4. Middle Tennessee College Football Preview 2021: Defense
– What the defense is missing in production from last year it makes up with experience – there’s a chance all 11 starters return on the defensive side. The D was among the worst in Conference USA overall – allowing 446 yards and 35 points per game – and it couldn’t generate a third down stop. Again, it’s an experienced group starting with …
– Reed Blankenship. There’s a shot he’s the first Group of Five defensive player selected in the 2022 NFL Draft. The veteran tackling machine safety is a superstar to work everything else around. With Blankenship combining with Greg Grate and two decent young corners, the secondary should be a plus. Now they need more of a pass rush to help the cause.
– The Blue Raiders also have a good one at linebacker in DQ Thomas, but the D needs more pressure from the line. The linebackers do the most damage, Thomas on the outside and Cody Smith and Jonathan Butler inside are small but can move – and now the ends need to do something. Jorden Starling and Jordan Ferguson are smallish linemen who need to use their quickness to get into the backfield.
There’s no thump on the interior – the rotation has to work to make up for the lack of any 300 pounders. That’s the theme for the D, though – undersized, but experienced and quick.
– What You Need To Know: Offense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Middle Tennessee Schedule Analysis