Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Raiders officially report as football camp opens Friday
8/6/2020 11:04:00 AM | Football
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee is finally back to a little sense of normalcy on the gridiron, as all of the players officially reported Thursday for fall camp.
Friday's first official practice, scheduled to begin at 9:50 a.m., will be the first in a much-anticipated fall camp after spring drills were canceled in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I can't wait to get out there and start practicing," said Head Coach Rick Stockstill. "The walk-thru practices we have had the past two weeks were really beneficial to our team. First and foremost was the safety of our players, then we were able to provide enhanced teaching and work a lot on fundamentals."
This year's fall camp is Stockstill's 15th as head coach at MT and will present challenges and hurdles like he has never encountered.
"We open practice Friday and my plan is for us to be really cognizant on everything we are doing," added Stockstill. "Our team meetings before and after practice will be conducted outside, four of our position meetings will take place outside with the other ones going inside where we can spread out more. Their safety and health is our top priority.
"As for practice, we really have to be aware of their conditioning and be smart about how we get them back into football shape."
The first week of fall camp usually serves as the acclimatization period, where the team works to get into what Stockstill calls "game shape." Then, starting with the second week, the Blue Raiders generally start fine-tuning things and getting a game plan put into place for the first week of the regular season.
That plan may have to be altered a little due to the long offseason, but Stockstill's been pleased overall with how the group has handled getting into camp shape while having to deal with the unique time away from campus.
Aside from the challenges presented by the pandemic, Stockstill and the Blue Raiders have plenty of questions to answer on the roster.
Middle Tennessee has 10 starters to replace from last year's team, including six on defense, but with 13 starters returning and depth at several positions, Stockstill's expectations for the team are high.
Offensively, quarterback Asher O'Hara returns to lead the way after a record-setting sophomore campaign. O'Hara ended last year with 2,616 passing yards and 20 touchdowns while also rushing for a team-high 1,058 yards and nine scores.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Blue Raiders welcome back stars Reed Blankenship and DQ Thomas. Blankenship, who missed five games a year ago with an injury, has been named to numerous watch lists while Thomas is the leading returner in tackles and ranks among the top ten all-time in sacks.
Friday's first official practice, scheduled to begin at 9:50 a.m., will be the first in a much-anticipated fall camp after spring drills were canceled in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I can't wait to get out there and start practicing," said Head Coach Rick Stockstill. "The walk-thru practices we have had the past two weeks were really beneficial to our team. First and foremost was the safety of our players, then we were able to provide enhanced teaching and work a lot on fundamentals."
This year's fall camp is Stockstill's 15th as head coach at MT and will present challenges and hurdles like he has never encountered.
"We open practice Friday and my plan is for us to be really cognizant on everything we are doing," added Stockstill. "Our team meetings before and after practice will be conducted outside, four of our position meetings will take place outside with the other ones going inside where we can spread out more. Their safety and health is our top priority.
"As for practice, we really have to be aware of their conditioning and be smart about how we get them back into football shape."
The first week of fall camp usually serves as the acclimatization period, where the team works to get into what Stockstill calls "game shape." Then, starting with the second week, the Blue Raiders generally start fine-tuning things and getting a game plan put into place for the first week of the regular season.
That plan may have to be altered a little due to the long offseason, but Stockstill's been pleased overall with how the group has handled getting into camp shape while having to deal with the unique time away from campus.
Aside from the challenges presented by the pandemic, Stockstill and the Blue Raiders have plenty of questions to answer on the roster.
Middle Tennessee has 10 starters to replace from last year's team, including six on defense, but with 13 starters returning and depth at several positions, Stockstill's expectations for the team are high.
Offensively, quarterback Asher O'Hara returns to lead the way after a record-setting sophomore campaign. O'Hara ended last year with 2,616 passing yards and 20 touchdowns while also rushing for a team-high 1,058 yards and nine scores.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Blue Raiders welcome back stars Reed Blankenship and DQ Thomas. Blankenship, who missed five games a year ago with an injury, has been named to numerous watch lists while Thomas is the leading returner in tackles and ranks among the top ten all-time in sacks.
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