Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Once a Memphis commit, Poydras has found a home at MT
10/2/2019 6:00:00 PM | Football
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Despite suffering a loss to No. 14 Iowa on Saturday, one Middle Tennessee defensive lineman had a standout performance that turned plenty of heads.
What's interesting is he almost never pulled on a Blue Raiders uniform. Middle Tennessee should ultimately thank his mother for getting him to Murfreesboro.
Just before National Signing Day in 2015, Clarksville High School senior defensive lineman Rakavian Poydras, a three-star prospect ranked by 247Sports, shocked the state of Tennessee by flipping his verbal commitment from Memphis to MT.
He had committed without signing a National Letter of Intent that summer to the Tigers, which were riding one of their best seasons in program history, rising up to No. 15 in the AP Top 25. The Blue Raider coaching staff didn't cease contact with the big man, though. They actually went above and beyond in keeping in the good graces of his mother, Sabrina.
"He can say what he wants, but his mother had a lot to do with [his flip]," MT defensive line coach Tommy West said. "His mother felt really comfortable here, and I think he did too, but I think his mom felt really comfortable here and knew that we were going to look after him and make him do the right things.
"Nothing against Memphis, but this was the right place for him."
West is no stranger to Memphis, having spent 10 years there from 2000-09, including the last nine as the Tigers' head coach.
He's been involved in college football since 1979, coaching everything from running backs and wide receivers to linebackers and now defensive line, and his track record spoke to Poydras. West's ability to make Sabrina feel comfortable was also a big factor in her son's decision.
"First and foremost, I have to thank God for everything," Poydras said. "I just felt more comfortable here … and Coach West has coached some greats. He's a great coach and has taught me a lot."
Since arriving as a freshman in 2016, Poydras has consistently improved.
He took a redshirt his first season, then played in all 13 games in 2017 in a reserve role before breaking out last year, earning Honorable Mention All-Conference-USA as a defensive tackle.
During the Blue Raiders' matchup with Appalachian State in the New Orleans Bowl, he suffered a setback. A torn right ACL would force him out of the game and require offseason surgery, keeping him on the sidelines during spring practice this year.
"It was a shame when he got hurt last year, because he had really started playing well," West said. "It's a long way back from an injury like that."
Coming back from the knee injury has been tough for Poydras. The 6-foot-1, 285-pound tackle had to learn how to trust that his knee is healed and strong enough to withstand the stress linemen put on their legs during a game.
If his performance from Saturday is any indication, he's starting to put more faith into it.
Poydras had a career game against Iowa, racking up personal single-game bests with six tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack, the first of his Middle Tennessee career.
"I'm trusting it more each game," he said. "Coach West is on me all the time just telling me to trust it and just play."
With a healthy knee, there's no telling how much of an impact the redshirt junior can have on the Blue Raiders' defense this season. Poydras said he has one goal: to get back to the C-USA Championship Game for a second straight year and this time bring home the hardware.
"It's all about winning a championship," he said. "After that bad taste we had in our mouth last year, it really haunts the team. We talk about it every day."
If Poydras leads Middle Tennessee to the promise land this season, they might want to make an extra C-USA champion ring.
His mother might deserve one, too.
What's interesting is he almost never pulled on a Blue Raiders uniform. Middle Tennessee should ultimately thank his mother for getting him to Murfreesboro.
Just before National Signing Day in 2015, Clarksville High School senior defensive lineman Rakavian Poydras, a three-star prospect ranked by 247Sports, shocked the state of Tennessee by flipping his verbal commitment from Memphis to MT.
He had committed without signing a National Letter of Intent that summer to the Tigers, which were riding one of their best seasons in program history, rising up to No. 15 in the AP Top 25. The Blue Raider coaching staff didn't cease contact with the big man, though. They actually went above and beyond in keeping in the good graces of his mother, Sabrina.
"He can say what he wants, but his mother had a lot to do with [his flip]," MT defensive line coach Tommy West said. "His mother felt really comfortable here, and I think he did too, but I think his mom felt really comfortable here and knew that we were going to look after him and make him do the right things.
"Nothing against Memphis, but this was the right place for him."
West is no stranger to Memphis, having spent 10 years there from 2000-09, including the last nine as the Tigers' head coach.
He's been involved in college football since 1979, coaching everything from running backs and wide receivers to linebackers and now defensive line, and his track record spoke to Poydras. West's ability to make Sabrina feel comfortable was also a big factor in her son's decision.
"First and foremost, I have to thank God for everything," Poydras said. "I just felt more comfortable here … and Coach West has coached some greats. He's a great coach and has taught me a lot."
Since arriving as a freshman in 2016, Poydras has consistently improved.
He took a redshirt his first season, then played in all 13 games in 2017 in a reserve role before breaking out last year, earning Honorable Mention All-Conference-USA as a defensive tackle.
During the Blue Raiders' matchup with Appalachian State in the New Orleans Bowl, he suffered a setback. A torn right ACL would force him out of the game and require offseason surgery, keeping him on the sidelines during spring practice this year.
"It was a shame when he got hurt last year, because he had really started playing well," West said. "It's a long way back from an injury like that."
Coming back from the knee injury has been tough for Poydras. The 6-foot-1, 285-pound tackle had to learn how to trust that his knee is healed and strong enough to withstand the stress linemen put on their legs during a game.
If his performance from Saturday is any indication, he's starting to put more faith into it.
Poydras had a career game against Iowa, racking up personal single-game bests with six tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack, the first of his Middle Tennessee career.
"I'm trusting it more each game," he said. "Coach West is on me all the time just telling me to trust it and just play."
With a healthy knee, there's no telling how much of an impact the redshirt junior can have on the Blue Raiders' defense this season. Poydras said he has one goal: to get back to the C-USA Championship Game for a second straight year and this time bring home the hardware.
"It's all about winning a championship," he said. "After that bad taste we had in our mouth last year, it really haunts the team. We talk about it every day."
If Poydras leads Middle Tennessee to the promise land this season, they might want to make an extra C-USA champion ring.
His mother might deserve one, too.
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