Ferguson hungry to return

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – All football players are eager to get back on the field after missing spring practice and being away from their chosen sport since mid-March.

You will have to excuse Jordan Ferguson if he seems more enthusiastic than most.

The Blue Raider defensive end has been salivating for the chance to return to the gridiron since suffering a season-ending knee injury just two days prior to the start of the 2019 season.

"I am ready to do what I love, and I am eager to do what I came (to Middle Tennessee) to do," said Ferguson, a 6-foot-2, 266-pound defensive end from Atlanta. "I have a lot to show and prove a lot of people wrong. I'm so excited to get back on the field with my teammates and get to work."

Count defensive coordinator Scott Shafer among those who share Ferguson's excitement to get back on the field.

Ferguson is a difference maker and his absence impacted the Blue Raider defense last season.

"When we lost Jordan we lost one of our best players before we ever started the season," Shafer said. "Jordan was poised and ready to have a great season. He had a great offseason and had prepared himself well. He was ready to go. When he got injured it was a shame. I was so disappointed for him because he had worked so hard."

But good things come to those who wait and Ferguson has had a positive approach and outlook since last August when he suffered the knee injury.

"I have tried to keep a positive mindset and have never looked at it as a negative," Ferguson said. "I have tried to make the most of it. Looking back, it was a positive because it gave me another year to prepare. There are no excuses. I'm ready to go."

It also gave him another year to prepare for a new position.

Ferguson, the son of Latisha Webb-Ferguson, is making the move from down lineman to defensive end where his athleticism should prove beneficial to the Blue Raider defense.

"Jordan is really an athletic defensive lineman who can play end and tackle," Shafer said. "He runs well. He is a smart player who learns things well and picks up on things quickly. Having a strong bookend like him at defensive end will help defend the run and allow him to get after the quarterback on passing situations. His maturity level at football has grown immensely. I'm looking forward to having him on the field."

Ferguson's impact from the end position should impact a defense that has several talented players ready to hit the field. The defensive stalwart enters his redshirt junior season with 45 career tackles, seven for negative yardage, 1.5 sacks and one interception. All of that occurred as a defensive tackle.

The hard-nosed defender's all-around athleticism was on display at the prep level in Georgia where he lettered in football, basketball and track. He was actually ranked the fourth best tight end in the state of Georgia during his senior season at Norcross High School where he also totaled 45 tackles, including seven for loss.

Ferguson can't wait to put those skills on display in 2020.

"We have a lot of young, hungry guys on our defense," said Ferguson, who was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team during his debut season. "We are going to be an exciting unit. I can't wait to see how coach Shafer brings it all together."

Ferguson's presence will certainly aid in making the unit better overall.

Middle Tennessee State University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Jordan Ferguson

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