Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
In finding leadership, MTSU Football is looking for “Guys that can talk and be about it”
4/5/2023 5:07:00 PM | Football
The Blue Raiders must replace all five captains from a season ago
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Spring football in 2023 is often dominated by discussions of the newcomers on the field. How are the early enrollees looking their first time on a college football field? How are the new transfers gelling with their position group? How is the new cornerbacks coach approaching the job?
But in Murfreesboro during the spring, the veterans on the team are facing that future-focused discussion too. With all five captains from the 2022 team (Yusuf Ali, Chase Cunningham, Jordan Ferguson, Jaylin Lane and Ja'Kerrius Wyatt) all moving on from the program, the list of players directly labeled "leaders" by their peers has shrunk.
And this time, right now, when the focus is all on the work of the team coming together, not the opponent opposite you next week? It's the best time to find the guys who are about that kind of leadership.
"For me, leadership is a funny thing," defensive coordinator Scott Shafer said. "I think leadership is really action. It's who's taking action, starting off with who's practicing hard. Who talks to the other players when someone makes a good play or encourages them when I'm getting in a kid's crawl because he made a bad play or didn't have good effort, and then they pick them up on the sidelines?"
Captains aren't elected for Middle Tennessee football until the middle of August practice, a reflection of the time necessary for their teammates to discern who they want to lead them. Chosen by a balloted vote, with each player picking a pair of offensive and defensive captains, getting that "C" on your uniform is one of the top honors one can receive from their teammates.
The 2016 season was the last time under Rick Stockstill the Blue Raiders had no returning captains on their roster entering spring practice, meaning that leadership is having to be picked up by a multitude of guys across the roster. Identifying those players as teammates is key and the past captains have given players like Zaylin Wood the blueprint.
"It's just the guys that are doing what they're supposed to do each and every day" Wood said. "Going to the weight room, being on time, guys that are getting extra work, being early. Guys that can talk and be about it."
That 2016 spring resulted in the first captaincy of Quarterbacks Coach Brent Stockstill and Offensive GA I'Tavius Mathers that fall. They, along with Wyatt (who's on staff as a Defensive GA), defensive backs coach Alex Suber and Wide Receivers Coach Shane Tucker make up the five former captains on staff this spring.
But the spring ball, where coaches are watching every practice to evaluate position groups on the field is only the start of the process, Shafer said.
"When we move into the summer months, the action turns into who's going to take charge and make sure that when they're practicing without us, they have a plan and they work that plan," Shafer said. "Something as simple as who's grabbing the bag of balls, who's getting the barrels set up?"
Those little things allow those in other position groups to notice who's taking charge, which can help players earn respect, defensive end Richard Kinley said.
"I can tell from the extra work somebody puts in," Kinley said. "I'm probably here an hour early. So, if I see Tra Fluellen there, ok, he's about his business."
The lack of named leaders among the team is not likely to be a huge issue, with MTSU replacing four of their five captains just last season, plus the usual amount of internal leadership shown during position meetings and work during practice, as Shafer noted.
The main key, the veteran coach says, is that teammates and coaches alike can see through those who are vocal without having the work to back it up. That's ultimately what gives those leaders power.
"It's about what you're doing, not what you're saying," Shafer said. "And when you do it on a consistent basis, when you do speak up, people start to look and listen because there's a respect.
"Leadership is permission. When the teammates say, 'That guy does everything right.' Then, they start to quietly follow."
But in Murfreesboro during the spring, the veterans on the team are facing that future-focused discussion too. With all five captains from the 2022 team (Yusuf Ali, Chase Cunningham, Jordan Ferguson, Jaylin Lane and Ja'Kerrius Wyatt) all moving on from the program, the list of players directly labeled "leaders" by their peers has shrunk.
And this time, right now, when the focus is all on the work of the team coming together, not the opponent opposite you next week? It's the best time to find the guys who are about that kind of leadership.
"For me, leadership is a funny thing," defensive coordinator Scott Shafer said. "I think leadership is really action. It's who's taking action, starting off with who's practicing hard. Who talks to the other players when someone makes a good play or encourages them when I'm getting in a kid's crawl because he made a bad play or didn't have good effort, and then they pick them up on the sidelines?"
Captains aren't elected for Middle Tennessee football until the middle of August practice, a reflection of the time necessary for their teammates to discern who they want to lead them. Chosen by a balloted vote, with each player picking a pair of offensive and defensive captains, getting that "C" on your uniform is one of the top honors one can receive from their teammates.
The 2016 season was the last time under Rick Stockstill the Blue Raiders had no returning captains on their roster entering spring practice, meaning that leadership is having to be picked up by a multitude of guys across the roster. Identifying those players as teammates is key and the past captains have given players like Zaylin Wood the blueprint.
"It's just the guys that are doing what they're supposed to do each and every day" Wood said. "Going to the weight room, being on time, guys that are getting extra work, being early. Guys that can talk and be about it."
That 2016 spring resulted in the first captaincy of Quarterbacks Coach Brent Stockstill and Offensive GA I'Tavius Mathers that fall. They, along with Wyatt (who's on staff as a Defensive GA), defensive backs coach Alex Suber and Wide Receivers Coach Shane Tucker make up the five former captains on staff this spring.
But the spring ball, where coaches are watching every practice to evaluate position groups on the field is only the start of the process, Shafer said.
"When we move into the summer months, the action turns into who's going to take charge and make sure that when they're practicing without us, they have a plan and they work that plan," Shafer said. "Something as simple as who's grabbing the bag of balls, who's getting the barrels set up?"
Those little things allow those in other position groups to notice who's taking charge, which can help players earn respect, defensive end Richard Kinley said.
"I can tell from the extra work somebody puts in," Kinley said. "I'm probably here an hour early. So, if I see Tra Fluellen there, ok, he's about his business."
The lack of named leaders among the team is not likely to be a huge issue, with MTSU replacing four of their five captains just last season, plus the usual amount of internal leadership shown during position meetings and work during practice, as Shafer noted.
The main key, the veteran coach says, is that teammates and coaches alike can see through those who are vocal without having the work to back it up. That's ultimately what gives those leaders power.
"It's about what you're doing, not what you're saying," Shafer said. "And when you do it on a consistent basis, when you do speak up, people start to look and listen because there's a respect.
"Leadership is permission. When the teammates say, 'That guy does everything right.' Then, they start to quietly follow."
Players Mentioned
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DT
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