The 2023 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team represented Middle Tennessee State University as a member of Conference USA (C-USA) during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by Rick Stockstill in his 18th and final season as head coach, the Blue Raiders compiled an overall record of 4–8 with a mark of 3–5 in conference play, placing fifth in C-USA. The team played home games at Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Stockstill was fired on November 27, two days after the final game of the season. He finished his 18-year tenure at Middle Tennessee with a record of 113–111. At the time of his firing, Stockstill was the fourth-longest tenured head coach in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
Schedule Middle Tennessee and Conference USA announced the 2023 football schedule on January 10, 2023.
Game summaries at No. 4 Alabama
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Statistics MTSUALA First downs 13 23 Total yards 211 431 Rushes/yards 26–78 40–205 Passing yards 133 226 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–35–1 17–24–0 Time of possession 30:57 29:03 Team Category Player StatisticsMiddle Tennessee Passing Nicholas Vattiato 21/32, 127 yards, TD, INT Rushing Jekail Middlebrook 8 carries, 32 yards Receiving Jaiden Credle 4 receptions, 25 yardsAlabama Passing Jalen Milroe 13/18, 194 yards, 3 TD Rushing Jalen Milroe 7 carries, 48 yards, 2 TD Receiving Isaiah Bond 5 receptions, 76 yards, TD
at Missouri
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Statistics MTSUMIZZ First downs 16 21 Total yards 65–285 65–316 Rushes/yards 29-71 46-112 Passing yards 214 204 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22-36-0 14-19-0 Time of possession 28:00 32:00 Team Category Player StatisticsMiddle Tennessee Passing Nicholas Vattiato 22-36, 214 yards, 2 TD Rushing Frank Peasant 13 carries, 35 yards Receiving Elijah Metcalf 5 receptions, 70 yardsMissouri Passing Brady Cook 14-19, 204 yards, 2 TD Rushing Cody Schrader 23 carries, 84 yards Receiving Luther Burden III 8 receptions, 117 yards
at Liberty
Statistics MTSULIB First downs 23 33 Total yards 63–428 81–541 Rushing yards 26–96 61–401 Passing yards 332 140 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–37–2 12–20–1 Time of possession 22:40 37:20 Team Category Player StatisticsMiddle Tennessee Passing Nicholas Vattiato 24/37, 332 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT Rushing Jaiden Cradle 12 carries, 50 yards Receiving Zack Dobson 2 receptions, 82 yards, TD Liberty Passing Kaidon Salter 12/20, 140 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Kaidon Salter 16 carries, 160 yards Receiving CJ Daniels 6 receptions, 71 yards, TD
at New Mexico State
Statistics MTSUNMSU First downs 17 21 Total yards 346 402 Rushing yards 168 182 Passing yards 178 220 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 24:13 35:47 Team Category Player StatisticsMiddle Tennessee Passing Nicholas Vattiato 20/36, 178 yards, TD, INT Rushing Nicholas Vattiato 18 rushes, 96 yards Receiving Elijah Metcalf 5 receptions, 69 yardsNew Mexico State Passing Diego Pavia 16/31, 220 yards, INT Rushing Monte Watkins 5 rushes, 68 yards Receiving Eli Stowers 6 receptions, 83 yards
Personnel Roster 2023 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders FootballQuarterbacks 4 – Kyle Lowe – Freshman (5'11, 198) 5 – DJ Riles – Freshman (6'0, 193) 10 – Jakson Judge – Freshman (6'1, 198) 11 – Nicholas Vattiato – Sophomore (6'1, 196) 12 – Sam Driggers – Freshman (5'11, 205) 16 – Ren Hefley – Junior (6'1, 192) 18 – Stone Frost – Junior (5'11, 207)
Running backs 19 – A'Varius Sparrow – Sophomore (5'10, 190) 22 – Jaiden Credle – Sophomore (6'1, 193) 23 – Jalen Montgomery – Sophomore (5'9, 168) 24 – Frank Peasant – Junior (5'11, 196) 26 – Jayce Gardener – Junior (5'11, 210) 30 – Jordan Brown – Sophomore (5'10, 200) 32 – Jekail Middlebrook - Freshman (5'9, 186) 34 – Romal Webb Jr. – Junior (5'9, 202) 39 – Terry Wilkins – Sophomore (5'8, 187) 45 – Raymond Banner – Sophomore (6'0, 182)
Wide receivers 3 – DJ England-Chisolm – Senior (5'8, 152) 9 – Elijah Metcalf – Sophomore (5'9, 164) 13 – Javonte Sherman – Sophomore (6'2, 189) 15 – Justin Olson – Junior (6'2, 205) 17 – Kalani Norris – Junior (6'0, 162) 18 – Tyson Resper – Freshman (5'8, 165) 25 – Bryce Bailey – Sophomore (5'10, 168) 47 – Jamison Greenway – Junior (5'9, 172) 78 – Trevon Ferrell – Freshman (5'10, 170) 80 – AJ Toney – Senior (5'6, 177) 81 – Mitchell Howell – Sophomore (5'10, 196) 83 – Holden Willis – Junior (6'4, 211) 84 – Ethan Crite – Freshman (6'2, 177) 85 – Jaylen Ward – Freshman (6'1, 202) 86 – Cam'ron Lacy – Freshman (5'8, 154) 87 – Braxton Crouse – Junior (6'1, 177) 87 – Kellen Stewart – Sophomore (5'9, 152) 89 – Elijah Ealey – Sophomore (5'11, 170)
Tight ends 6 – Jeremy Tate Jr – Senior (6'5, 259) 48 – Caden Williams – Sophomore (6'0, 235) 82 – Taharin Sudderth – Sophomore (6'2, 230) 88 – Jacob Coleman – Sophomore (6'3, 228) Offensive Lineman 53 – Trenton Taylor-Ricker – Freshman (6'4, 265) 54 – Aaron Wood – Freshman (6'5, 271) 55 – Mateo Guevara – Freshman (6'4, 302) 56 – Devin Hayes – Senior (6'6, 284) 61 – J'Shun Bodiford – Junior (6'3, 283) 62 – Simon Wilson – Sophomore (6'1, 316) 63 – Wilson Kelly – Sophomore (6'2, 300) 64 – Jacqui Graham – Senior (6'4, 263) 65 – Julius Pierce – Junior (6'4, 288) 66 – Daniel Gonzalez – Sophomore (6'5, 291) 67 – Cooper Koch – Freshman (6'3, 299) 70 – Isaac Rue – Freshman (6'6, 303) 71 – Luke Marek – Freshman (6'1, 295) 72 – Morgan Scott – Sophomore (6'5, 309) 73 – Connor Farris – Freshman (6'4, 315) 74 – Ethan Ellis – Senior (6'6, 295) 75 – Jamari Williams – Junior (6'3 317) 76 – Ryan Hunt – Freshman (6'1, 280) 77 – Keylan Rutledge – Sophomore (6'4, 308) 79 – Sterling Porcher – Junior (6'4, 304)
Defensive Line 0 – Richard Kinley – Junior (6'3, 235) 2 – Jorden Starling – Senior (6'5, 272) 5 – Jordan Branch – Senior (6'0, 290) 7 – Zaylin Wood – Junior (6'2, 273) 38 – Zabrien Harden – Sophomore (6'3, 246) 40 – Anthony Bynum – Freshman (6'3, 258) 49 – James Stewart – Sophomore (6'3, 248) 57 – Marley Cook – Junior (6'2, 298) 89 – Brandon Buckner – Sophomore (6'0, 241) 90 – Chayce Smith – Freshman (6'2, 267) 91 – Javon Nelson – Sophomore (6'4, 300) 92 – Damonte Smith – Sophomore (6'3, 284) 93 – Vincent Dinkins – Sophomore (6'1, 286) 94 – Ralph Mency – Junior (6'2, 246) 95 – Tyrece Edwards – Sophomore (6'2, 274) 96 – Kasey Bonds – Freshman (5'8, 263) 97 – Quindarius Dunnigan – Junior (6'4, 256) 98 – Shakai Woods – Freshman (6'1, 270) 99 – Ja'Darious Morris – Freshman (6'1, 250) Linebackers 4 – Johnathan Butler – Senior (6'1, 223) 8 – Devyn Curtis – Sophomore (6'2, 235) 10 – Drew Francis – Junior (6'3, 222) 12 – Jalen Davis – Junior (5'11, 200) 18 – James Douglas – Sophomore (6'1, 204) 21 – Parker Hughes – Sophomore (6'2, 210) 32 – Slade Alexander – Sophomore (6'2, 220) 33 – Sam Brumfield – Junior (5'11, 226) 36 – Jordan Thompson – Freshman (5'11, 209) 41 – Raquon Hartley – Junior (6'1, 192) 42 – Da'Shawn Elder – Sophomore (6'0, 218) 43 – Markel James – Freshman (6'2, 217) 44 – Jalen Rayam – Senior (6'1, 219) 50 – Timar Rogers – Sophomore (6'2, 214) 51 – Nash Stidham – Freshman (5'10, 207) 52 – Muaaz Byard – Freshman (6'1, 238) 58 – Dylan Kling – Freshman (6'0, 200) 59 – Jacob Jackson – Junior (5'11, 203)
Defensive backs 1 – Teldrick Ross – Senior (5'11, 194) 17 – Tra Fluellen – Senior (6'2, 210) 22 – Chris Johnson – Sophomore (5'10, 183) 23 – Jalen Jackson – Junior (6'2, 177) 25 – Tylus Hancock – Senior (6'2, 203) 26 – Emmanuel Mann – Junior (6'0, 179) 27 – Rickey Smith – Sophomore (6'0, 170) 28 – De'Arre McDonald – Sophomore (6'0, 208) 29 – Tyrell Raby – Sophomore (5'11, 173) 30 – Jakobe Thomas – Sophomore (6'2, 190) 31 – Deonte Stanley – Junior (6'3, 194) 35 – James Jackson III – Freshman (6'0, 161) 37 – James Shellman IV – Junior (6'0, 190) 46 – Marvae Myers – Junior (6'0, 188)
Kicker/Punter 7 – Zeke Rankin – Junior (5'8, 200) (K) 24 – Scott Payne – Junior (5'10, 177) (K) 36 – Justus Chadwick – Freshman (6'0, 191) (K) 38 – Miles Tillman – Sophomore (5'11, 207) (P) 99 – Trey Turk – Junior (6'1, 204) (P)
Long snappers 54 – Connor Dougherty – Freshman (6'3, 257) 69 – Brody Butler – Junior (5'11, 220)
Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured RedshirtSource and player details, 2023 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Football Commits (08/07/2023):
References