Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Next man up in Raiders' defensive backfield
10/23/2019 5:00:00 PM | Football
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Since entering Conference USA play, defense has been the strong suit for Middle Tennessee.
Despite their struggles in a 1-2 start through three C-USA games, the Blue Raiders have made plays defensively against three of the league's best offenses, forcing seven turnovers in those outings.
"We're doing a good job of getting takeaways, and we're doing a good job of keeping them out of the end zone," MT head coach Rick Stockstill said. "As much as we're struggling right now to get the ball in the end zone offensively, it's critical how they're playing because they're giving us a chance."
If the defense wants to keep its momentum going, it'll have to find a way to produce without the services of team leading tackler Reed Blankenship.
In the third quarter of last week's 33-30 loss at North Texas, Blankenship's left ankle got rolled on during a play. He was immediately taken to a hospital, and the injury required surgery.
Though in good spirits, Blankenship will be on the sidelines for the remainder of the season.
"It's a tough loss anytime you lose a player to injury," Stockstill said. "You hate to see it, because you know how much these guys invest in this game.
"As far as stepping up … I'm not going to get into names right now, or who it's going to be, or who's going to do it, but we all collectively have to do it. Reed was an integral part of the defense and was also involved in the kicking game and a lot of other different areas. It's not just going to be one person to take his role."
Replacing Blankenship, as Stockstill said, won't just fall to one person.
The junior did so much for the defense, acting as a team captain this season alongside fellow safety Jovante Moffatt, linebacker Khalil Brooks, running back Terelle West and defensive tackle Malik Manciel. Blankenship currently leads the team with 58 tackles and is second with two interceptions. He's also tied for the national lead with two blocked kicks.
"Reed means a lot to this defense," redshirt junior safety Kylan Stribling said. "It's just a challenge to the safeties and the whole squad to step up. We had that next-man-up mentality in practice [Tuesday].
"We've been preparing for this the whole season … so when someone goes down on the team, someone is there to step in and make plays."
Stribling will likely see the biggest chunk of playing time increase in Blankenship's absence, as well as senior Kendricks Gladney. Redshirt freshman Decorian Patterson, who's lined up in several spots in MT's backfield this season, could shift into the safety spot more.
Stribling, a Thompson's Station, Tennessee native, has seven tackles and two pass breakups this season. He played in seven games with two starts last year, but was sidelined with injuries in the other seven games.
Whoever is inserted into the lineup will benefit from playing alongside one of Middle Tennessee's best defenders in recent memory.
Moffatt will end his career as an all-time great Blue Raider. He's on pace to finish with well over 300 career tackles, which would put him close to MT's top five, and he's having a personal-best year in interceptions with three to pace the team. Nationally, Moffatt is sixth in solo tackles (46).
He's also inching towards the program's career games played record; he's at 50, and the record is 53.
"Having him in the backfield is really important, having that experience and communication," Stribling said. "He's always on us getting us better every day."
Middle Tennessee will need Moffatt and his fill-in safety mate to keep the pressure on opposing offenses. At 2-5, the Blue Raiders can only lose once more in the regular season's final five games if they want to reach bowl eligibility for the 11th time in 14 years.
Not having Blankenship will make things tough, but there's only one thing the defense can do: get back to work.
"We're just going to have to get back to work, that's all it's going to come down to," Moffatt said. "We just have to make sure everybody is good in the back end. That's going to be my job. I'm going to have to take care of that."
Despite their struggles in a 1-2 start through three C-USA games, the Blue Raiders have made plays defensively against three of the league's best offenses, forcing seven turnovers in those outings.
"We're doing a good job of getting takeaways, and we're doing a good job of keeping them out of the end zone," MT head coach Rick Stockstill said. "As much as we're struggling right now to get the ball in the end zone offensively, it's critical how they're playing because they're giving us a chance."
If the defense wants to keep its momentum going, it'll have to find a way to produce without the services of team leading tackler Reed Blankenship.
In the third quarter of last week's 33-30 loss at North Texas, Blankenship's left ankle got rolled on during a play. He was immediately taken to a hospital, and the injury required surgery.
Though in good spirits, Blankenship will be on the sidelines for the remainder of the season.
"It's a tough loss anytime you lose a player to injury," Stockstill said. "You hate to see it, because you know how much these guys invest in this game.
"As far as stepping up … I'm not going to get into names right now, or who it's going to be, or who's going to do it, but we all collectively have to do it. Reed was an integral part of the defense and was also involved in the kicking game and a lot of other different areas. It's not just going to be one person to take his role."
Replacing Blankenship, as Stockstill said, won't just fall to one person.
The junior did so much for the defense, acting as a team captain this season alongside fellow safety Jovante Moffatt, linebacker Khalil Brooks, running back Terelle West and defensive tackle Malik Manciel. Blankenship currently leads the team with 58 tackles and is second with two interceptions. He's also tied for the national lead with two blocked kicks.
"Reed means a lot to this defense," redshirt junior safety Kylan Stribling said. "It's just a challenge to the safeties and the whole squad to step up. We had that next-man-up mentality in practice [Tuesday].
"We've been preparing for this the whole season … so when someone goes down on the team, someone is there to step in and make plays."
Stribling will likely see the biggest chunk of playing time increase in Blankenship's absence, as well as senior Kendricks Gladney. Redshirt freshman Decorian Patterson, who's lined up in several spots in MT's backfield this season, could shift into the safety spot more.
Stribling, a Thompson's Station, Tennessee native, has seven tackles and two pass breakups this season. He played in seven games with two starts last year, but was sidelined with injuries in the other seven games.
Whoever is inserted into the lineup will benefit from playing alongside one of Middle Tennessee's best defenders in recent memory.
Moffatt will end his career as an all-time great Blue Raider. He's on pace to finish with well over 300 career tackles, which would put him close to MT's top five, and he's having a personal-best year in interceptions with three to pace the team. Nationally, Moffatt is sixth in solo tackles (46).
He's also inching towards the program's career games played record; he's at 50, and the record is 53.
"Having him in the backfield is really important, having that experience and communication," Stribling said. "He's always on us getting us better every day."
Middle Tennessee will need Moffatt and his fill-in safety mate to keep the pressure on opposing offenses. At 2-5, the Blue Raiders can only lose once more in the regular season's final five games if they want to reach bowl eligibility for the 11th time in 14 years.
Not having Blankenship will make things tough, but there's only one thing the defense can do: get back to work.
"We're just going to have to get back to work, that's all it's going to come down to," Moffatt said. "We just have to make sure everybody is good in the back end. That's going to be my job. I'm going to have to take care of that."
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