Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Much improved Blue Raider offensive line paving the way for early season success
9/23/2026 6:00:00 PM | Football
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — The old adage that games are won and lost in the trenches isn't lost on the Middle Tennessee coaching staff.
The Blue Raiders knew the offensive line was an area that needed to improve if they were going to have a chance to compete for both a bowl game and a Conference USA title in 2026.
Fast forward to Week Four, and the Blue Raiders are 2-1 and just a few plays away from being a perfect 3-0.
"Most of our resources were put on the offensive line," Head Coach Derek Mason said at CUSA Media Days. "I don't mind saying it, because if you can run the ball and protect your quarterback, it gives you the chance to put points on the board. In this conference, you've got to score 30-plus a game. If that's truly the case, it's about giving our running backs and quarterback the opportunity to get started."
On the surface, fans can see the extraordinary play of quarterback Roman Gagliano, who stays cool, calm and collected and doesn't force the ball downfield. The youngster plays like a veteran, takes what the defense gives him and makes the big throws when his team needs him most. It's a big reason why he is now 4-2 as a starter.
A player who is quickly becoming a fan favorite in Murfreesboro is none other than "Pork Chop," Antonio Martin Jr., a journeyman bruiser of a tailback who has reunited with offensive coordinator Anthony Scelfo and has shown he can be the face of a revived Blue Raider rushing attack.
Martin has already recorded two 100-yard games in just three contests at Middle Tennessee.
"Defensively, we've been getting opportunities, and offensively, we're still trying to manifest it," Mason said following the 27-20 win over Nevada. "But when push comes to shove, we're going to continue to lean on this offensive line. I thought they were solid in protection against Nevada, and at the end of the day, when you have a 100-yard rusher, that always says something."
Below the surface, you'll find a group of some of the most selfless individuals in sports: offensive linemen.
It's very rare that these men get called out when things are going well. Much like a long snapper, it's simply the status quo to the average fan. You hear about them when things aren't going well.
To these five, however, if their teammates are protected, the offense is successful and the team wins the game, that's their chief objective. No thanks are required. It's all part of another day's work.
On the exterior, Reese Tripp and Quentin Butler have set the tone, displaying a mean streak while also showing the technical prowess required to block individuals much smaller and quicker than themselves.
That is especially true of the 6-foot-7, 353-pound Tripp, a Minnesota transfer who plays downhill and with great force while helping lead the unit as one of the team's best run blockers. Tripp recently was named the CUSA Offensive Lineman of the Week.
For Butler, the challenge has been taking on some of the team's best pass rushers head-on and keeping Gagliano in rhythm.
Inside, the Blue Raiders lean on veterans such as Chris Moreno, Brennan Smith, Alex Gale and Trevaris Edwards.
Gale started several games during the back half of the 2025 season and earned All-CUSA Freshman Team honors. Moreno and Edwards have transferred in and shown they have the moxie to compete at the center and guard positions — spots that are critical to identifying protection schemes, communicating with teammates and working together to create the combination blocks that open running lanes.
Depth pieces Adrian Crespin, Diego Blattler and Smith have also contributed valuable snaps up front, with Smith starting at center against Nevada in the absence of Gale.
Smith anchored a unit that, on paper, wasn't necessarily expected to do what it did against an improved Nevada defense — especially when compared to the unit the Wolf Pack saw a year ago.
"Our O-line coach (Christopher Browne) does a phenomenal job of telling us to do the basic stuff," Smith said. "We try to do the same things every single day and stack days. Being able to communicate is a really big thing, especially for me as a center. Knowing what the right tackle's doing, what the quarterback is doing and what the running back is doing, that communication just makes the job a lot easier."
To put the improvement into perspective, Middle Tennessee is averaging 154 rushing yards per game and 5.6 yards per carry while featuring Martin, Terrance Brown Jr., DJ Taylor and Brooklen Davis as its primary backs.
Gagliano can also tuck it and run when needed.
With 82 total rushing attempts, Middle Tennessee has had just 16 negative rushing plays. On 102 drop backs, Gagliano has been sacked just twice.
The time he's had to throw has helped produce a near-60 percent completion rate, along with six touchdowns and just one interception this season.
"Since I've gotten here, I know it's been the big guys that lead the team," Martin said following the Nevada game. "This week, we knew we had to bite down and put our heads down and work, and you saw the results.
"We know that even if things don't go our way, we just have to keep our heads down and keep going. We don't want to get too high or too low. We may not get five yards on a first-down carry; it could be two or three yards, and that's OK. Those add up, and it can lead to third-and-manageable, so it helps us stay ahead of the chains."
While Martin has seen the bulk of the touches, Brown Jr. and Gagliano have both averaged more than six yards per carry this season, while Taylor is averaging 3.6 yards per carry.
As Middle Tennessee takes the field to begin conference play, no matter what combination the Blue Raiders roll out up front, fans can expect to see a group that works together, has developed the chemistry it takes to gel and has displayed enough depth to give the coaching staff confidence.
More importantly, the Blue Raiders have built a solid foundation on which they can continue to develop an offense that has shown improvement with each passing week.
"This is my sixth year in college football, and this (line) is my favorite, and I believe the best O-line I've been a part of," Smith said. "These dudes come to work every single day. I know I've had to earn their respect, and they've earned mine a million times.
"Being the oldest guy in the room, I love it. What makes us unique is we're all different. We hang out a lot off the field, and we're always together on off days. I'm super close with these guys, and I 110 percent believe we're the best O-line in this conference, if not the country, and it's not just because of the physicality, but because we're all mentally there and are on the same page."
The Blue Raiders knew the offensive line was an area that needed to improve if they were going to have a chance to compete for both a bowl game and a Conference USA title in 2026.
Fast forward to Week Four, and the Blue Raiders are 2-1 and just a few plays away from being a perfect 3-0.
"Most of our resources were put on the offensive line," Head Coach Derek Mason said at CUSA Media Days. "I don't mind saying it, because if you can run the ball and protect your quarterback, it gives you the chance to put points on the board. In this conference, you've got to score 30-plus a game. If that's truly the case, it's about giving our running backs and quarterback the opportunity to get started."
On the surface, fans can see the extraordinary play of quarterback Roman Gagliano, who stays cool, calm and collected and doesn't force the ball downfield. The youngster plays like a veteran, takes what the defense gives him and makes the big throws when his team needs him most. It's a big reason why he is now 4-2 as a starter.
A player who is quickly becoming a fan favorite in Murfreesboro is none other than "Pork Chop," Antonio Martin Jr., a journeyman bruiser of a tailback who has reunited with offensive coordinator Anthony Scelfo and has shown he can be the face of a revived Blue Raider rushing attack.
Martin has already recorded two 100-yard games in just three contests at Middle Tennessee.
"Defensively, we've been getting opportunities, and offensively, we're still trying to manifest it," Mason said following the 27-20 win over Nevada. "But when push comes to shove, we're going to continue to lean on this offensive line. I thought they were solid in protection against Nevada, and at the end of the day, when you have a 100-yard rusher, that always says something."
Below the surface, you'll find a group of some of the most selfless individuals in sports: offensive linemen.
It's very rare that these men get called out when things are going well. Much like a long snapper, it's simply the status quo to the average fan. You hear about them when things aren't going well.
To these five, however, if their teammates are protected, the offense is successful and the team wins the game, that's their chief objective. No thanks are required. It's all part of another day's work.
On the exterior, Reese Tripp and Quentin Butler have set the tone, displaying a mean streak while also showing the technical prowess required to block individuals much smaller and quicker than themselves.
That is especially true of the 6-foot-7, 353-pound Tripp, a Minnesota transfer who plays downhill and with great force while helping lead the unit as one of the team's best run blockers. Tripp recently was named the CUSA Offensive Lineman of the Week.
For Butler, the challenge has been taking on some of the team's best pass rushers head-on and keeping Gagliano in rhythm.
Inside, the Blue Raiders lean on veterans such as Chris Moreno, Brennan Smith, Alex Gale and Trevaris Edwards.
Gale started several games during the back half of the 2025 season and earned All-CUSA Freshman Team honors. Moreno and Edwards have transferred in and shown they have the moxie to compete at the center and guard positions — spots that are critical to identifying protection schemes, communicating with teammates and working together to create the combination blocks that open running lanes.
Depth pieces Adrian Crespin, Diego Blattler and Smith have also contributed valuable snaps up front, with Smith starting at center against Nevada in the absence of Gale.
Smith anchored a unit that, on paper, wasn't necessarily expected to do what it did against an improved Nevada defense — especially when compared to the unit the Wolf Pack saw a year ago.
"Our O-line coach (Christopher Browne) does a phenomenal job of telling us to do the basic stuff," Smith said. "We try to do the same things every single day and stack days. Being able to communicate is a really big thing, especially for me as a center. Knowing what the right tackle's doing, what the quarterback is doing and what the running back is doing, that communication just makes the job a lot easier."
To put the improvement into perspective, Middle Tennessee is averaging 154 rushing yards per game and 5.6 yards per carry while featuring Martin, Terrance Brown Jr., DJ Taylor and Brooklen Davis as its primary backs.
Gagliano can also tuck it and run when needed.
With 82 total rushing attempts, Middle Tennessee has had just 16 negative rushing plays. On 102 drop backs, Gagliano has been sacked just twice.
The time he's had to throw has helped produce a near-60 percent completion rate, along with six touchdowns and just one interception this season.
"Since I've gotten here, I know it's been the big guys that lead the team," Martin said following the Nevada game. "This week, we knew we had to bite down and put our heads down and work, and you saw the results.
"We know that even if things don't go our way, we just have to keep our heads down and keep going. We don't want to get too high or too low. We may not get five yards on a first-down carry; it could be two or three yards, and that's OK. Those add up, and it can lead to third-and-manageable, so it helps us stay ahead of the chains."
While Martin has seen the bulk of the touches, Brown Jr. and Gagliano have both averaged more than six yards per carry this season, while Taylor is averaging 3.6 yards per carry.
As Middle Tennessee takes the field to begin conference play, no matter what combination the Blue Raiders roll out up front, fans can expect to see a group that works together, has developed the chemistry it takes to gel and has displayed enough depth to give the coaching staff confidence.
More importantly, the Blue Raiders have built a solid foundation on which they can continue to develop an offense that has shown improvement with each passing week.
"This is my sixth year in college football, and this (line) is my favorite, and I believe the best O-line I've been a part of," Smith said. "These dudes come to work every single day. I know I've had to earn their respect, and they've earned mine a million times.
"Being the oldest guy in the room, I love it. What makes us unique is we're all different. We hang out a lot off the field, and we're always together on off days. I'm super close with these guys, and I 110 percent believe we're the best O-line in this conference, if not the country, and it's not just because of the physicality, but because we're all mentally there and are on the same page."
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