The 2024 Tennessee State Tigers football team represented Tennessee State University as a member of the Big South–OVC Football Association during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Tigers were led by fourth-year head coach Eddie George, and played their home games at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.
Preseason Preseason poll The Big South-OVC Conference released their preseason poll on July 17, 2024. The Tigers were picked to finish fourth in the conference.
Transfers Outgoing Thomas NanceDLBethune–CookmanTerrell AllenDLTulaneRomello WatsonOLGeorgia StateMonroe Beard IIILBMarshallJahee BlakeWRNorfolk StateRayqwon SmithDLNorth AlabamaBryce PhillipsDBSan Diego StateNicholas GreenOLSan Diego StateDemeatric CrenshawQBSlippery RockCanen AdrianWRStephen F. AustinJashon WatkinsDBUMassJalen RouseRBUnknownJeremiah JosephsSUnknown
Incoming Saidou BaOLArkansas StateCJ Evans Jr.RBAustin PeayGerard BullockTEAustin PeayAiden SmithWRBryantKierron SmithDLGeorgia SouthernJayT JacksonDBGeorgia StateWill JonesOLGrambling StateAnthony SmithOLIowa StateYirayah LaNierDLLouisvilleGeorge HamsleyQBLSUTevin CarterQBMemphisMark ShenoudaPMemphisMeonta KimbroughDLMemphisTyler JonesDBMissouriMarvin AtuatasiOLMorgan StateBlake GamezOLNorthern ArizonaKeandre BookerLBSoutheast Missouri StateCamani CobbsDBSoutheast Missouri StateExavious ReedTESouthern MissKaderris RobertsRBStetsonConnor MeadowsOLTennesseeMalik GanawayDBTennesseeCamron DouglasDLTennesseeJalal DeanWRTennessee TechKheagian HeckamanTEUTEPJackson FosterKWestern Michigan
Schedule
Game summaries
vs Mississippi Valley State
Statistics MVSU TNST First downs 16 21 Total yards 264 495 Rushing yards 69 138 Passing yards 195 357 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–23–1 22–34–1 Time of possession 30:10 29:50 Team Category Player StatisticsMississippi Valley State Passing Jaydyn Sisk 7/10, 110 yards, 1 TD Rushing Zamariyon Kendall 12 carries, 26 yards Receiving Nathan Rembert 4 receptions, 81 yards, 1 TDTennessee State Passing Draylen Ellis 21/33, 356 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT Rushing Jaden McGill 7 carries, 41 yards Receiving Jalal Dean 9 receptions, 144 yards, 1 TD
at No. 2 North Dakota State
Statistics TNST NDSU First downs 12 21 Total yards 200 436 Rushing yards 72 226 Passing yards 128 210 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–25–0 17–23–1 Time of possession 29:46 30:14 Team Category Player StatisticsTennessee State Passing Draylen Ellis 17/25, 128 yards Rushing Draylen Ellis 11 carries, 27 yards Receiving Jalal Dean 3 receptions, 51 yardsNorth Dakota State Passing Cam Miller 14/18, 181 yards, 3 TD Rushing Nathan Hayes 1 carry, 51 yards, TD Receiving Bryce Lance 7 receptions, 106 yards, 2 TD
vs Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Statistics UAPB TNST First downs 16 24 Total yards 329 424 Rushing yards 53 196 Passing yards 276 228 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–31–0 20–33–0 Time of possession 25:25 31:37 Team Category Player StatisticsArkansas–Pine Bluff Passing Mekhi Hagens 15/31, 276 yards, 3 TD Rushing Oshawn Ross 16 carries, 51 yards, TD Receiving JaVonnie Gibson 5 receptions, 149 yards, TDTennessee State Passing Draylen Ellis 20/33, 228 yards, 3 TD Rushing CJ Evans 9 carries, 63 yards, TD Receiving Bryant Williams 5 receptions, 88 yards
at Tennessee Tech
Statistics TNST TNTC First downs 14 15 Total yards 246 314 Rushing yards 0 220 Passing yards 246 94 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–39–2 12–25–1 Time of possession 30:00 30:00 Team Category Player StatisticsTennessee State Passing Draylen Ellis 22/39, 246 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT Rushing CJ Evans 6 carries, 14 yards Receiving Karate Brenson 9 receptions, 99 yardsTennessee Tech Passing Jordyn Potts 12/25, 94 yds, 1 INT Rushing Obie Sanni 6 carries, 75 yards, 1 TD Receiving D.J. Linkins 4 receptions, 39 yards
vs Charleston Southern
Statistics CHSO TNST First downs 17 11 Total yards 309 206 Rushing yards 219 101 Passing yards 90 105 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 4–12–0 12–25–0 Time of possession 41:29 18:31 Team Category Player StatisticsCharleston Southern Passing Kaleb Jackson 4/12, 90 yards Rushing Autavius Ison 33 carries, 157 yards Receiving Chris Rhone 2 receptions, 39 yardsTennessee State Passing Draylen Ellis 12/24, 105 yards, 1 TD Rushing Jordan Gant 5 carries, 40 yards, 1 TD Receiving Bryant Williams 5 receptions, 49 yards, 1 TD
at Lindenwood
Statistics TNST LIN First downs 15 14 Total yards 285 280 Rushing yards 89 181 Passing yards 196 99 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–26–1 11–20–0 Time of possession 31:33 28:27 Team Category Player StatisticsTennessee State Passing Draylen Ellis 14/26, 196 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Jaden McGill 15 carries, 63 yards Receiving CJ Evans 3 receptions, 74 yards, 1 TDLindenwood Passing Nate Glantz 11/20, 99 yards, 1 TD Rushing Steve Hall 7 carries, 67 yards Receiving Jeff Caldwell 3 receptions, 45 yards, 1 TD
vs Eastern Illinois
Statistics EIU TNST First downs 23 20 Total yards 435 365 Rushing yards 75 128 Passing yards 360 237 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 30–51–1 21–33–0 Time of possession 31:54 28:06 Team Category Player StatisticsEastern Illinois Passing Pierce Holley 28/46, 338 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing MJ Flowers 21 carries, 57 yards, 1 TD Receiving Cooper Willman 8 receptions, 141 yardsTennessee State Passing Draylen Ellis 20/32, 224 yards, 4 TD Rushing Jaden McGill 9 carries, 47 yards Receiving Karate Brenson 6 receptions, 121 yards, 1 TD
at Howard
Statistics TNST HOW First downs 16 14 Total yards 412 209 Rushing yards 123 176 Passing yards 289 33 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 19–30–0 6–22–2 Time of possession 35:19 24:41 Team Category Player StatisticsTennessee State Passing Draylen Ellis 19/30, 289 yards Rushing Jaden McGill 14 carries, 43 yards, 1 TD Receiving Karate Brenson 5 receptions, 153 yardsHoward Passing Ja'Shawn Scroggins 6/21, 33 yards, 2 INT Rushing Jarett Hunter 15 carries, 102 yards, 1 TD Receiving Breylin Smith 4 receptions, 15 yards
vs UT Martin
Statistics UTM TNST First downs 22 25 Total yards 370 354 Rushing yards 104 42 Passing yards 266 312 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–27–1 33–54–2 Time of possession 30:35 29:25 Team Category Player StatisticsUT Martin Passing Kinkead Dent 18/27, 266 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT Rushing Patrick Smith 16 carries, 73 yards Receiving Tyler Dostin 4 receptions, 87 yardsTennessee State Passing Draylen Ellis 33/53, 153 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Draylen Ellis 5 carries, 29 yards Receiving Jalal Dean 11 receptions, 118 yards, 1 TD
at Western Illinois
Statistics TNST WIU First downs 23 27 Total yards 376 432 Rushing yards 188 148 Passing yards 188 284 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 12–19–1 27–50–1 Time of possession 27:02 27:16 Team Category Player StatisticsTennessee State Passing Draylen Ellis 12/19, 188 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing Tevin Carter 8 carries, 51 yards, 2 TD Receiving Bryant Williams 3 receptions, 56 yards, 1 TDWestern Illinois Passing Nathan Lamb 24/45, 266 yds, 1 TD Rushing Nathan Lamb 13 carries, 74 yards, 1 TD Receiving Demari Davis 2 receptions, 62 yards
at Gardner-Webb
Statistics TNST GWEB First downs 19 18 Total yards 363 333 Rushing yards 143 126 Passing yards 220 207 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–31–0 19–43–1 Time of possession 32:19 27:41 Team Category Player StatisticsTennessee State Passing Draylen Ellis 18/28, 220 yds, 2 TD Rushing Jaden McGill 15 carries, 100 yards, 1 TD Receiving Karate Brenson 8 receptions, 82 yardsGardner–Webb Passing Tyler Ridell 19/43, 207 yds, 1 INT Rushing Edward Saydee 18 carries, 68 yards, 1 TD Receiving Camden Overton 7 receptions, 74 yards
vs No. 12 Southeast Missouri State
Statistics SEMO TNST First downs 18 19 Total yards 308 347 Rushing yards 75 115 Passing yards 233 232 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 27–47–0 20–32–0 Time of possession 28:17 31:43 Team Category Player StatisticsSoutheast Missouri State Passing Paxton DeLaurent 27/46, 233 yards, 2 TD Rushing Payton Brown 10 carries, 45 yards, 1 TD Receiving Tristan Smith 8 receptions, 70 yardsTennessee State Passing Draylen Ellis 20/31, 232 yards, 2 TD Rushing Jaden McGill 18 carries, 73 yards Receiving CJ Evans 6 receptions, 107 yards, 1 TD
at No. 13 Montana (NCAA Division I Playoff–First Round)
Statistics TNST MONT First downs 18 19 Total yards 310 369 Rushing yards 14 254 Passing yards 296 115 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 29–39–1 12–23–0 Time of possession 29:48 30:12 Team Category Player StatisticsTennessee State Passing Draylen Ellis 29/39, 296 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing CJ Evans 6 carries, 26 yards Receiving Karate Brenson 11 receptions, 122 yards, 2 TDMontana Passing Logan Fife 11/22, 97 yards Rushing Eli Gillman 20 carries, 136 yards, 2 TD Receiving Sawyer Racanelli 2 receptions, 35 yards
References