From Sidelines, MTSU’s Student Run Newspaper
By Jordan Mayton
The first Wednesday of February marks National Signing Day for college football.
Middle Tennessee signed 24 commits for the 2015 season, including cornerback Dontavious Heard and running back I’Tavius Mathers.
Heard was originally scheduled to be an early enrollee, but did not qualify academically. Heard will look to enroll for the summer semester.
Mathers is a transfer from Ole Miss that will have to sit out the 2015 season due to NCAA transfer rules.
Coach Stockstill and his staff’s recruiting efforts culminated Wednesday into what they hope is one of the best classes in school history.
Desmond Anderson, Freshman – Running Back
Gettys D. Broome High School, Spartansburg, South Carolina
Height: 5’9, Weight: 170 lbs.
Rivals – NR
247 Sports – ★★
ESPN – NR
A true running back with breakaway speed, Anderson may not see the field immediately, but given time the Spartansburg-native will be given plenty of opportunities to make an impact for the Blue Raiders.
Anderson rushed for 2154 yards and 26 touchdowns in 2014.
Held offers from: Coastal Carolina
Peter Bailey, Junior – Defensive End
Hinds C.C., Raymond, Mississippi
Height: 6’4, Weight: 245 lbs.
Rivals – ★★
247 Sports – ★★★
ESPN – NR
A powerful edge rusher with great pursuit, Bailey has the potential to see the field early and often in 2015 with the departures of Leighton Gasque and Shubert Bastien.
The defensive end picked up 61 tackles and six and a half sacks last season.
Held offers from: California, Florida Atlantic, Georgia St., Illinois, Kansas St., Louisiana Tech, Southern Miss
Matt Bonadies, Freshman – Kicker/Punter
Buford High School, Buford, Georgia
Height: 6’1, Weight: 190 lbs.
Rivals – ★★
247 Sports – NR
ESPN – NR
Bonadies is versatile, as he can punt and kick. The powerful, accurate specialist will have the opportunity to see the field early with the graduation of Sean O’Kane.
Held offers from: N/A
Chandler Brewer, Freshman – Offensive Guard/Tackle
Central High School, Florence, Alabama
Height: 6’6, Weight: 296 lbs.
Rivals – ★★
247 Sports – ★★★
ESPN – ★★★
A versatile offensive lineman, Brewer combines his size and skill to get running backs past the second level. He may be on the bench during his freshman season, but the talented trenchman will make an impact for Middle Tennessee in the future.
Held offers from: Arkansas St., Georgia St., Memphis, Southern Miss, Texas St., Troy
Martez Durrah, Freshman – Safety
East Hamilton High School, Ooltewah, Tennessee
Height: 6’1, Weight: 181 lbs.
Rivals – ★★
247 Sports – ★★
ESPN – NR
Durrah is a ball hawking defensive back that can play either cornerback or safety. He has great pursuit and may touch the field early in his career with the vacancies at cornerback and nickelback.
The former Chattanooga-commit collected 65 tackles, four forced fumbles and both an interception and fumble recovery that went for touchdowns in 2014.
Held offers from: Chattanooga
Josh Fannin, Freshman – Offensive Center/Guard
Mill Creek High School, Hoschton, Georgia
Height: 6’3, Weight: 290 lbs.
Rivals – ★★★
247 Sports – ★★★
ESPN – ★★★
Fannin is a great run blocker with division one size. He can play anywhere on the interior offensive line, but his natural position is at center.
Held offers from: Army, Georgia St., Marshall, Old Dominion, South Alabama, Southern Miss
DeAndre Ford, Freshman – Offensive Tackle
Creekside High School, Fairburn, Georgia
Height: 6’6, Weight: 315 lbs.
Rivals – ★★
247 Sports – ★★
ESPN – NR
Ford is a monstrous offensive tackle that thrives at beating his opponents at the point of attack. His size will help him see the field in his collegiate career.
Held offers from: Georgia St.
Ruben Garnett, Freshman – Running Back
Aquinas High School, Hephzibah, Georgia
Height: 5’8, Weight: 178 lbs.
Rivals – ★★★
247 Sports – ★★★
ESPN – ★★★
A homerun threat every time he touches the ball, Garnett combines his ability to break tackles with his blue chip speed to elude defenders. Look for him to make an impact early in his career.
Garnett ran for 2033 yards and 27 touchdowns in 2014, while also hauling in 17 receptions for 377 yards and five touchdowns.
Held offers from: Air Force, Appalachian St., Cincinnati, Duke, Georgia St., Louisiana Lafayette, Marshall, Miami (OH), Old Dominion, Southern Miss
Dontavious Heard, Junior – Cornerback
Phoenix C.C., Phoenix, Arizona
Height: 6’1, Weight: 195 lbs.
Rivals – ★★★
247 Sports – ★★★
ESPN – NR
Heard has the size and skill to be an elite corner at the C-USA level. He brings length to a position that severely lacked it last season, as Jared Singletary and Shon Akins are both under 5-foot-9. With the departure of Shon Akins, Khari Burke and Chris Sharpe, Heard should be able to come in and contribute right away.
Playing on both sides of the ball for Phoenix Community College, Heard caught four passes for 82 yards and two touchdowns, while also collecting 32 tackles and nine pass breakups.
Held offers from: Colorado, Idaho, Iowa St., Memphis, North Texas
Malik Manciel, Freshman – Defensive Tackle
Florence High School, Florence, Alabama
Height: 6’2, Weight: 265 lbs.
Rivals – ★★★
247 Sports – ★★★
ESPN – NR
Manciel is a powerful defensive end with the versatility and frame to play defensive tackle. He can meet running backs in the whole or pressure the quarterback in the backfield when his number is called.
Held offers from: Arkansas St., Louisiana Lafayette, Southern Miss, Texas St., Western Kentucky
Trae Meadows, Freshman – Safety
Dudley High School, Greensboro, North Carolina
Height: 6’1, Weight: 190 lbs.
Rivals – ★★
247 Sports – ★★★
ESPN – NR
With great ball skills and pursuit, Meadows makes every game a rough day for the receiver he’s assigned to. Kevin Byard and Xavier Walker seemed to have locked down the starting safety roles, but expect Meadows to roll in and make plays.
Meadows put together a 73-tackle, six-interception season in 2014.
Held offers from: Army, Charlotte, Navy
Chris Melton, Freshman – Safety
Lee County High School, Leesburg, Georgia
Height: 6’1, Weight: 195 lbs.
Rivals – ★★
247 Sports – ★★
ESPN – NR
Chris Melton is a lengthy safety with the speed and strength to take down running backs in the open field. His elite pursuit and special teams ability should help him touch the field early in his career.
Held offers from: Air Force, Southern Miss
JoVante’ Moffatt, Freshman – Cornerback
Union City High School, Union City, Tennessee
Height: 6’0, Weight: 180 lbs.
Rivals – NR
247 Sports – ★★
ESPN – NR
JoVante’ Moffatt has excellent pursuit and excels at finding the ball in the air. He likely would benefit from a red shirt, but has all the ability to make a great corner.
Moffatt racked up 34 tackles, three forced fumbles and four interceptions, while winning a state championship with Union City.
Held offers from: Western Kentucky
Trae Philpots, Freshman – Defensive End
Creekside High School, Fairburn, Georgia
Height: 6’3, Weight: 235 lbs.
Rivals – NR
247 Sports – ★★
ESPN – NR
A speedy defensive end that can also power through smaller offensive linemen, Philpots finds the backfield with ease. He has the pass rushing skill to see the field early in his career.
Held offers from: UMass, Miami (OH)
Tyshun Render, Freshman – Tight End/Defensive End
Westlake High School, Atlanta, Georgia
Height: 6’4, Weight: 225 lbs.
Rivals – ★★
247 Sports – ★★★
ESPN – NR
Philpots can high point balls when he’s on offense and hit the quarterback when he’s on defense. He’ll likely play along the defensive line, given the offense the Blue Raiders run.
Playing on both sides of the ball, Render caught eight passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns, and picked up 54 tackles, 15 TFLs and seven sacks on defense.
Held offers from: Georgia St., Western Kentucky
Jonathan Roth, Freshman – Defensive End
Fulton High School, Knoxville, Tennessee
Height: 6’5, Weight: 267 lbs.
Rivals – ★★
247 Sports – ★★
ESPN – NR
While he played defensive end in high school, Roth could find himself playing defensive tackle for the Blue Raiders. His sheer size, makes him a force to be reckoned with on a defensive line.
Roth picked up 38 tackles and two and a half sacks last season.
Held offers from: Navy
Isiah Upton, Freshman – Athlete
East Nashville Magnet School, Nashville, Tennessee
Height: 6’2, Weight: 173 lbs.
Rivals – ★★★
247 Sports – ★★★
ESPN – NR
The local product can do a little bit of everything. He has a knack for seeing an open field and running his way to the endzone. However, he is equally as good at finding his receivers open downfield.
Playing in only eight games, Upton passed for 1128 yards and 12 touchdowns, also rushing for 977 yards and 15 touchdowns on 71 carries.
Held offers from: Army, Georgia St., Marshall, Old Dominion, South Alabama, Southern Miss
John Urzua, Freshman – Quarterback
North Gwinett High School, Suwanee, Georgia
Height: 6’3, Weight: 172 lbs.
Rivals – ★★
247 Sports – ★★
ESPN – NR
Urzua is your typical pocket passer. He excels at hitting his receivers in stride and fitting footballs in tight windows. He has all the talent he needs to make a run at the second string quarterback spot.
In 2014, Urzua completed 194 of his 317 passes for 3142 yards with 34 touchdowns and only six interceptions.
Held offers from: Western Kentucky
Vernon Walker, Freshman – Safety
Dr. Phillips High School, Orlando, Florida
Height: 6’1, Weight: 195 lbs.
Rivals – ★★
247 Sports – ★★★
ESPN – NR
Walker is a safety with great cover skills. He makes a name for himself by jumping routes and intercepting passes, but never shies away from making big hits.
Held offers from: Akron, Tulane
Terrelle West , Freshman – Athlete
Clay-Chalkville High School, Pinson, Alabama
Height: 5’9, Weight: 183 lbs.
Rivals – ★★★
247 Sports – ★★★
ESPN – ★★★
Though West is listed as an athlete, he should find himself in the running back rotation for his Blue Raider career. The Pinson, Alabama-native has great open field speed and knack for breaking tackles in the backfield.
West ran for 1071 yards on 116 carries for 12 touchdowns in 2014.
Held offers from: Arkansas St., Cincinnati, Mississippi St., South Alabama, Southern Miss, Western Kentucky
