Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Kelly, Ellis, Nwaoko, McDonald, Butler named to CUSA Watch List
7/19/2024 1:00:00 PM | Football
DALLAS – Conference USA released the 2024 preseason watch list, as selected by the league's 10 head coaches on Friday and five Blue Raiders made the list. The team is made up of key players to watch ahead of the 2024 season.
Representing the Blue Raiders are wide receiver Omari Kelly, offensive lineman Ethan Ellis, defensive end Andy Nwaoko, cornerback De'Arre McDonald and long snapper Brody Butler.
Kelly, a junior, joined MTSU in the offseason from Auburn where he played in 19 games as a freshman and sophomore.
Ellis, a graduate student, is a local product from Oakland High School. The 6-6 lineman had five starts a year ago and was in on 268 total snaps.
Another newcomer to the Blue Raider program is Nwaoko who hails from Nigeria. The 6-3, 251 pounder transferred in from Stony Brook where he played in six games before suffering a season ending injury. The redshirt senior racked up 17 tackles, including 3.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks a year ago.
McDonald, a local talent from Oakland High School, played in all 12 games last year and earned four starts. He finished the season with 18 tackles, including 3.5 TFLs, a sack and six breakups.
Butler, a redshirt senior from Homewood, Ala., has proven to be the top snapper in the league. In 2022 and 2023, he earned first team conference honors to go with being all-freshman in 2020.
The Blue Raiders will open Training Camp on July 31 in preparation for the 2024 season opener at home against Tennessee Tech. Tickets are on sale now at GoBlueRaiders.com/Tickets.
2024 CUSA PRESEASON WATCH LIST
OFFENSE
QB Keyone Jenkins, FIU
QB Kaidon Salter, Liberty
QB Jack Turner, LA Tech
RB Quinton Cooley, Liberty
RB Monte Watkins, NM State
RB Jevon Jackson, UTEP
RB Elijah Young, WKU
WR Gabe Benyard, Kennesaw State
WR Omari Kelly, MTSU
WR Kordell David, NM State
WR Noah Smith, Sam Houston
TE Sean Brown, Jax State
OL JD Lee, FIU
OL Clay Webb, Jax State
OL Ethan Newman, Kennesaw State
OL Jordan White, Liberty
OL Bert Hale, LA Tech
OL Ethan Ellis, MTSU
OL Canaan Yarro, NM State
OL Ethan Hagler, Sam Houston
OL Otis Pitts, UTEP
OL Quantavious Leslie, WKU
DEFENSE
DL Jeramy Passmore, FIU
DL Darrell Prater, Jax State
DL Pooda Walker, Kennesaw State
DL CJ Bazile, Liberty
DL Jessie Evans, LA Tech
DL Andy Nwaoko, MTSU
DL Buddha Peleti, NM State
DL Jevon Leon, Sam Houston
DL KD Johnson, UTEP
DL Hosea Wheeler, WKU
LB Reggie Peterson, FIU
LB J-Rock Swain, Jax State
LB Kolbe Fields, LA Tech
LB Kavian Gaither, Sam Houston
DB Sidney Porter, Kennesaw State
DB De'Arre McDonald, MTSU
DB AJ Odums, UTEP
DB Upton Stout, WKU
SPECIAL TEAMS
K Colby Sessums, Sam Houston
K Lucas Carneiro, WKU
P Jack Dawson, Jax State
KR Julian Gray, Liberty
KR Demarcus Griffin-Taylor, LA Tech
PR Dean Patterson, FIU
PR Gabe Benyard, Kennesaw State
PR Jordan Smith, NM State
LS Brody Butler, MTSU
LS Angelo Tejada, UTEP
Representing the Blue Raiders are wide receiver Omari Kelly, offensive lineman Ethan Ellis, defensive end Andy Nwaoko, cornerback De'Arre McDonald and long snapper Brody Butler.
Kelly, a junior, joined MTSU in the offseason from Auburn where he played in 19 games as a freshman and sophomore.
Ellis, a graduate student, is a local product from Oakland High School. The 6-6 lineman had five starts a year ago and was in on 268 total snaps.
Another newcomer to the Blue Raider program is Nwaoko who hails from Nigeria. The 6-3, 251 pounder transferred in from Stony Brook where he played in six games before suffering a season ending injury. The redshirt senior racked up 17 tackles, including 3.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks a year ago.
McDonald, a local talent from Oakland High School, played in all 12 games last year and earned four starts. He finished the season with 18 tackles, including 3.5 TFLs, a sack and six breakups.
Butler, a redshirt senior from Homewood, Ala., has proven to be the top snapper in the league. In 2022 and 2023, he earned first team conference honors to go with being all-freshman in 2020.
The Blue Raiders will open Training Camp on July 31 in preparation for the 2024 season opener at home against Tennessee Tech. Tickets are on sale now at GoBlueRaiders.com/Tickets.
2024 CUSA PRESEASON WATCH LIST
OFFENSE
QB Keyone Jenkins, FIU
QB Kaidon Salter, Liberty
QB Jack Turner, LA Tech
RB Quinton Cooley, Liberty
RB Monte Watkins, NM State
RB Jevon Jackson, UTEP
RB Elijah Young, WKU
WR Gabe Benyard, Kennesaw State
WR Omari Kelly, MTSU
WR Kordell David, NM State
WR Noah Smith, Sam Houston
TE Sean Brown, Jax State
OL JD Lee, FIU
OL Clay Webb, Jax State
OL Ethan Newman, Kennesaw State
OL Jordan White, Liberty
OL Bert Hale, LA Tech
OL Ethan Ellis, MTSU
OL Canaan Yarro, NM State
OL Ethan Hagler, Sam Houston
OL Otis Pitts, UTEP
OL Quantavious Leslie, WKU
DEFENSE
DL Jeramy Passmore, FIU
DL Darrell Prater, Jax State
DL Pooda Walker, Kennesaw State
DL CJ Bazile, Liberty
DL Jessie Evans, LA Tech
DL Andy Nwaoko, MTSU
DL Buddha Peleti, NM State
DL Jevon Leon, Sam Houston
DL KD Johnson, UTEP
DL Hosea Wheeler, WKU
LB Reggie Peterson, FIU
LB J-Rock Swain, Jax State
LB Kolbe Fields, LA Tech
LB Kavian Gaither, Sam Houston
DB Sidney Porter, Kennesaw State
DB De'Arre McDonald, MTSU
DB AJ Odums, UTEP
DB Upton Stout, WKU
SPECIAL TEAMS
K Colby Sessums, Sam Houston
K Lucas Carneiro, WKU
P Jack Dawson, Jax State
KR Julian Gray, Liberty
KR Demarcus Griffin-Taylor, LA Tech
PR Dean Patterson, FIU
PR Gabe Benyard, Kennesaw State
PR Jordan Smith, NM State
LS Brody Butler, MTSU
LS Angelo Tejada, UTEP
Players Mentioned
LS
/ Football
OL
/ Football
WR
/ Football
CB
/ Football
DE
/ FootballALL IN: Spring Preview - Episode 3
Friday, April 03
ALL IN: Spring Preview - Episode 2
Thursday, March 19
ALL IN: Spring Preview - Episode 1
Monday, March 16
Introducing Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach - Anthony Scelfo
Tuesday, January 13
