Analysis: MTSU Loses QB Commit to Virginia
Heading into the 2023 recruiting cycle, Middle Tennessee State was in a position where they could afford to be picky when it came to quarterback prospects.
In the 2022 cycle the Blue Raiders signed heralded 3-star quarterbacks Devin Riles and Kyle Lowe.
The Blue Raiders landed a grand slam addition this spring, adding Sunshine State signal caller Anthony Colandrea.
Colandrea has continued to stack offers and there was one offer in particular that threw a wrench in his recruitment and that was the offer from the Virginia Cavaliers.
The Cavaliers entered the picture for Colandrea when they offered in mid June.
Things began to be set in motion quite quickly when it came to Colandrea's affinity for Virginia. Just this Friday, Colandrea made it official, shifting his commitment from MT to UVA.
The Aftermath
Losing Colandrea to Virgina is not a complete shocker if you read the tea leaves and follow things from the recruiting trail. It is a big blow, though.
There is a reason why Colandrea continues to add offers and interest from bigger programs.
Make no bones about it, he would have been dynamite in the offense at MTSU. He has all the tools in the toolbox. The one scratch in the armor was his size and that does not seem to be a big issue at this juncture. After all, he is a rising senior in high school, and by most accounts, seems to still be growing.
If Colandrea signed with MT, I wholeheartedly believe that he would have had success playing for the Blue Raiders.
Where does MT go from here?
All eyes should now shift to one of the remaining two commitments for the class of 2023.
The two commitments remaining are versatile two-star athlete Cam'ron Lacy and offensive lineman Shane Elam.
The one to keep tabs on going forward is Elam. After all, Elam pledged to the Blue Raiders off the heels of Colandrea's commitment. Both Elam and Colandrea are best buddies and lifelong friends.
The burning questions at hand are one: Will Elam stay committed to MT? Number two is: Will Virginia add Elam in that boat for 2023.
Elam's other two offers are from Tennessee State and Stetson.
It is not the end of the world
This may seem like a contradiction based off of what was written above. Yes, losing Anthony Colandrea to UVA was a shot to the chin, but I do not think it is time to hammer the panic button.
We will see which 2023 names come to the forefront when it comes to replacing Colandrea.
Do not discount the transfer portal, either. If MT does not sign a high school quarterback for 2023 they could always shift focus to the portal.
The main point is, again, that MT has the luxury of already having two Freshman quarterbacks on campus in Riles and Lowe. Sure, one of those guys could transfer out at some point, but having two capable young QBs is not such a bad thing.