Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
2021 Football Roster
Roster
Ali, Yusuf

Jersey Number 89
Yusuf Ali
- Position:
- WR
- Ht./Wt.:
- 5-9 / 171
- Class:
- Redshirt Junior
- Hometown:
- Detroit, MI
- High School:
- Maplewood (TN)
Bio
2022 (r-Senior)
• Played in all 13 games and had 12 starts
• Was third on the team with a career-best 51 receptions for 385 yards and two scores
• Had five or more catches four times
• Graded out a winner all 13 games by the coaches
• His 792 total snaps played ranked second among receivers
• Voted a Permanent Team Captain
• Led the team with eight receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown in opener against JMU
• Registered five receptions in win at Colorado State
• Had four catches and a touchdown against UTSA
• Shared team lead with six receptions against WKU
• Led team with four receptions against Louisiana Tech
• Reeled in six catches for 55 yards in win at FIU
2021 (r-Junior)
• Played in 11 games and earned one start
• Finished tied for first on the team with 45 receptions for 472 yards and four touchdowns
• Was second among receivers with 623 snaps played while grading out a winner in all 11 games he played
• Had five or more catches in a game five times
• Missed the first two games due to personal reasons and returned against UTSA with two receptions
• Had three catches for 64 yards and a TD at Charlotte
• Named the team’s Specialist of the Week after the Marshall game
• Had three grabs at Liberty
• Led the team with five catches for 80 yards in win at UConn to earn team’s offensive player of the week award
• Named the team’s Offensive Player of the Week after the USM game
• Led the team with five receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown at WKU
• Had three catches and a touchdown against FIU
• Reeled in six receptions for 39 yards against ODU
• Led the Blue Raiders with five catches for 95 yards in win at FAU
• Led the team at the Bahamas Bowl with nine receptions and a touchdown
2020 (r-Junior)
• Played in seven games and had six starts
• Ranked second on the team in receptions with a career-best 37 and a team-high 12.4 yards per grab
• Had five or more receptions four times
• Graded out a winner in all seven games he played while averaging 54.9 snaps per game
• After missing the first two games, he earned the start at UTSA and led the team with a career-best eight receptions for 86 yards and a touchdown.
• Added four catches against WKU and North Texas
• Had five receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown in win over Rice
• Turned in six catches at #16 Marshall
• Led the team with seven receptions for 90 yards in win at Troy
2019 (r-Sophomore)
• Played in 11 games and had three starts
• Finished the year with 19 receptions for 190 yards to rank fourth on the team
• Graded out a winner 10 games by the coaching staff
• Made his first collegiate receptions against Duke with three grabs for 16 yards
• Hauled in two passes for 44 yards at FAU
• Registered a career-best five receptions for 47 yards at UNT
• Did not play against FIU due to an injury
• Had two receptions in win over ODU
• Equaled his personal-best with five receptions at WKU
2018 (r-Freshman)
• Played in five games
• Had 16 total snaps on the season
2017 (Freshman)
• Was redshirted
• Named the Special Teams Scout Team Player of the Year by the coaches
High School
• Lettered in football and track at Maplewood High School
• Played for Coach Arcentae Broome
Personal
• Full name: Yusuf Abdullah Ali
• Parents: Asad Ali and Keitsha Perkins
• Born: 3/18/99
• Degree: Exercise Science
• Played in all 13 games and had 12 starts
• Was third on the team with a career-best 51 receptions for 385 yards and two scores
• Had five or more catches four times
• Graded out a winner all 13 games by the coaches
• His 792 total snaps played ranked second among receivers
• Voted a Permanent Team Captain
• Led the team with eight receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown in opener against JMU
• Registered five receptions in win at Colorado State
• Had four catches and a touchdown against UTSA
• Shared team lead with six receptions against WKU
• Led team with four receptions against Louisiana Tech
• Reeled in six catches for 55 yards in win at FIU
2021 (r-Junior)
• Played in 11 games and earned one start
• Finished tied for first on the team with 45 receptions for 472 yards and four touchdowns
• Was second among receivers with 623 snaps played while grading out a winner in all 11 games he played
• Had five or more catches in a game five times
• Missed the first two games due to personal reasons and returned against UTSA with two receptions
• Had three catches for 64 yards and a TD at Charlotte
• Named the team’s Specialist of the Week after the Marshall game
• Had three grabs at Liberty
• Led the team with five catches for 80 yards in win at UConn to earn team’s offensive player of the week award
• Named the team’s Offensive Player of the Week after the USM game
• Led the team with five receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown at WKU
• Had three catches and a touchdown against FIU
• Reeled in six receptions for 39 yards against ODU
• Led the Blue Raiders with five catches for 95 yards in win at FAU
• Led the team at the Bahamas Bowl with nine receptions and a touchdown
2020 (r-Junior)
• Played in seven games and had six starts
• Ranked second on the team in receptions with a career-best 37 and a team-high 12.4 yards per grab
• Had five or more receptions four times
• Graded out a winner in all seven games he played while averaging 54.9 snaps per game
• After missing the first two games, he earned the start at UTSA and led the team with a career-best eight receptions for 86 yards and a touchdown.
• Added four catches against WKU and North Texas
• Had five receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown in win over Rice
• Turned in six catches at #16 Marshall
• Led the team with seven receptions for 90 yards in win at Troy
2019 (r-Sophomore)
• Played in 11 games and had three starts
• Finished the year with 19 receptions for 190 yards to rank fourth on the team
• Graded out a winner 10 games by the coaching staff
• Made his first collegiate receptions against Duke with three grabs for 16 yards
• Hauled in two passes for 44 yards at FAU
• Registered a career-best five receptions for 47 yards at UNT
• Did not play against FIU due to an injury
• Had two receptions in win over ODU
• Equaled his personal-best with five receptions at WKU
2018 (r-Freshman)
• Played in five games
• Had 16 total snaps on the season
2017 (Freshman)
• Was redshirted
• Named the Special Teams Scout Team Player of the Year by the coaches
High School
• Lettered in football and track at Maplewood High School
• Played for Coach Arcentae Broome
Personal
• Full name: Yusuf Abdullah Ali
• Parents: Asad Ali and Keitsha Perkins
• Born: 3/18/99
• Degree: Exercise Science
Raider Report Week 2 - MTSU vs. University of Wisconsin-Madison
Friday, September 05
Derek Mason LIVE: Presented by The Boulevard Bar & Grille Week 2 (Video)
Tuesday, September 02
MTSU Football Weekly Presser Wisconsin 9/01/25
Monday, September 01
MTSU Football vs Austin Peay Postgame Press Conference 08/30/25
Sunday, August 31