Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Windham eager for special senior season
5/13/2020 5:00:00 PM | Football, BRAA
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Missing spring football practice due to the COVID-19 pandemic might just put more of an emphasis on having a special last season for Middle Tennessee's seniors.
Not being with teammates they've shared the last four years with has made this spring difficult for the senior group. Making up for that lost time once they're allowed to be together again is something redshirt senior wide receiver CJ Windham can't wait for.
"It's tough right now. I can't wait to be around the guys finally," he said. "We have a tight group, and not being able to be around them every day like normal has been tough."
Windham is stepping into a leadership role on this year's team. Being a leader this offseason is a bit different than most, but he's found ways to keep the team connected.
"It's tough because a lot of things are still up in the air," he said. "I'm just making sure I'm reaching out to the younger guys and the seniors and just making sure everybody is doing something to benefit them every single day. … It's been big keeping that positive mindset."
Windham has had to navigate the end of rehabbing an injury while at home with his family in Powder Springs, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta.
His 2019 campaign was cut short when he got hurt in the Blue Raiders' sixth game of the season, the second straight year he had to hang the cleats up early because of injury.
Despite growing up as a multi-sport athlete, starring on both the gridiron and baseball diamond at McEachern High School (GA), Windham had never suffered an injury that caused him to miss time before the 2018 season. Having to sit out 16 of MT's 26 games the last two years was tough to grasp.
"I really have never had a serious injury until a couple of seasons ago," he said. "That was something I had to talk with coaches, teammates and trainers about to help get me through it.
"Sometimes you do get frustrated and sometimes it feels like you're hitting a wall, but it's all about finding something every day that keeps you motivated and keeps you going forward."
Rehabbing and not being on the field was difficult for Windham at first. However, he's been through much tougher times.
His mother, Rena Windham, passed away on Aug. 24, 2018, after a valiant fight with cancer. Two days after her funeral, Windham caught a touchdown pass in the Blue Raiders' season opener against Vanderbilt, his first of three TD catches in the team's first three games, and immediately pointed to the sky in her memory.
Windham still misses his mother every day, but being able to spend the quarantine with his dad, Carl Windham Sr., and two sisters has been a blessing. The family also got to see Windham graduate when Middle Tennessee held online ceremonies May 9. He got a degree in exercise science and will continue his studies with hopes of becoming a physical therapist.
"Being with the family has been nice," Windham said. "You normally don't get this time to spend with family, but with my sister being home from Mercer and me being home, it's been nice."
Staying on the field is the main priority for Windham for his senior season. If he does, Middle Tennessee will have a big-bodied, 6-foot-2 receiver who's a big-time scoring threat from anywhere on the field.
Though he only played in 10 games the last two seasons combined, he caught seven touchdown passes over that span and averaged a score on 36.8% of his receptions. Two of those TDs came in the red zone, and the longest was a 56-yarder against Tennessee State in 2018.
"Using your size is a difference maker in this game, and that's something I've been working a lot at is using my size instead of using finesse," Windham said. "I watch a lot of film on people like Calvin Johnson and bigger-bodied receivers to learn how to use my frame to the best of my ability."
The Blue Raiders have a cast of talented receivers, but a full 2020 season from Windham could be crucial to more consistency on offense.
He's 100% healthy with graduation behind him and has had a full offseason to spend time with his family — needless to say, Windham is counting down the days until Sept. 5 when his senior season will begin at Duke.
He caught two TD passes against the Blue Devils in 2019 and is eager for a big start to a healthy 2020.
"I'm on the right track and I'm feeling 100%," he said. "I just hope we can get through this and get back on the field soon."
Season tickets can be ordered on-line at GoBlueRaiders.com/tickets.
Pricing for the 2020 season includes:
$140 for Chair backs
$120 for Sideline Reserved
$99 for End zone Reserved
$99 for Group Sideline Reserved (20+)
$85 for Group End zone Reserved (20+)
Not being with teammates they've shared the last four years with has made this spring difficult for the senior group. Making up for that lost time once they're allowed to be together again is something redshirt senior wide receiver CJ Windham can't wait for.
"It's tough right now. I can't wait to be around the guys finally," he said. "We have a tight group, and not being able to be around them every day like normal has been tough."
Windham is stepping into a leadership role on this year's team. Being a leader this offseason is a bit different than most, but he's found ways to keep the team connected.
"It's tough because a lot of things are still up in the air," he said. "I'm just making sure I'm reaching out to the younger guys and the seniors and just making sure everybody is doing something to benefit them every single day. … It's been big keeping that positive mindset."
Windham has had to navigate the end of rehabbing an injury while at home with his family in Powder Springs, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta.
His 2019 campaign was cut short when he got hurt in the Blue Raiders' sixth game of the season, the second straight year he had to hang the cleats up early because of injury.
Despite growing up as a multi-sport athlete, starring on both the gridiron and baseball diamond at McEachern High School (GA), Windham had never suffered an injury that caused him to miss time before the 2018 season. Having to sit out 16 of MT's 26 games the last two years was tough to grasp.
"I really have never had a serious injury until a couple of seasons ago," he said. "That was something I had to talk with coaches, teammates and trainers about to help get me through it.
"Sometimes you do get frustrated and sometimes it feels like you're hitting a wall, but it's all about finding something every day that keeps you motivated and keeps you going forward."
Rehabbing and not being on the field was difficult for Windham at first. However, he's been through much tougher times.
His mother, Rena Windham, passed away on Aug. 24, 2018, after a valiant fight with cancer. Two days after her funeral, Windham caught a touchdown pass in the Blue Raiders' season opener against Vanderbilt, his first of three TD catches in the team's first three games, and immediately pointed to the sky in her memory.
Windham still misses his mother every day, but being able to spend the quarantine with his dad, Carl Windham Sr., and two sisters has been a blessing. The family also got to see Windham graduate when Middle Tennessee held online ceremonies May 9. He got a degree in exercise science and will continue his studies with hopes of becoming a physical therapist.
"Being with the family has been nice," Windham said. "You normally don't get this time to spend with family, but with my sister being home from Mercer and me being home, it's been nice."
Staying on the field is the main priority for Windham for his senior season. If he does, Middle Tennessee will have a big-bodied, 6-foot-2 receiver who's a big-time scoring threat from anywhere on the field.
Though he only played in 10 games the last two seasons combined, he caught seven touchdown passes over that span and averaged a score on 36.8% of his receptions. Two of those TDs came in the red zone, and the longest was a 56-yarder against Tennessee State in 2018.
"Using your size is a difference maker in this game, and that's something I've been working a lot at is using my size instead of using finesse," Windham said. "I watch a lot of film on people like Calvin Johnson and bigger-bodied receivers to learn how to use my frame to the best of my ability."
The Blue Raiders have a cast of talented receivers, but a full 2020 season from Windham could be crucial to more consistency on offense.
He's 100% healthy with graduation behind him and has had a full offseason to spend time with his family — needless to say, Windham is counting down the days until Sept. 5 when his senior season will begin at Duke.
He caught two TD passes against the Blue Devils in 2019 and is eager for a big start to a healthy 2020.
"I'm on the right track and I'm feeling 100%," he said. "I just hope we can get through this and get back on the field soon."
Season tickets can be ordered on-line at GoBlueRaiders.com/tickets.
Pricing for the 2020 season includes:
$140 for Chair backs
$120 for Sideline Reserved
$99 for End zone Reserved
$99 for Group Sideline Reserved (20+)
$85 for Group End zone Reserved (20+)
Players Mentioned
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