Signing Day Special: Meet the Raiders

It's been a hell of a year on the recruiting trail for Rick Stockstill and his staff. This year had just about everything. The Raiders were in play for some heavily lauded prospects, landed their fair share of them, lost some along the way and, ultimately, held out for a couple of Signing Day surprises.

With the day's festivities coming to an end, it's time to meet this new crew dawning the blue.

The first commit of the 2017 class, Tyrese Johnson opted not to waste much time once he got the offer he wanted, pledging his allegiance to the Blue Raiders in June after showing out at a summer camp on campus.

The Blue Raiders plan to use Johnson in the slot, which given his field awareness and vision, is probably a great idea. Johnson has uncanny field vision, and you really get to see it on display in his senior highlights, where aerial shots were utilized to show you just how methodical the speedy receiver is.

While receivers were plentiful in this class, Johnson just may turn out to be the sleeper of them all. His game reminds me very much of current Blue Raider, Richie James. Given a year in the weight room, he'll probably be sculpted exactly like James, too.

About a week after Tyrese Johnson committed to the Blue Raiders, his future quarterback pulled the trigger and made the call as well. Blue Raider legacy John Turner was that QB.

Turner was another guy who didn't want to wait around and see how things played out when it came to his recruitment. Days after getting his offer, he made the call and committed. Turner's interest list was a mile long, and the fear was that the poachers would come calling, especially after the local gun slinger started so hot during his senior campaign.

A shoulder injury derailed Turner's season, though, but in a way, it may have been a blessing in disguise for the Blue Raiders. MT stuck by Turner through the injury while others wavered, and their loyalty paid off with his signing.

What you like about Turner when you break down his tape is...well just about everything, really. Turner can make all the throws you want to see, is mobile enough to move the pocket, and he has tremendous footwork and poise for such a young player. It's extremely evident that Turner has put the time into his craft, and given that he'll likely have two years to learn under Brent Stockstill before he challenges for the starting position, he should be a well-oiled machine when that day comes.

That last of the June commitments came from one of the most electrifying playmakers that the state of Tennessee has ever seen. Of course, I'm talking about Zack Dobson. The Fulton High product dashed, flashed, danced and ran all over the competition throughout his high school career.

Dobson garnered high praise from the national recruiting analysts as well. He rated out as the 22nd ranked player in the state of Tennessee for this class, and the 59th rated athlete in the entire country.

Dobson was simply Mr. Do-it-all for his team, lining up at receiver, cornerback and even in the return department for the Falcons. Early projections have him as a receiver at the next level, and one would think that he'll contribute on the field sooner rather than later. The Blue Raiders would be smart to bide their time with Dobson, though. Depth at receiver is a strong point for MT next year, and you'd hate to see him waste a year battling through the maze of players to get on the field. Ah, who am I kidding, this kid is probably going to play, and play well.

Get your popcorn ready, Raider fans.

The month of August was an incredible time to cover Blue Raider recruiting, as MT racked up six commitments over a span of just six days. The first splash came from Zack Dobson's teammate, ILB Chaton Mobley.

Like Dobson, Mobley was a do-it-all kind of guy for Fulton High, lining up on both sides of the ball as a linebacker and a running back/fullback. He was having a great year, racking up 806 all-purpose yards and eight touchdowns on offense to go with 44 tackles, 10 TFL and 4.5 sacks on defense before a torn meniscus shut him down prior to the Falcons playoff run.

In Mobley, the Raiders will get a versatile player that they can mold. At 235 pounds, it wouldn't be a stretch to bulk Mobley up another 15-20 pounds and put him at defensive end. With a clocked 4.7 forty in his arsenal, that kind of quickness off the edge is a scary thought. Or, they could keep him at LB and tone him up a bit with Jason Spray in the weight room. It's a good problem to have if you're Middle Tennessee.

The Blue Raiders locked up Reed Blankenship early in the process this year, but it was anything but a cake walk to hold on to him down the stretch.

After putting up another stellar campaign at West Limestone (AL), Blankenship started feeling the heat from Wake Forest and Illinois, pulling in late offers that had him starting to contemplate his decision.

The Blue Raider coaching staff would have none of it, though. Rick Stockstill made an in-home visit in the days leading up to Signing Day to ensure Blankenship knew just how important he was to this class. The message resonated well, and Blankenship stayed true to his original commitment.

Projected as a safety at the next level, Blankenship possesses the size, speed, instincts and, most importantly, the technique needed to excel at the next level. Mark him down as a player that I think will have a very productive career before it's all said and done.

Local talent was a common theme of the 2017 class, and the Blue Raider struck multiple times on this front during the month of August. First, they shot down I-840 over to Mount Juliet and plucked the biggest kid in the school - D.J. Delfendahl.

Delfendahl was a hot commodity in multiple recruiting circuits. Not only were the Blue Raiders going up against conference foes like Southern Miss and Western Kentucky, but given his academic prowess, MT also had to convince Delfendahl to turn down Ivy League offers from the likes of Yale, Brown and Columbia.

They got their guy, though, and in the process, fulfilled their tackle needs for the next few years. Delfendahl was another prospect who had a tremendous senior year and started feeling some pressure from other suitors, but he stayed true to the Blue, through and through.

When you break down his tape, you find a cerebral player who is always one step ahead of his opponents. Delfendahl does not only a fantastic job of utilizing leverage, but creating it as well. He knows where to put his hands, move his feet and use his weight to drive back the opposition. Given MT's history of playing certain linemen early in their careers versus redshirting, pencil in Delfendahl as one of the favorites to do so next year.

If not for a serious knee injury that took away his junior season, Tattnall Square Academy WR Jimmy Marshall would have likely lit up the recruiting circuit with activity and offers. As fate would have it, though, he really only needed one, and the Blue Raiders afforded him that opportunity after he showed out at a circuit camp over the summer.

While he certainly flew under the radar, don't let that detract from the type of player Marshall is, because he's just that - a player.

Marshall has the size and quickness needed to play at the next level, and does a fantastic job of high-pointing the football to make plays. Marshall is an overall solid athlete as well, and could have pursued basketball offers if he so chose. In the end, the love of football won out, and Tattnall's school record holder for yards and receptions will call Middle Tennessee home now.

The Blue Raider staff didn't have to go far to land their next offensive lineman. In fact, Elijah Dobbins was virtually in their back yard.

The Oakland (TN) standout was a staple at Blue Raider camps and events through the year, and didn't waste much time in his recruiting process, despite multiple early offers and interest, committing to MT on August 19th.

Dobbins is a physical player who does a great job of getting off the snap and initiating contact with defenders. He's also underrated in terms of his ability to get downfield to block as well.

At 6-foot-4 and checking in at 275 pounds, Dobbins already has the size needed to play the guard position at the next level, and his cerebral approach to the game tells me he'll be a player sooner rather than later.

If you were looking to sign a hard hitting safety this year, you could not have done better than Cody Smith. The Martin County (FL) product had to be reeled in for hitting too hard in practice sessions this year. In their first practice alone, three of his teammates couldn't finish the day after getting a taste of the power that Smith possesses.

It wasn't just in practice where Smith made a name for himself, though. As a senior, he collected 124 tackles and racked up five interceptions (two of which he returned to the house) en route to earning second team all-state honors.

Smith looks to be a complete player, possessing the instincts and reaction time that will make him a valuable member of the secondary for new defensive coordinator Scott Shafer and the Blue Raiders.

It's also worth noting that while Smith did field early offers and interest, he completely shut down his recruitment when he committed to MT in August.

Perhaps no linebacker of this class has more upside than Marshall County standout Cain McWilliams, the 2016 Tennessee Titans Class 4A Mr. Football Lineman of the Year runner-up.

McWilliams, who only played one year at Marshall County, made a lasting impact on the program, leading the Tigers to a 12-2 record and an appearance in the Class 4A state semifinals.

During the campaign, McWilliams was a monster for the defense, totaling 88 tackles (64 solo), 12 sacks, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, giving the Tigers a presence in the middle of their defense that they hadn't had in quite some time.

McWilliams was another prospect to effectively shut down his recruitment when he made his commitment to the Blue Raiders. He thwarted attempts from South Carolina and Georgia State along the way as well.

Bob Jones (AL) ATH Brad Anderson turned a lot of heads this year. The speedy running back/receiver did so, in part, by becoming the first player in Alabama high school football history to take not one, but two, 99-yard runs to the house. It was a feat that opened a lot of people's eyes, but the Blue Raiders were already all in on the 5-foot-8, 170-pound back.

In fact, Blue Raider offensive coordinator Tony Franklin took a personal liking to Anderson early in the process, and personally saw to it that the Bama native didn't go anywhere else but Middle Tennessee.

There are always players who turn from commits to recruiters after they make their decisions, and Anderson was that guy this year for the Blue Raiders, routinely backing the Raiders in their recruiting efforts of others.

It's hard not to look at Anderson and think of a guy like Reggie Whatley, who made his own impact on the Blue Raider program over the years. Perhaps MT has found their next Reggie Whatley here.

Another player the Blue Raiders may have just lucked out with is Dalton (GA) WR Zeke Cobb. The 6-foot-3, 202-pound receiver chose MT over offers from Georgia Southern, WKU and Mississippi State, but if not for a knee injury he sustained during his junior campaign, that offer sheet may have been a mile long.

Cobb has the size, speed, hands and route running ability that make coaches salivate. The Blue Raider coaching staff knew that before he was even back at 100%.

It was that faith in Cobb that led him to favor the Blue Raiders over the competition and, ultimately, get him to commit and sign with MT.

Cobb will need to prove himself to the coaching staff, though, after some off-the-field issues surfaced late in the recruiting process, but by all accounts, Cobb is on the straight and narrow and ready to contribute for the Blue Raiders.

The Blue Raider coaching staff put in a lot of work to land, and keep, Franklin-Simpson (KY) OL Cole Kirby. The 6-foot-4, 285-pound lineman received multiple in-home visits from the staff throughout the recruiting period, and felt like a real commodity.

When you break down his film, it's easy to see why the staff was so high on him. Kirby is another cerebral lineman, no doubt about it, but it was the nastiness factor that made the coaching staff fall in love with him. Kirby looks like a player who thrives on the contact in the trenches, but possesses the power to win those battles more often than not.

What you also get with Kirby is a run blocker who does a great job of identifying his blocks downfield, but is also athletic enough to get there ahead of his ball carriers and set things up for his backs. You'd be hard pressed to find many holes in his game.

From December's Write Up:

When you talk about prospects having upside, one prospect who immediately comes to mind is Scottsdale C.C. (AZ) OL Amir Luckett.

A freshman qualifier, Luckett was a converted defensive tackle for the Artichokes last year. He hadn't played a down of offensive tackle in his life, but was immediately thrusted into the starting role by his coaching staff once they realized how strong and athletic he was.

Luckett had his fair share of growing pains, but put in the work during the season needed to become a standout tackle. That determination and work ethic most definitely contributed to Luckett becoming a budding prospect on the recruiting trail.

Last minute efforts from Central Michigan and Utah State weren't enough to pry the 291-pounder away from MT. The Blue Raider coaching staff made a pair of in-home visits in between his official visit to Murfreesboro to make sure that didn't happen. When you see that kind of effort to keep a guy on the books, you have to think that the staff has high expectations of Amir Luckett moving forward.

From December's Write Up:

One of the biggest (literally) additions to the Blue Raider family this recruiting season was that of East Central C.C. (MS) DT Rosheem Collins.

At 6-foot-1 and topping the scales at 296 pounds, Collins became a real hot commodity on the recruiting trail over the last month before deciding on Middle Tennessee the day before the signing period opened up.

What people don't know is that Collins thwarted last minute attempts from Florida and Minnesota in the final hours, and passed on a 'wait and see' approach from the Georgia Bulldogs, who wanted Collins to hold off on signing anywhere until January.

The personal and family connections to MT are known at this point, but the Blue Raiders are getting anything but a handout here, they're getting a blossoming prospect who should be able to step in right away and compete for a starting spot.

While his stats from East Central don't necessarily jump off the page at you, his film does. Collins was the constant recipient of double-team blocks last year, but he developed his game enough to work through those and become a force on the interior line. His athleticism off the line is ahead of the curve, and he's the type of player that, when he gets his paws on you, there's no escaping.

From Decembers' Write Up:

Perhaps the biggest coup the Blue Raiders pulled during the midterm signing period was that of Navarro J.C. (TX) RB Maurice Gordon. Gordon had picked up an offer from Cincinnati in October, but with the recent coaching changes around the Bearcat program, the Blue Raiders were able to swoop in and convince him that Murfreesboro was the place to be.

With the departures of I'Tavius Mathers and J'Vonte Herrod from the roster, and the uncertainty around where Shane Tucker will line up next year, MT felt the need to go out and find a versatile back who could do it all for them.

They got just that with Maurice Gordon.

One look at his film and you immediately start making comparisons to Mathers with the way Gordon runs the ball and cuts up the field. The scary thought about this signing is that Gordon is actually faster than Mathers.

As a sophomore, Gordon rushed for 903 yards on 126 carries (7.2 ypc average) and reached the endzone nine times for Navarro while also hauling in 23 passes for an additional 201 yards and three scores. For his efforts, Gordon received All-SWJCFC first team honors.

From December's Write Up:

When folks look back to this signing class and start connecting the dots on hits and misses, Wesley Bush may be a name that sinks the battleship.

An extremely productive player for Northwest Mississippi C.C. (MS), Bush looks to be a guy that will come in right away and challenge for playing time in the Blue Raider secondary.

This past season, Bush led his team with five interceptions to go along with 48 tackles, two tackles for loss, five pass breakups, 10 passes defended, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Say that again real fast.

When you break down his film, you'll see a player who is in complete control of his game. Bush has fantastic instincts and is a great help in run support situations, where he covers ground like a gazelle. Bush tackles well, takes all the right angles and has that uncanny ability to be in on every play. There are really no flaws in his game that stand out on film.

From December's Write Up:

With the success that Jeremy Cutrer had in the Blue Raider secondary, the coaching staff made it a priority to go out and find another tall, lengthy corner who could come in a fill the void that Cutrer's graduation placed on the position.

They found that player with Arizona Western C.C. (AZ) cornerback Kamau Farrell-Burke, who really impressed the coaching staff during his official visit with his knowledge of the game and desire to be the best player he can be.

He impressed so much that he flew back to Arizona with an offer in hand.

While his personality certainly fit the mold of what the Blue Raiders were looking for, his play on the field certainly backed it up. As a sophomore, Farrell-Burke tallied 22 tackles, two interceptions, four pass breakups and a forced fumble for the Matadors, en route to an appearance in the Junior College National Championship game this past season.

Norcross (GA) prospect Jordan Ferguson is going to be the guy that the Blue Raider coaching staff will look at as a player with big long term goals.

Ferguson is incredibly gifted from both an agility and athletic standpoint, and when the coaches saw what his frame looked like, sparks went off in their brain. The plan is simple - get him in the weight room with Jason Spray, add a ton of protein to his diet and let's see what we have in a year.

The consensus is that Ferguson will beef up and move to the line. Perhaps he'll start at the defensive end position, but I believe the end result is to move him inside and have him wreak havoc as a defensive tackle.

To his credit, Ferguson seems up for the challenge. The Georgia native, who thwarted late offers from Baylor and Arizona in favor of the Blue Raiders, told me today that he will be reporting to MT early in order to get the ball rolling as soon as possible.

Blue Raider secondary coach Steve Ellis was amped up on social media when the commitment of DQ Thomas came through on the eve of Signing Day.

After breaking down his film, it's easy to see why. Thomas, who will stay at the LB position for MT, will bring a level of strength to the team that will likely make those around him step their game up in the weight room.

A state champion power lifter for Oxford High (MS), Thomas is not all about the hits, though, as the tape shows a fundamentally sound tackler and a guy who finds his way into every play. That combination of strength, speed and agility is hard to come by, and the Blue Raiders can consider themselves fortunate to have landed Thomas.

In the days and weeks leading up to Signing Day, the consensus around Thomas was that he was likely staying in-state and heading to Mississippi State, but a defensive coordinator change shifted that pendulum into the Blue Raiders favor, where they were waiting to pounce.

A name that surfaced prior to the holidays was that of JUCO WR Tavonn Salter out of Mt. San Antonio Community College. Salter visited the Blue Raiders during that time, and when he left town, we had an inkling that he was eyeing the Blue Raiders as his school of choice.

When we started digging in to what kind of player Salter is, we quickly found out that he's more than just a big bodied receiver.

Salter is one of the more polished receivers we've come across from a route running perspective - something that a QB like Brent Stockstill really feeds off of. That aspect alone makes Salter a candidate to come in and push for playing time.

The Blue Raider pulled a slight coup on Signing Day with the addition of JUCO OLB Tavares Thomas.

North Texas appeared to be the clear cut favorite to land Thomas in the weeks leading up to Signing Day. Thomas had gone as far to even tell local media that he preferred to stay in Texas so he could be close to his mother.

That all changed when the Blue Raiders convinced him to take one of his official visits to Murfreesboro in January. Thomas left that weekend with a new offer in hand, and a decision that had gotten a whole lot tougher to make.

The waters got even muddier this past week when UTEP came calling with an offer, but in the end, Thomas couldn't shake the feeling that there was something about the Blue Raiders - something that was calling him to MT. In the end, that feeling won out, and Thomas announced his pledge the morning of Signing Day before putting pen to paper.

Thomas, the player, will be a welcomed addition to the Blue Raider linebacker corps. He brings a level of physicality that will be noticed the moment he steps on the field. Thomas is not one to shy away from contact, and makes sure the ball carriers know that every time they meet head on.

It was a whirlwind of a week for Raheme Fuller and the Blue Raider coaching staff. The one-time Blue Raider commit took a visit to Florida International the weekend of the 27th after picking up a late offer. During that visit, Butch Jones and his new coaching staff were able to sway the three-star cornerback into flipping from MT to the Golden Panthers.

Rick Stockstill wasn't about to give up, though. When Fuller called Stockstill to tell him his decision, Stockstill said he could hear doubt in his voice. That's all the savvy vet needed to know. From there, Stockstill stayed on Fuller like white on rice, ultimately securing his recommitment just before Signing Day.

With Fuller back on board, they can now turn their attention to developing the supremely talented, but raw, prospect. Fuller has tremendous size and speed that will give receivers fits, but he is a little wet behind the ears in terms of playing the position. With a year of development, though, Fuller will be primed to challenge for significant playing time.

Looking for some star power to replace Jeremy Cutrer wasn't easy for the Blue Raiders this recruiting season. That is, until they secured O.J. Johnson - a former member of the prestigious Rivals 250 class of 2015. Johnson signed with South Carolina out of high school, but was forced to go the JUCO route when he didn't qualify.

The consensus around Johnson was that he would be a sure-fire pickup again for Carolina when he became eligible. A coaching change in Columbia, however, changed Johnson's course. Once Will Muschamp and his new staff took over, Johnson never heard from SC again.

The rest of the college football world must not have gotten that memo, though. Johnson's recruitment was particularly light this go round, but again, the Blue Raiders benefited from the defensive coordinator change at Mississippi State - who had emerged as favorites to land Johnson in the last few weeks. That change prompted Johnson to look elsewhere again, and that's where the Blue Raiders came in.

Johnson will provide immediate impact at the corner position next year. His closing speed is as good as anybody else in the country, and his physicality at the position will be a welcomed addition to a unit that gave up a lot of yards and points last year.

Last but not least, we come to Sebastian River (FL) safety Wayne Parks, who waited till Signing Day to announce his intentions of joining the Blue Raiders.

A four-year starter for Sebastian River, Parks was a juggernaut on the field throughout his high school career, culminating with a fantastic senior campaign - one that saw him tally 81 tackles, seven interceptions, five defensive touchdowns en route to earning first team Class 6A honors.

Parks was on the Blue Raider radar for quite some time, but many thought that Bowling Green was primed to pick him up. In a Signing Day coup, of sorts, Parks surprised a lot of people by picking the Blue Raiders.

In Parks, the Blue Raiders are getting a great leader and a true hawk of a safety. Parks reminds me a lot of Kevin Byard with his tendency to spot the ball and go get it.

It was a pretty emotional day for Parks. Instead of showing his highlights off, I'd like to end this year's Signing Day recap with a look at what the process meant to Wayne Parks.

Enjoy.