Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Pass-catching duo excited to connect again at MT
3/24/2021 6:00:00 PM | Football, BRAA
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — When quarterback Asher O'Hara entered the transfer portal in December, Middle Tennessee suddenly had a need for a new starting signal caller.
Returners Chase Cunningham and Mike DiLiello immediately entered into the battle for the starting spot, but wide receiver CJ Windham helped head coach Rick Stockstill bring in one more name to add to the mix. The senior wideout has quite the chemistry with the newcomer, too.
"As soon as Bailey went into the portal, I immediately hit up Coach Stock and told him this is something we need to make happen," Windham said. "This is one of those things you can't draw up … and an opportunity we couldn't pass up on."
Bailey Hockman is a redshirt junior southpaw who's gained experience the last few years playing for Power 5 programs Florida State and North Carolina State.
Before he was a heralded true freshman in 2017 at FSU, where he spent a season with Blue Raider running back Amir Rasul, he starred under the Friday night lights at powerhouse McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia, an Atlanta suburb on the northwest side.
Hockman was one of the best high school quarterbacks the state of Georgia has ever seen. He finished as McEachern's all-time winningest QB, leading them to two state semifinal appearances, and was eighth in Georgia prep history for passing yards (9,013) and touchdowns (94) when he graduated. He was rated a four-star recruit by most college football recruiting databases and was a consensus top-15 pro-style quarterback nationally in the 2017 class.
One of his favorite receivers for three years at McEachern was Windham, who was a two-sport star for the Indians in football and baseball.
The pass-catching duo would often talk about playing college ball and how cool it would be to be on the same roster. However, when Windham committed to Middle Tennessee after his senior season in 2015 and Hockman signed with FSU following the next year, it looked like that dream wouldn't come to fruition.
"[Windham] was a dog in high school just like he is now," Hockman said. "It's just a blessing to be able to be on the same field as him and Amir again. Our paths might not have started the same, but to be here together is so cool."
Hockman spent one season with the Seminoles in 2017 before transferring to Hutchinson Community College (KS) for a year. He then started 11 games at North Carolina State over the last two seasons, but chose to transfer this offseason.
When Hockman heard from Windham about the opportunity to come to MT, it was an easy sell. He was excited for the chance to come in and work once again alongside Windham, who's going into his sixth season for the Blue Raiders after redshirting in 2018 due to injury and taking the NCAA's free year of eligibility this year. Hockman also has a good relationship with Rasul, who was a sophomore at FSU in 2017.
"CJ actually put me on to it — he hit me up and asked if I was interested in Middle Tennessee, and I said, 'Yes, sir, let's get this going,'" Hockman said. "It was really cool. … Having CJ and Amir here already, that's been huge in helping me feel comfortable and feel welcomed here."
Though they're only a few practices into spring ball with a few weeks still to go, Windham has already seen that old connection reignite with Hockman.
"It means the world to me that we were able to get him here," Windham said. "We come from a high school that knows a lot about winning, and we don't take lightly to losing. He's a competitor, and that's all Coach Stock needed to hear."
They're excited for one more go-round together this season, and if there's one thing that's clear, there's McEachern pride still gushing from the Indian legends.
"We bleed blue and gold, for sure," Hockman said.
Returners Chase Cunningham and Mike DiLiello immediately entered into the battle for the starting spot, but wide receiver CJ Windham helped head coach Rick Stockstill bring in one more name to add to the mix. The senior wideout has quite the chemistry with the newcomer, too.
"As soon as Bailey went into the portal, I immediately hit up Coach Stock and told him this is something we need to make happen," Windham said. "This is one of those things you can't draw up … and an opportunity we couldn't pass up on."
Bailey Hockman is a redshirt junior southpaw who's gained experience the last few years playing for Power 5 programs Florida State and North Carolina State.
Before he was a heralded true freshman in 2017 at FSU, where he spent a season with Blue Raider running back Amir Rasul, he starred under the Friday night lights at powerhouse McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia, an Atlanta suburb on the northwest side.
Hockman was one of the best high school quarterbacks the state of Georgia has ever seen. He finished as McEachern's all-time winningest QB, leading them to two state semifinal appearances, and was eighth in Georgia prep history for passing yards (9,013) and touchdowns (94) when he graduated. He was rated a four-star recruit by most college football recruiting databases and was a consensus top-15 pro-style quarterback nationally in the 2017 class.
One of his favorite receivers for three years at McEachern was Windham, who was a two-sport star for the Indians in football and baseball.
The pass-catching duo would often talk about playing college ball and how cool it would be to be on the same roster. However, when Windham committed to Middle Tennessee after his senior season in 2015 and Hockman signed with FSU following the next year, it looked like that dream wouldn't come to fruition.
"[Windham] was a dog in high school just like he is now," Hockman said. "It's just a blessing to be able to be on the same field as him and Amir again. Our paths might not have started the same, but to be here together is so cool."
Hockman spent one season with the Seminoles in 2017 before transferring to Hutchinson Community College (KS) for a year. He then started 11 games at North Carolina State over the last two seasons, but chose to transfer this offseason.
When Hockman heard from Windham about the opportunity to come to MT, it was an easy sell. He was excited for the chance to come in and work once again alongside Windham, who's going into his sixth season for the Blue Raiders after redshirting in 2018 due to injury and taking the NCAA's free year of eligibility this year. Hockman also has a good relationship with Rasul, who was a sophomore at FSU in 2017.
"CJ actually put me on to it — he hit me up and asked if I was interested in Middle Tennessee, and I said, 'Yes, sir, let's get this going,'" Hockman said. "It was really cool. … Having CJ and Amir here already, that's been huge in helping me feel comfortable and feel welcomed here."
Though they're only a few practices into spring ball with a few weeks still to go, Windham has already seen that old connection reignite with Hockman.
"It means the world to me that we were able to get him here," Windham said. "We come from a high school that knows a lot about winning, and we don't take lightly to losing. He's a competitor, and that's all Coach Stock needed to hear."
They're excited for one more go-round together this season, and if there's one thing that's clear, there's McEachern pride still gushing from the Indian legends.
"We bleed blue and gold, for sure," Hockman said.
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