Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Seniors personify being True Blue
11/20/2019 6:00:00 PM | Football
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — It will be a special day inside Floyd Stadium Saturday.
Middle Tennessee will welcome the Old Dominion Monarchs to Murfreesboro for the second time ever, and before kickoff, 15 seniors will be honored for their contributions to the football program and university.
Senior day is always special for head coach Rick Stockstill. This year's event, his 14th since becoming the head man at MT, will be no different.
"This is a chance for them to be recognized in their last home game," he said. "We're looking forward to honoring them. A lot of great men will walk out onto that field Saturday, so this is a chance to show mine and our appreciation to them."
The Blue Raider seniors who will be honored are Desmond Anderson, Khalil Brooks, Eric Golston, Avery Jones, Ty Lee, Amir Luckett, Malik Manciel, Chris Melton, Jovante Moffatt, Angelo Owens, Trae Philpots, Tyshun Render, Chris Stamps, Isiah Upton and Terelle West.
They've played a part in reaching a program-record four consecutive bowl games and captured the first Conference USA East Division title in team history. Over the past five years, MT has averaged 7.5 wins per season, including a C-USA record of 24-13.
"These guys have meant the world to me and have helped change and establish this program," Stockstill said. "I appreciate everything they've done and everything they've sacrificed."
While the accolades are plentiful for the senior class as a whole, three in particular — Brooks, Lee and Moffatt — will find their names littered throughout the Middle Tennessee record books when their careers end.
All three have made cases as some of the best Blue Raiders ever at their respective positions — Brooks at linebacker, Lee at receiver and Moffatt at safety.
Brooks, who came to Middle Tennessee as a safety from Atlanta, made a position change during his redshirt season as a true freshman. Since, he's become a mainstay as a starting linebacker and has rocketed up the Blue Raiders' career record books in sacks and tackles for loss. He currently ranks third in TFLs (37.5), just 2.5 from moving into second, and fourth in sacks (17), 3.5 from third.
Rising in the career record books has been humbling for Brooks, but it's the relationships he's made in Murfreesboro that he'll forever remember.
"I came in here with my brothers — Trae [Philpots] and Tyshun [Render], we came from the same area," he said. "We've tried to stay together through the highs and the lows … and it'll be a new beginning for us once we leave here. We'll still keep that brotherhood, though."
Lee might not have drawn much interest when he committed to Middle Tennessee out of Colquitt County High School in Georgia, due to his small 5-foot-9, 155-pound frame.
The speedster has made fools out of all the doubters, though.
While packing on more than 30 pounds to his frame in four years, Lee has supplanted himself as one of the Blue Raiders' all-time greatest wideouts.
He currently leads the program all-time in receptions (252) and has caught a ball in a record 50 straight games, which makes him the active leader in the NCAA. Lee is also tied with his former teammate, Richie James, for the program's lead in career touchdown receptions (23) and ranks third in receiving yards (2,972). He's 102 yards from second all-time and 289 from James' record.
Lee has found a new home in Murfreesboro, one he's not leaving anytime soon.
"This is really the first place outside of my hometown that I came to," he said. "My son and my girlfriend, we're going to get a house here, so we'll be here if I won't be in the [NFL]. This has turned into my home."
It's been a long five years at Middle Tennessee for Moffatt, a Tennessee native from Union City.
He went from two total tackles his freshman season to 76 as a sophomore, then had a career-best 101 in an Honorable Mention All-C-USA campaign his junior season.
Last year, injuries to both of his shoulders caused him to play in just four games, and he took a redshirt so he could come back this season fully healthy.
With renewed health, Moffatt has proven to be one of the best safeties in C-USA this year. His 81 total tackles and three interceptions both lead the team, and he ranks ninth nationally with 5.9 solo tackles per game.
On Saturday, Moffatt will become the first Blue Raider ever to appear in 54 career games, breaking the record set last season by defenders Darius Harris and Darryl Randolph. He's also entered the top 10 in Middle Tennessee history with 296 career tackles, just 17 away from breaking into the top five.
"I'd like to thank Coach [Stockstill]," Moffatt said. "He's kind of given me a home for the last four to five years. The relationships I've built and the memories I've made, you just embrace it, and it puts everything into perspective. I'm thankful to be here, and this Saturday being my last home game, I'll just take it all in and enjoy the experience."
Before Saturday's game gets underway at 3:30 p.m., make sure to get into Floyd Stadium a little early.
The seniors have given everything they have to Middle Tennessee, and while the pregame festivities will be short, the group deserves as much praise as they can get. They symbolize all the great things about being a Blue Raider.
Middle Tennessee will welcome the Old Dominion Monarchs to Murfreesboro for the second time ever, and before kickoff, 15 seniors will be honored for their contributions to the football program and university.
Senior day is always special for head coach Rick Stockstill. This year's event, his 14th since becoming the head man at MT, will be no different.
"This is a chance for them to be recognized in their last home game," he said. "We're looking forward to honoring them. A lot of great men will walk out onto that field Saturday, so this is a chance to show mine and our appreciation to them."
The Blue Raider seniors who will be honored are Desmond Anderson, Khalil Brooks, Eric Golston, Avery Jones, Ty Lee, Amir Luckett, Malik Manciel, Chris Melton, Jovante Moffatt, Angelo Owens, Trae Philpots, Tyshun Render, Chris Stamps, Isiah Upton and Terelle West.
They've played a part in reaching a program-record four consecutive bowl games and captured the first Conference USA East Division title in team history. Over the past five years, MT has averaged 7.5 wins per season, including a C-USA record of 24-13.
"These guys have meant the world to me and have helped change and establish this program," Stockstill said. "I appreciate everything they've done and everything they've sacrificed."
While the accolades are plentiful for the senior class as a whole, three in particular — Brooks, Lee and Moffatt — will find their names littered throughout the Middle Tennessee record books when their careers end.
All three have made cases as some of the best Blue Raiders ever at their respective positions — Brooks at linebacker, Lee at receiver and Moffatt at safety.
Brooks, who came to Middle Tennessee as a safety from Atlanta, made a position change during his redshirt season as a true freshman. Since, he's become a mainstay as a starting linebacker and has rocketed up the Blue Raiders' career record books in sacks and tackles for loss. He currently ranks third in TFLs (37.5), just 2.5 from moving into second, and fourth in sacks (17), 3.5 from third.
Rising in the career record books has been humbling for Brooks, but it's the relationships he's made in Murfreesboro that he'll forever remember.
"I came in here with my brothers — Trae [Philpots] and Tyshun [Render], we came from the same area," he said. "We've tried to stay together through the highs and the lows … and it'll be a new beginning for us once we leave here. We'll still keep that brotherhood, though."
Lee might not have drawn much interest when he committed to Middle Tennessee out of Colquitt County High School in Georgia, due to his small 5-foot-9, 155-pound frame.
The speedster has made fools out of all the doubters, though.
While packing on more than 30 pounds to his frame in four years, Lee has supplanted himself as one of the Blue Raiders' all-time greatest wideouts.
He currently leads the program all-time in receptions (252) and has caught a ball in a record 50 straight games, which makes him the active leader in the NCAA. Lee is also tied with his former teammate, Richie James, for the program's lead in career touchdown receptions (23) and ranks third in receiving yards (2,972). He's 102 yards from second all-time and 289 from James' record.
Lee has found a new home in Murfreesboro, one he's not leaving anytime soon.
"This is really the first place outside of my hometown that I came to," he said. "My son and my girlfriend, we're going to get a house here, so we'll be here if I won't be in the [NFL]. This has turned into my home."
It's been a long five years at Middle Tennessee for Moffatt, a Tennessee native from Union City.
He went from two total tackles his freshman season to 76 as a sophomore, then had a career-best 101 in an Honorable Mention All-C-USA campaign his junior season.
Last year, injuries to both of his shoulders caused him to play in just four games, and he took a redshirt so he could come back this season fully healthy.
With renewed health, Moffatt has proven to be one of the best safeties in C-USA this year. His 81 total tackles and three interceptions both lead the team, and he ranks ninth nationally with 5.9 solo tackles per game.
On Saturday, Moffatt will become the first Blue Raider ever to appear in 54 career games, breaking the record set last season by defenders Darius Harris and Darryl Randolph. He's also entered the top 10 in Middle Tennessee history with 296 career tackles, just 17 away from breaking into the top five.
"I'd like to thank Coach [Stockstill]," Moffatt said. "He's kind of given me a home for the last four to five years. The relationships I've built and the memories I've made, you just embrace it, and it puts everything into perspective. I'm thankful to be here, and this Saturday being my last home game, I'll just take it all in and enjoy the experience."
Before Saturday's game gets underway at 3:30 p.m., make sure to get into Floyd Stadium a little early.
The seniors have given everything they have to Middle Tennessee, and while the pregame festivities will be short, the group deserves as much praise as they can get. They symbolize all the great things about being a Blue Raider.
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