receivers in Conference USA despite a small stature.
James has often touted Lee as a better receiver than himself, and the numbers may come to prove that once Lee is done in Murfreesboro. Through two seasons, his 142 receptions (fifth all-time), 1,654 receiving yards (seventh all-time) and 14 TDs (10th all-time) are all on pace to come close to breaking James' record in each category.
The Moultrie, Georgia, native is still chasing his first 1,000-yard receiving season, and this spring he's working to fine tune his game. He'll be one of the leaders of the offense, though you won't hear him barking orders during practice.
"He's one of those guys who's not going to say much, but he comes to work every day," Silvoy said. "He's a smart football player, and he loves the game. You see that through his play."
Tavonn Salter, Sr., 6-2, 191
Salter emerged as a deep-play threat for the Blue Raiders last season, his first in Murfreesboro after spending two years at Mt. San Antonio.
With his speed, Salter could become a huge asset for a team looking for someone to stretch the field vertically. He'll have to show better consistency catching the football with only six catches last season, but his 20.8-yard average per catch proves his big-play ability. He also had two touchdowns on just six catches.
Tyrese Johnson, So., 5-8, 175
Johnson, a small, speedy receiver out of Halls, Tennessee, played in nine games as a freshman last season and made two starts.
He's a great athlete despite his size, as evidenced by his lettering in football, basketball, baseball and track and field at Halls High School, where he was named a 2015 and 2016 all-state recipient in football.
As a freshman, Johnson hauled in eight catches for 86 yards.
Peyton Burke, R-So., 5-11, 183
A former high school quarterback, Burke didn't see any time as a redshirt freshman last season.
At Tates Creek High School in Lexington, Kentucky, Burke starred under center, finishing as the Class 6A passing leader his senior season with a school-record 2,651 yards and 34 touchdowns.
Gatlin Casey, Gr., 6-3, 210
Casey is a graduate transfer coming to Middle Tennessee this year from Lehigh. He won't be on campus for spring drills.
After a first team all-conference season as a junior when he had 62 receptions for 1,135 yards and 14 touchdowns, the big receiver was second on the team with 60 catches for 854 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior.
He'll provide a lot of playing experience to the receiving corps, as well as some pretty nice size at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds.
H
Patrick Smith, R-Sr., 6-0, 187
Injury caused Smith to miss two games in 2017, but when he was on the field he was one of the more reliable Blue Raider wide-outs.
The Nashville native set a new career high with 29 receptions on the season and his 329 receiving yards were three off his career high.
As a senior, Smith will be relied upon to keep being consistent, something Silvoy wants to see a lot of this spring to ensure the group has plenty of leadership.
Ruben Garnett, R-Jr., 5-9, 175
This spring will be Garnett's second as a wide receiver after switching from running back last year.
In his first season as a wide-out, Garnett caught just five passes for 71 yards, but he showed potential on the Blue Raiders' biggest stage. Against Arkansas State in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl, he had four receptions 57 yards and a touchdown.
Zack Dobson, Fr., 5-8, 175
Dobson's football career at Middle Tennessee will finally start this season after he spent a year away in 2017.
The former three-star recruit out of Knoxville and Fulton High School has a lot of similar qualities to Lee in that he's small but runs precise routes and has great hands, and he could see a lot of playing time right away.
At Fulton, Dobson, the younger brother of 2016 Arthur Ashe Courage Award winner Zaevion Dobson, finished his career with 1,411 receiving yards, 2,824 all-purpose yards, 80 tackles and five interceptions.
Will Mitchell, R-So., 5-6, 183
Mitchell is making a switch from running back to wide receiver this spring.
As a running back in 2017, the Jacksonville, Florida, native finished with 64 rushing yards on 11 attempts, including a career-best 47 rushing yards on just seven carries in win over Old Dominion.
Yusuf Ali, R-Fr., 5-9, 170
Ali took a redshirt season in 2017 and made the most of it, being named the Blue Raiders Special Teams Scout Player of the Year by the coaches.
Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Ali played his high school football at Maplewood in Tennessee.
Y
Jimmy Marshall, So., 6-5, 226
Marshall provided Middle Tennessee with much-needed size on the outside as a freshman, and the coaches hope he takes a big step this spring.
He played in all 13 games in 2017, finishing with eight catches for 79 yards and two TDs, and could be in for a lot more looks in 2018.
At Tattnall Square Academy in his hometown Macon, Georgia, Marshall was maybe a bigger basketball recruit than football as a senior. The all-state football player was also a GHSA-Private All-Star selection in basketball and was invited to the Future 150 Camp.
Tyshawn Brown, Jr., 6-1, 176
A former safety, Brown is attempting to find more playing time as a receiver for the Blue Raiders.
As a sophomore, Brown played in 12 games and finished with just two catches for eight yards. That followed a freshman year where he hauled in five receptions for 84 yards and a TD.
Jocquez Bruce, R-Jr., 5-10, 177
Bruce had a nice comeback season in 2017 after missing all but the Hawaii Bowl in 2016 with a leg injury.
He proved his versatility by lining up both as a receiver and running back for the Blue Raiders in 2017, finishing fourth on the team in rushing with 206 yards on 42 attempts and a touchdown while hauling in nine receptions for 59 yards and a touchdown.
Xavier Dupree, R-So., 5-11, 170
Dupree didn't compete in any games in 2017 after taking a redshirt in 2016.
The Decatur, Georgia, native lettered in both football and track and field at South Gwinnett High School and won the 2014 Kevin Maloof Award in football.
Zeke Cobb, R-Fr., 6-3, 215
Like Marshall, Cobb offers the Blue Raiders a lot of size on the outside that they need. The problem is Cobb hasn't been able to get on the field.
A knee injury in fall camp caused Cobb to miss the entire 2017 season and he is limited in this year's spring drills as a result. If he can get in shape and onto the field in time to be completely ready for the season, he could be a big impact on the outside. At Dalton High School in Dalton, Georgia, he had 97 catches for 1,786 yards and 20 TDs during his career for an 18.4-yard average and was also all-region in the high jump on the track and field team.
Z
CJ Windham, Jr., 6-2, 205
Windham became a starter for Middle Tennessee in 2017 and responded with a solid season, finishing third on the team with 351 receiving yards and one TD on a career-high 25 catches.
In last year's spring drills, Windham was the recipient of Most Improved Receiver and the team's Grinder Award. If he can have a similar spring of improvement, he could turn into one of MT's most trusted wide-outs in 2018.
Devon Jackson, Jr., 6-2, 196
A transfer from Santa Ana College in Santa Ana, California, Jackson was one of the better junior college receivers available in this year's class.
He'll bring a CCCFCA First Team All-America honor with him after leading SAC in receiving with 67 receptions for 1,270 yards and 14 touchdowns last year.
Jackson could very well see a lot of time right away in the blue and white when the 2018 season starts, but before then he'll have to get in better shape this spring.
"He's really eager to learn and really focused," Silvoy said. "What I love about him the most is his fire to get better. He takes every coaching point to heart, and you can see it translate from the film room to practice."
Isiah Upton, R-Jr., 6-0, 195
A former three-star recruit as a quarterback out of East Nashville Magnet, Upton has yet to see significant time with the Blue Raiders.
He played in 11 games last season with one start and finished the year with two receptions for 44 yards.
Ulysses Williams, So., 6-3, 212
Williams saw limited action in 2017 as a freshman, ending with two catches on the year.
The big wide-out is a former all-region recipient at Albany, Georgia's Monroe High School, where as a senior he finished with 63 receptions for 797 yards and 11 touchdowns.
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