Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
NOTEBOOK: Rick Stockstill impressed with the progress ahead of final week of spring practice
4/10/2023 5:29:00 PM | Baseball, Football, General
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Ask Rick Stockstill who has impressed with the strides that they've made during spring practice and the veteran head coach can rattle off a plethora of names.
On offense, it's Jaiden 'Flip' Credle and Romal 'Spider' Webb in the running backs room. Holden Willis and Javonte Sherman for the wideouts. Keylan Rutledge, Ethan Ellis and Sterling Porcher on the offensive line.
On defense, linebacker Sam Brumfield, cornerbacks Teldrick Ross and Emmanuel Mann. Special teams has seen the rise of punter Trey Turk, even with limited true punt return reps, a necessity of spring practice.
"It's been a productive spring so far," Stockstill said. "We've progressively gotten better each week. Individuals have improved as well as on our team situational stuff, we've improved as a team. Been very pleased so far."
Stockstill and the coaching staff won't know the whole two-deep heading into the summer when spring practice wraps up this Saturday, in part due to the depth that will need to be found between the spring and summer at some key positions, most notably defensive back. But Stockstill is impressed with the number of guys that have stepped up and put themselves in the conversation for starting roles with their growth on the field.
"Guys have really improved and put themselves in position that when August gets here, that they can continue to compete for playing time," Stockstill said. "A lot of times, you come out of spring and you say, 'He needs one more spring. He needs another year.' Most of these guys, you feel really good about where they're at going into the summer and then August camp."
The Blue Raiders will have another week of work ahead of them, spreading the snap count of a more traditional spring game, around 175 scrimmage plays, across the final three practices this week, averaging somewhere between 55 and 60 plays a day. Stockstill said that the goal is to get his team more adept at handling situational football, understanding down and distance and how success rates of first down lead to success rates on third down, before the coaches will take a step back during the summer workout period after the spring semester.
The message this week ahead of those practices? The good work you've done as a team is not over yet.
"Spring ball's not over yet," Stockstill said. "We still have a lot of improvement we can make individually and as a team heading into this summer."
Sells earns Conference USA Pitcher of the Week Award after three-save weekend
With three shutdown appearances out of the bullpen against rival Western Kentucky, MTSU righty James Sells earned the Conference USA Pitcher of the Week award, the conference office announced on Monday.
In Thursday's series opener, Sells got the final out of the eighth inning and retired the side in order in the ninth to clinch a 6-3 win. The Winchester, Tenn. native once again registered a four-out save Friday night, recording a pair of strikeouts and stranding the tying runners in scoring position as the Blue Raiders clinched the series with a 2-0 victory.
Sells would go one out further in Saturday's weekend finale, inducing a trio of groundouts in 1.2 innings of work and stranding the tying runner on first as Middle Tennessee left Bowling Green with a 5-4 win.
The Blue Raiders stay on the road this weekend, traveling to UTSA for their Conference USA series after a mid-week tilt with Georgia State.
Tennis Senior Days Set for this weekend at the Adams Tennis Complex
After a weekend off for the Easter holiday, both Middle Tennessee men's tennis and Middle Tennessee women's tennis are at home for the final time this spring, with Senior Day festivities set for both programs this weekend at the Adams Tennis Complex.
Men's Tennis will honor its seniors in between their matches against Tennessee Tech and UT Southern on Friday, with the match against the Golden Eagles scheduled for 1 p.m. Women's Tennis will host their senior day festivities prior to Sunday's match against UTEP, scheduled to start at 11 a.m.
Check out the home schedule for the weekend below!
Don't miss your final chance to catch MTSU Soccer this school year!
As you might've noticed on "What's Happening in the 'Boro", MTSU Soccer is hosting their final spring exhibition of the season on Saturday against Trevecca. The early kickoff time of 11 a.m. Saturday will open up your afternoon to check out MTSU softball against WKU at 4 p.m. that day as well.
In the meantime, Soccer was in the Easter spirit last week, even with the rain. Check out how the team handled the elements in their Egg Hunt!
Women's Golf Sets off for Conference USA Championships this week
It's already Championship season in Conference USA, as the Women's Golf Championships tee off this week in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Played on the Champion Course at the PGA National, home of the Honda Classic every PGA season, the Par 72, 6102 Yard course promises to be challenging for the nine C-USA schools competing for the title.
Fun C-USA fact of the day: Rice and LA Tech do not sponsor women's golf programs. The Owls sponsor a women's swimming program, while LA Tech sponsors a women's bowling program.
ICYMI: Alexis Whittington Earns Spirit of Service Award
On offense, it's Jaiden 'Flip' Credle and Romal 'Spider' Webb in the running backs room. Holden Willis and Javonte Sherman for the wideouts. Keylan Rutledge, Ethan Ellis and Sterling Porcher on the offensive line.
On defense, linebacker Sam Brumfield, cornerbacks Teldrick Ross and Emmanuel Mann. Special teams has seen the rise of punter Trey Turk, even with limited true punt return reps, a necessity of spring practice.
"It's been a productive spring so far," Stockstill said. "We've progressively gotten better each week. Individuals have improved as well as on our team situational stuff, we've improved as a team. Been very pleased so far."
Stockstill and the coaching staff won't know the whole two-deep heading into the summer when spring practice wraps up this Saturday, in part due to the depth that will need to be found between the spring and summer at some key positions, most notably defensive back. But Stockstill is impressed with the number of guys that have stepped up and put themselves in the conversation for starting roles with their growth on the field.
"Guys have really improved and put themselves in position that when August gets here, that they can continue to compete for playing time," Stockstill said. "A lot of times, you come out of spring and you say, 'He needs one more spring. He needs another year.' Most of these guys, you feel really good about where they're at going into the summer and then August camp."
The Blue Raiders will have another week of work ahead of them, spreading the snap count of a more traditional spring game, around 175 scrimmage plays, across the final three practices this week, averaging somewhere between 55 and 60 plays a day. Stockstill said that the goal is to get his team more adept at handling situational football, understanding down and distance and how success rates of first down lead to success rates on third down, before the coaches will take a step back during the summer workout period after the spring semester.
The message this week ahead of those practices? The good work you've done as a team is not over yet.
"Spring ball's not over yet," Stockstill said. "We still have a lot of improvement we can make individually and as a team heading into this summer."
Sells earns Conference USA Pitcher of the Week Award after three-save weekend
With three shutdown appearances out of the bullpen against rival Western Kentucky, MTSU righty James Sells earned the Conference USA Pitcher of the Week award, the conference office announced on Monday.
⚾️ 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 ⚾️@MT_Baseball's James Sells (@JamesSells20) is the #CUSABASE Pitcher of the Week presented by @BlendersEyewear!
— Conference USA (@ConferenceUSA) April 10, 2023
🏅1️⃣ | https://t.co/eOCqW5FCvn pic.twitter.com/hzT6nw2nfb
After a big sweep at WKU where he recorded saves in all three matchups, James Sells has been named the Conference USA Pitcher of the Week!
— MT Baseball (@MT_Baseball) April 10, 2023
Read more! ⤵️
🗞 https://t.co/z7ps9oilQE pic.twitter.com/ksTrhwJOQY
In Thursday's series opener, Sells got the final out of the eighth inning and retired the side in order in the ninth to clinch a 6-3 win. The Winchester, Tenn. native once again registered a four-out save Friday night, recording a pair of strikeouts and stranding the tying runners in scoring position as the Blue Raiders clinched the series with a 2-0 victory.
Sells would go one out further in Saturday's weekend finale, inducing a trio of groundouts in 1.2 innings of work and stranding the tying runner on first as Middle Tennessee left Bowling Green with a 5-4 win.
Sells with his third save in as many games, and we SWEEP! 🧹 🧹 🧹 pic.twitter.com/4qatN4djk9
— MT Baseball (@MT_Baseball) April 8, 2023
The Blue Raiders stay on the road this weekend, traveling to UTSA for their Conference USA series after a mid-week tilt with Georgia State.
Tennis Senior Days Set for this weekend at the Adams Tennis Complex
After a weekend off for the Easter holiday, both Middle Tennessee men's tennis and Middle Tennessee women's tennis are at home for the final time this spring, with Senior Day festivities set for both programs this weekend at the Adams Tennis Complex.
Men's Tennis will honor its seniors in between their matches against Tennessee Tech and UT Southern on Friday, with the match against the Golden Eagles scheduled for 1 p.m. Women's Tennis will host their senior day festivities prior to Sunday's match against UTEP, scheduled to start at 11 a.m.
Check out the home schedule for the weekend below!
What's Happening in the 'Boro – presented by Ole South@MT_MensTennis, @MT_WomensTennis and @MT_Soccer are home for the last time this spring, and @MT_Softball hosts the Hilltoppers.
— MT Athletics (@MTAthletics) April 10, 2023
🎟 FREE#BLUEnited pic.twitter.com/CMXVKgqO0Z
Don't miss your final chance to catch MTSU Soccer this school year!
As you might've noticed on "What's Happening in the 'Boro", MTSU Soccer is hosting their final spring exhibition of the season on Saturday against Trevecca. The early kickoff time of 11 a.m. Saturday will open up your afternoon to check out MTSU softball against WKU at 4 p.m. that day as well.
In the meantime, Soccer was in the Easter spirit last week, even with the rain. Check out how the team handled the elements in their Egg Hunt!
Had some Easter fun this Friday morning!
— MT Soccer (@MT_Soccer) April 7, 2023
Who do you think got the best goodies? 🍭 #BLUEnited pic.twitter.com/pOdeFRKu1D
Women's Golf Sets off for Conference USA Championships this week
It's already Championship season in Conference USA, as the Women's Golf Championships tee off this week in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Played on the Champion Course at the PGA National, home of the Honda Classic every PGA season, the Par 72, 6102 Yard course promises to be challenging for the nine C-USA schools competing for the title.
Fun C-USA fact of the day: Rice and LA Tech do not sponsor women's golf programs. The Owls sponsor a women's swimming program, while LA Tech sponsors a women's bowling program.
📸 from Chattanooga
— MT Women's Golf (@MT_WGolf) April 5, 2023
PC: @n_wallach pic.twitter.com/8BUSDUbPhG
ICYMI: Alexis Whittington Earns Spirit of Service Award
Grad student guard @Alexisw_23 has been named one of 11 @ConferenceUSA student-athletes to receive the Winter Spirit of Service Award for her efforts on and off the court! 👏
— MT Women's Basketball (@MT_WBB) April 6, 2023
📰 https://t.co/dZ5BtVX9fa#BLUEnited | #TrueBlue pic.twitter.com/UtGOFDgPLy
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