The Blue Raiders are hitting the in-state recruiting trail hard, offering 2026 offensive lineman Cooper Sherrod on Wednesday. The 6’3, 300lb OL from Collierville High School is coming off a dominant season in which the Tennessee Sports Writers Association named him a TSSAA 6A All-State guard.

Middle Tennessee just recently started following Sherrod, but O-line coach Kendall Simmons liked what he saw from the physical lineman and offered him on an in-school visit.

"Coach Simmons likes my attitude, nastiness in the trenches, how I finish plays and balance on my feet," said Sherrod. "I was impressed with how knowledgeable he was and how much wisdom he has from playing in the NFL. He gave me some great technical feedback, which resonates with me."

Sherrod is an all-around lineman but excels in the run game with his ability to fire off the ball and bulldoze people to open running lanes for his backs. That is not to say he can't protect his quarterback on passing plays because he has good footwork and maintains balance to keep defenders away from his passer. He fits the mold of an MTSU O-lineman, hence Simmons' offer.

The junior has not visited yet, but after his talk with Simmons, MTSU wants to get him to junior day or a spring practice to see the campus and speak with more coaches. Sherrod has not been able to meet head coach Derek Mason or assistant offensive line coach Baer Hunter but tells GoMiddle he's impressed by what he heard about them.

He currently holds offers from Tulane, Memphis, Miami (OH), Central Arkansas, EKU, and Kent State but continues exploring his options and scheduling visits with other programs.

Sherrod is one of the better in-state lineman for ‘26 and will be a name to watch for the next several months.