MT gets 2020 class rolling

Just when it seemed like Middle Tennessee was getting off the block a little slow this recruiting cycle, the coaching staff went out kick started things in a major way.

Within a matter of days, MT landed a trio of commitments from May River (SC) safety Terry Fields, Lee County (GA) offensive lineman Parker Rogers, and Jones County (GA) OL Conner Griffin - addressing multiple positions of need moving forward with their first three hauls of the class.

Here's a quick rundown on how the staff got into the position they needed to be with these two:

The courtship of Terry Fields was quick and effective. Having established a fertile, albeit new, pipeline into South Carolina, it became important for the Blue Raiders to pick back up where they left off in the Palmetto State this cycle.

Defensive line coach Dustin Royston, who made a killing in Carolina last year, identified Fields early in the process once the coaching staff turned their focus back to the recruiting following last season's end.

Fields was pulled into his coach's office on April 22, where Royston was waiting on the speakerphone. MT offered Fields that day, and less than two months later, he was on board.

MT was the first to offer Fields, and soon after, the talented safety was participating in a Blue Raider camp, where he impressed again by clocking a 4.5 flat while showcasing his stellar ball hawk instincts. The Blue Raiders were all in after that.

With it being so early in the process, it's easy to think busier days are ahead of Fields. After racking up nine picks as a junior, he'll be on a number of radars with a similar follow up campaign. For what it's worth, Fields is a very accomplished punter as well.

Four days after Fields made his decision, Parker Rogers joined the fray with his own commitment.

The Blue Raiders hosted Rogers on campus for an unofficial visit on June 21, and evidently made an impression that lasted because the 280-pound guard pulled the trigger and committed the very next day.

Whereas Fields was more of a find for the staff, Rogers had a number of suitors pursuing him at this point of his recruitment. In addition to MT, Rogers held offers from WKU, Southern Miss, South Alabama, Central Michigan and a host of FCS programs as well. He had also been hosted by Duke earlier in the summer.

Known as a workhorse in the gym, Rogers recently joined the 650-pound squat club, and with his 6'3" frame, he figures to be able to fill out even more at the next level.

MT is always a fan of being in prospects from winning programs, and they couldn't have done much better here. Lee County High is coming off of back-to-back 6A Georgia state championships, and are primed to make another run at the title this year in search of a three-peat. Rogers figures to be a key cog in the wheel for the Trojans offensive line again this year.

Just as the dust was settling with the commitments of Fields and Rogers, the Blue Raiders put the cherry on top of a successful recruiting weekend when Jones County High (GA) OL Conner Griffin announced his intentions to join MT as well.

Griffin also visited the Blue Raiders earlier in June, but was actively being recruiting, and taking unofficial visits, to a number of schools - so his commitment was a pleasant surprise.

In addition to MT, Griffin held offers from WKU, Marshall, Colorado State, Liberty, Kent State, Coastal Carolina and a slew of FCS level programs. He was also being courted by Wake Forest and NC State.

Griffin marks a key recruiting win for new assistant coach Kenneth Gilstrap. The former Blue Raider player himself returned to MT this summer to coach DB's and has been very active in Georgia on the recruiting trail.

Jones County is another solid program for MT to make inroads with. The Greyhounds went 8-3 last year before running into eventual 5A state champs Bainbridge in the opening round of the playoffs. After a string of five successful seasons, Jones County underwent a coaching change. They'll be relying heavily on the senior leadership this upcoming season, with Griffin leading the charge.