After finishing the 2022 season at 8–5, including a big victory at the University of Miami and a Hawaii Bowl win over San Diego State, the MTSU Blue Raiders open this season with some challenges.
The team opens the season at the University of Alabama on Saturday, Sept. 2. This is followed by another SEC challenge the following week at Missouri.
Bringing it home, Blue Raider supporters can watch the first Murfreesboro game of the season at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16, at Floyd Stadium. MTSU will be playing against Murray State University. As with every first home game of the season, MTSU freshmen will be sprinting across the field at halftime. And tailgating will take place prior to the game in Walnut Grove and other locations near Floyd Stadium.
On Saturday, Sept. 23, Colorado State will come to MTSU.
After these first four Saturday games, Conference USA will experiment with some weekday games.
MTSU will visit Western Kentucky on Thursday, Sept. 28, will take on Jacksonville State on Wednesday, Oct. 4 and Louisiana Tech on Tuesday, Oct. 10—both in Murfreesboro—and then travel to Liberty University in Virginia on Tuesday, Oct. 17.
Middle Tennessee head coach Rick Stockstill expects Nicholas Vattiato, a redshirt sophomore, to start at quarterback for the Blue Raiders.
“He’s a great, great player. He’s fun to coach. He works extremely hard and he’s earned this opportunity to lead this team out of the tunnel the first game,” Stockstill said prior to the season opener.
Fans will see how MTSU quarterbacks coach Brent Stockstill—who played in Murfreesboro from 2015–18 under his father—can mold Vattiato this year, and how a practically all-new offensive line can function.
The majority of the MTSU defensive line returned, and several of its linemen are on preseason watch lists for awards.
Before the season, the team voted on captains for the year. Defensive tackle Marley Cook, safety Tra Fluellen, offensive lineman Keylan Rutledge, quarterback Nicholas Vattiato and defensive end Zaylin Wood will serve as 2023 MTSU team captains.
“This is the ultimate honor when your teammates make you a permanent captain for the season,” Rick Stockstill said. “It’s not just your play on the field but the way you conduct yourself off the field and how you lead and push your teammates. When your peers give you a vote for the way you practice every day and compete on the field and in the classroom there is not a better honor out there.
For tickets, schedules, player profiles and more on the MTSU Blue Raiders, visit goblueraiders.com.
___
[Pictured top: DJ England-Chisolm runs the ball for the Blue Raiders / photos courtesy goblueraiders.com]
___
