Brent Stockstill finished his freshman season with over 4,000 passing yards.
Christmas Eve was a day of firsts and broken records for the Blue Raiders. For the first time in MT football history, the Blue Raiders finished the season with two 1,000-yard receivers.
While Richie James passed the 1,000-yard mark several weeks ago, Ed Batties topped the milestone against Western Michigan in the Bahamas Bowl while going for 88 yards on five receptions in the game.
James did surpass a milestone of his own, however. Richie caught for 126 yards in the game, his fifth 100-yard effort of the season. He ended the season with 1,346 yards, the most in a single-season in Blue Raiders history.
Brent Stockstill broke an NCAA record on the day. His 26 completions landed him at 327 on the year, topping former Kentucky quarterback Jared Lorenzen’s freshman record by six. Stockstill fell just 55 yards shy of surpassing Jameis Winston’s freshman passing yardage mark, but he did break the 4,000-yard barrier, ending his season with 4,005 passing yards.
Yet, as Coach Stockstill will remind you, it’s a team game. Although the Christmas Eve game was a tightly contested, back-and-forth affair, Western Michigan outlasted MT, as their 21-point fourth quarter proved. The Broncos came away with the win 45–31.
The MT defense came into the game down two starters. Defensive end Chris Hale was unavailable due to academic reasons, and Jeremy Cutrer was still dealing with a lower leg injury sustained prior to the Florida Atlantic game. He tried to give it a go, but it was apparent he wasn’t ready after getting burned for a big gain. Furthermore, T.T. Barber, who himself wasn’t at 100% coming into the game, went down with injury early and never returned.
The absences on defense, especially Barber’s, were definitely felt. Western Michigan running back Jamauri Bogan broke three runs for more than 40 yards, and two of those were for more than 60 yards. Bogan finished the day with 215 yards on just 19 carries. The Broncos’ whole stable of running backs contributed to exploit the depleted MT defense. Although the Blue Raiders allowed 154 rushing yards per game on the season, WMU went for 282 in the Bahamas.
It wasn’t only the ground attack with which MT struggled. Broncos quarterback Zach Terrell threw for 297 yards on a very efficient 18-for-26, and receivers Corey Davis and Daniel Braverman each received for more than 100 yards. Again, it was the big plays that stood out, as Braverman caught a 68-yard touchdown pass and Davis caught one for 80 yards.
“To me the difference was we just couldn’t get stops,” stated Coach Stockstill. “The explosive plays just killed us.”
It is a sad ending to the career of 22 seniors, many of whom have played key roles in the most successful four-year stretch for MT football since the Boots Donnelly era. There is no senior who has taken losing harder this season than Kevin Byard.
“The only thing that’s on my mind right now are the guys in that locker room, the coaches that I’m going to miss. It sucks that we weren’t able to get the job done today. I just wish I had a couple more hours (on the field) with my teammates.”
A Look Ahead
The impact of departure will certainly be felt in the fall of 2016. Among the 22 seniors are six defensive starters and three offensive starters. MT will also be losing three key reserves on defense and two on offense.
Austin Grammer will also no longer be a part of the formula for MT. Grammer started at quarterback for the Blue Raiders in 2014, but lost his starting job with the emergence of Brent Stockstill during fall camp. The coaching staff experimented with Grammer at wide receiver, and he likely would have seen an expansion in that role given a full off-season of training at that position. However, and not surprisingly, Grammer wanted to play quarterback and knew that his opportunity to do that would be back in his home state. The Tuscaloosa native will take the snaps for West Alabama next season.
No departure will be as impactful as the departures of Darius Johnson, T.T. Barber and Kevin Byard. There are no words or quantifiable measure to express the void that they will leave. Each will soon embark on their dreams of playing on Sunday.
A couple of players who had to redshirt due to transferring from another FBS school will look to make an impact. Former Blackman product I’Tavious Mathers has returned home after two years at Ole Miss. Shane Tucker will likely get the bulk of the snaps, but if he struggles with injury again, Mathers will be ready. Kamani Thomas and Desmond Anderson will likely see playing time as well.
The depth at wide receiver will again be questionable going into spring. Richie James will no doubt be the top target again, but Tennessee transfer Jocquez Bruce will help to shore up those depth issues.
Of course, Blue Raiders fans can look forward to the second act of the Stockstill-James show. Each had the best statistical single season at their respective positions, and it’s hard to believe another year together won’t be just as great, if not better. Though several questions will need to be answered about the defense over the next several months, the offense seems to be in good hands.
The Pulse will keep you posted on further developments involving the 2016 season, and on those Blue Raiders who will look to have their names called in the NFL Draft in April.
Thanks for a great 2015, and here is to an even better new year!
