Lounge Update...

The progress on the lounge may seem slower these days but its actually progressing at a very steady pace. The only difference is that now work is focused on detail intensive work not so much on roughing in the room. With the metal studs in place crews started laying sheet rock this week and are continuing to complete that process.

Electrical wiring was also installed this week for the very technology savvy room. Coach Stock wanted to make sure there is some cool stuff for the players to use for fun and work. The room will be complete with two 60" inch TV's for watching TV and playing PS3. There will also be two 32" inch TV's hooked up to DVSport so players can watch practice and game film.

Spring is in the air...

Well even though its not really in the air, with the unseasonably cool temps in the Boro, its almost time for spring football practice at Middle Tennessee. With Mat Drills ending next week, the players will get to enjoy a week of spring break then its back to preparations for the 2010 campaign. There will be 14 total practices concluding in the annual Blue vs. White Spring Game on April 10th.

Below is a calendar with all the upcoming practice dates, remember these dates are subject to change depending on weather.

Coach Stock's Vision...

This video is from a recent interview Coach Stockstill did with GoBlueRaiders.com about the 2010 Blue Raider Football Ticket Campaign. We are posting it because its a great look into Coach Stock's vision and goals for the future of the Middle Tennessee program...

MAX UGBOAJA...

MAX UGBOAJA

6-4, 215, Fr., DE, Antioch, TN/Hillwood HS

High School: Lettered in football, basketball, and track at Hillwood High School ... Earned all-city and all-region honors in football his senior year ... Collected 62 tackles and nine sacks in 2009 to go with 36 hurries, nine pass breakups, and nine tackles for loss ... Also had six receptions for 53 yards ... Received the William Hume award in 2009 for academic excellence ... Played for coach Mose Phillips.

Full Name: Maxwell Nnamdi Ugboaja ... Parents: Kermayo and Erin Ugboaja ... Born: 4/4/92.

REGGIE WHATLEY...

REGGIE WHATLEY

5-7, 170, Fr., WR, Rome, GA/Rome HS

High School: An all-purpose player who competed as a running back, wide receiver, and returner at Rome High School ... Rushed for over 3,000 yards and had 40 touchdowns during his prep career ... Earned all-state honors in 2008, was all-region in 2007, 2008, and 2009, and garnered all-area recognition in 2007 and 2009 ... Voted Rome News Tribune player of the week five times ... Registered a 40-time of 4.31 at an Atlanta recruiting combine ... Lettered four years in football and three years in track ... Played for coach Sid Fritts.

Full Name: Reginald Levoyd Whatley ... Parents: Reggie and Leslie Whatley ... Born: 8/19/90.

MORRIS MOORE...

MORRIS MOORE

6-4, 255, Fr., DE, West Palm Beach, FL/Palm Beach Lakes

High School: Earned all-county and all-area honors in 2009 for Palm Beach Lakes High School ... Turned in 78 total tackles, 18.5 quarterback sacks, and a total of 32 tackles for loss his senior year in leading a defense that allowed just 15 points a game ... Was invited to the 2010 Outback Bowl All-Star game ... Lettered in football and track ... Played for coach Alonzo Jefferson.

Full Name: Morris Yancey Moore ... Parents: Arvester Anderson and Maureen Butler ... Born: 9/27/90.

CHRIS SHARPE...

CHRIS SHARPE

5-10, 170, Fr., CB, Stone Mountain, GA/Stephenson HS

High School: A three-star recruit by Rivals.com and a two-star by Scout.com ... Helped lead Stephenson High School to an 11-1 record and a Region 2-AAAAA championship in 2009 ... Earned honorable mention all-state honors while also being tabbed all-region and all-county ... Tallied 40 tackles, 12 pass breakups, two interceptions, three tackles for loss, and one sack his senior year.

Full Name: Christopher Cornell Sharpe ... Parent: Cheryl Sharpe ... Born: 3/3/92.

PATRICK MCNEIL...

PATRICK MCNEIL

6-3, 270, Fr., DE, Mobile, AL/Davidson HS

High School: Rated a three-star recruit by Rivals.com and Scout.com ... Ranked the 92nd best defensive tackle in the country by Scout.com ... As a senior he had 90 tackles, five sacks, 13 tackles for loss and five pass breakups for Davidson High School ... In 2008, he collected 76 tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks, five pass breakups, and 12 hurries.

Full Name: Patrick Jamal McNeil ... Parents: Michael and Melodie Campbell ... Born: 6/8/92.

ARNESS IKNER...

ARNESS IKNER

5-9, 170, Jr., CB, Pasadena, CA/Pasadena HS

Mt. San Antonio: Helped lead Mt. San Antonio to a 2009 Junior College National Championship as voted on by JCFootball.com and JC Gridwire ... Collected 52 tackles, three tackles for loss, a team-high six interceptions, and 14 pass breakups in leading team to a 13-1 record in 2009 ... As a freshman, he tallied 26 tackles, an interception, and five pass breakups.

High School: As a senior at Pasadena High School, he had 42 tackles, four interceptions, three pass breakups and two fumble recoveries ... Offensively, he added 55 receptions for 1,066 yards, and 12 touchdowns ... Had a total of six 100-yard receiving games.

Full Name: Arness Anthony Ikner ... Parents: Ernest and Daphne Ikner ... Born: 7/19/90.

LOGAN KILGORE...

LOGAN KILGORE

6-3, 185, So., QB, Carmichael, CA/Bakersfield College

Bakersfield College: Rated a 3-star recruit by Rivals.com and Scout.com ... Threw for 2,512 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2009 to lead Bakersfield to a 10-2 record and earn National Northern Conference Offensive MVP honors ... Was just the third quarterback in Bakersfield history to surpass 2,000 yards in a single-season ... Enrolled at Bakersfield in spring of 2009 as a grayshirt freshman.

High School: Lettered two years in football and two years in basketball for Jesuit High School.

Full Name: Logan Robert Kilgore ... Parents: Bobby and Laura Kilgore ... Born: 5/24/90.

TYLER MASON...

TYLER MASON

5-7, 165, Jr., WR, Richmond, CA/San Leandro HS

Chabot College: Named to the 2009 California All-America First-Team and earned Golden Gate Conference Offensive MVP as a running back for Chabot College ... In 2009, he registered 1,800 all-purpose yards for a state best 200 yards per game as a running back, slot receiver, and returner ... He rushed for 518 yards and nine touchdowns in 2009 to go with 26 receptions for 406 yards and two scores ... Averaged 27.3 yards on 31 kickoff returns in 2009, including one for a 75-yard touchdown ... Set school record in 2008 with a kickoff return average of 38.0 yards.

High School: Was the HAAL offensive MVP and first team all-East Bay his senior year for San Leandro High School ... Rushed for 1,684 yards on 201 carries and 28 touchdowns while adding 18 receptions for 322 yards his senior year.

Full Name: Mack Curtis Mason ... Parents: Cloy Fitzgerald and Elizabeth Melon ... Born: 6/29/90.

LEIGHTON GASQUE...

LEIGHTON GASQUE

6-2, 195, Fr., LB, Hiram, GA/Hiram HS

High School: Earned GSWA honorable mention all-state honors as a senior at Hiram High School, along with first team 7-AAAA all-region accolades ... Had two blocked punts, one blocked PAT, one fumble return for a touchdown, and a school record 17 tackles in one game in 2009 ... Garnered the Hiram Hornets’ team weight lifting award.

Full Name: Leighton Nichols Gasque ... Parents: Leroy and Toyia Gasque ... Born: 1/17/92.

CHRISTIAN HENRY...

CHRISTIAN HENRY

6-1, 217, Fr., LB, Dania, FL/Hollywood Hills HS

High School: Named first team all-Broward County his senior year at Hollywood Hills High School ... Registered 103 tackles his senior year to go with eight sacks, 12 pass breakups, five forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries ... Invited and played in the inaugural Public vs Private All-Star Game in south Florida.

Full Name: Christian Alexander Henry ... Parents: Charles and Elizabeth Henry ... Born: 2/26/92.

JUDD HUNT...

JUDD HUNT

6-4, 265, Fr., OL, Oneonta, AL/Oneonta HS

High School: Earned Class 4A all-state honors in 2009 and participated in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star game ... Credited with an average grade of 84 percent his senior year and only allowed two sacks ... Averaged three pancake blocks per game ... Lettered in football, basketball, and track for Oneonta High School ... Played for coach Gardner Gilliland.

Full Name: Judd Steven Hunt ... Parents: Andy and Rhonda Hunt ... Born: 6/11/91.

KHARI BURKE...

KHARI BURKE

5-10, 165, Fr., CB, Plantation, FL/South Plantation HS

High School: Rated a 3-star recruit by Rivals.com and ranked as the 78th best cornerback ... As a senior he registered 41 tackles, eight tackles for loss, five interceptions (returned two for touchdowns), 12 pass breakups, and forced two turnovers ... Also scored nine total touchdowns while adding 500 yards rushing and 300 yards receiving ... Earned first team all-Broward County honors and played in the North-South Broward County all-star game and the Broward vs Dade County all-star game.

Full Name: Khari Damani Burke ... Parent: Bridget Starks ... Born: 3/30/92.

COREY CARMICHAEL...

COREY CARMICHAEL

5-11, 230, Fr., LB, Canton, GA/Woodstock HS

High School: Ranked the 91st best middle linebacker in the country by Scout.com ... Earned honorable mention 5-A all-state honors after leading Woodstock in tackles for the second straight year with 145 ... Also had three sacks, two blocked kicks, two pass breakups, three hurries, and an interception, while rushing five times for 131 yards and a touchdown as a fullback ... Voted the 2009 Cherokee County Gridiron Club Player of the Year, was the Cherokee Tribune Defensive Player of the Year, and won the Cherokee County Gridiron Iron Man Award ... Named the 2009 Woodstock High Football Power Champion ... Nominated for the 2009 North-South All-Star game ... Was a team captain in 2009 and the defensive captain in 2008 ... Registered 110 tackles as a junior to go with five sacks, an interception and three caused fumbles ... Also lettered in track where he was all-county and owns the school record in the shot put (53’1”) ... Played for coach Mike O’Brien at Woodstock High School.

Full Name: Corey John Carmichael ... Parents: Dan and Robyn Carmichael ... Born: 8/24/91 ... Other: Brother Danny was a four-year lettermen for the Blue Raiders (2006-09).

JIAJUAN FENNELL...

JIAJUAN FENNELL

6-3, 215, Fr., DE, South Pittsburg, TN/South Pittsburgh

High School: Named a Class A Mr. Football Lineman Award finalist in 2009 ... Was all-state, all-region, all-district, and tabbed the district defensive player of the year ... During his senior year he collected 84 tackles, 12 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, and three pass breakups ... Also added a blocked kick, fumble recovery, and two caused fumbles ... As a junior, he registered 107 tackles, eight sacks, two interceptions, and nine tackles for loss ... Also had 20 receptions for 350 yards and three touchdowns on offense ... South Pittsburg High School went 43-5 during his four years and were state champs in 2007 and state runner up in 2009 ... Lettered in football and basketball ... Played for coach Vic Grider.

Full Name: Franklin Jiajuan Fennell ... Parents: George and Elendora Fennell ... Born: 5/12/92.

JONATHAN BROOKS...

JONATHAN BROOKS

6-2, 202, Fr., LB, New Orleans, LA/Miller Grove (GA) HS

High School: Named honorable mention all-state, all-region and all-county for Miller Grove High School his senior year ... Led Miller Grove in tackles, tackles for loss, fumbles caused, and forced fumbles in 2008 and 2009 ... As a senior he registered 106 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, six caused fumbles, two interceptions, and two sacks ... Invited and played in the Dekalb County all-star game ... Played for coach Jasper Jewell.

Full Name: Jonathan Kendrick Brooks ... Parents: Henry Brooks Sr. and Bridget New ... Born: 2/26/92.

JAMAR BROWN...

JAMAR BROWN

6-2, 215, Jr., WR, Charleston, SC/James Island

Feather River Community College: Led FRCC with 28 receptions for 592 yards and six touchdowns in 2009 … Averaged 21.1 yards per catch to earn all-conference honors.

High School: Lettered in football, basketball, and track at James Island High School … Was a two-year starter at wide receiver … Caught 57 passes for 850 yards and nine touchdowns his senior year to earn all-region honors … Also made the all-region team in basketball.

Full Name: Jamar Spencer Brown … Born: 9/29/89 … Parents: Spencer Brown and Emaguard Brown.

JEREMIAH BLACK...

JEREMIAH BLACK

6-1, 270, Jr., C, Denver, CO/East

West Hill Community College: A two-year starter at center for West Hill … Named NFCA all-conference in 2009 … Won the team’s Dick Woodson Academic Award … Was honorable mention all-conference his freshman year … Team captain both years at West Hill.

High School: Lettered in football and track at East High School … Was a three-year starter at center and nose guard … Earned all-conference honors his senior year … Was the city champion in the shot put his senior year.

Full Name: Jeremiah Bernard Black … Born: 5/19/89 … Parents: Bernard and Dorothy Black.

JARED BAMBER...

JARED BAMBER

6-4, 250, Jr., TE, Murietta, CA/Chaparral

Palomar Community College: Earned 2009 California All-America honors … Also tabbed all-state and all-region after helping lead Palomar to a No. 8 final ranking … Was an offensive captain … Had five receptions for 52 yards on the season … A two-star recruit by Rivals.com … Started all season at tight end in 2008 for the Palomar Comets ... Turned in a strong performance blocking along with the rest of the offensive line in a 21-19 season-opening victory over Southwestern on Sept. 6 when Palomar rushed for 303 yards, and his blocking was critical in the Comets’ running attack … Had a 9-yard reception vs. Grossmont on Oct. 4 … Redshirted at Palomar in 2007.

High School: Played three seasons of varsity football under coach Tom Leach at Chaparral High ... All-Southwestern League and All-Valley selection as a senior ... Averaged 14.1 yards per catch ... National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame scholar-athlete award winner.

Full Name: Jared Jeffrey Bamber ... Born: 10/7/88 ... Parents: Jeff and Cathy Bamber.

PRESTON BAILEY...

PRESTON BAILEY

6-5, 321, r-So., OL, Nashville, TN/MBA

2009: Transferred from Tennessee and sat out the season due to NCAA transfer rules.

High School: Helped lead MBA to record 13 wins on way to undefeated Division II 2A State Championship … Three-year starter on offensive line and also played on defense as a nose guard … Honored as Mr. Football Division II Lineman of the Year as a senior in 2007 … PrepStar All-America … Named First Team Division II 2A All-State by the Tennessee High School Coaches Association and First Team All-State by the TSWA as a senior … Honored First Team All-Midstate as a junior in 2006 … Member of Tennessean’s All-Midstate team in 2007 … No. 6 prospect on Knoxville News Sentinel Top 25 … Invited to Army All-American game but could not attend because of injury … Also participated in basketball and threw shot put and discus on track and field team … Played for Coach Daniel McGugin.

Full Name: Preston Tillman Bailey III ... Parents: Preston Bailey Jr. and Tina Bridgeforth ... Born: 1/13/90.

ISAIAH ANDERSON...

ISAIAH ANDERSON

6-4, 280, Fr., OL, Franklin, TN/Franklin HS

High School: Named to the Tennessean’s Dream Team in 2009 as one of the best players in the state ... Was all-state, all-midstate, and all-region his senior year ... Versatile lineman for Franklin High School that helped them advance to Class AAA quarterfinals ... Known for his good footwork and blocking with tenacity ... Had 69 knockdown blocks in 2009 ... Lettered in football and wrestling ... Played for coach Craig Clayton.

Full Name: Isaiah Lee Anderson ... Parent: Tammy Lee ... Born: 5/15/92.

Recruiting Breakdown...

Now that the 2010 Blue Raider signing class is all official and the exclusive breakdown session was held for BRAA members we can show you all about the newest members of Blue Raider Nation. In this series you will find a short bio on each player and a short video clip of his on the field highlights.

Hope you enjoy this glimpse into the future...

Lounge project progressing...

It has been a few days since our last post about the status of the Players' Lounge project. Because of some bad weather and some adjustments to the project specifics progress has been a little slower. Construction is now focused on building the new walls in the structure and laying out the skeleton of the wiring and lighting system.

Coach Simmons on the radio...

Coach Simmon's recently did a radio interview for www.SouthernPigskin.com We have posted it for your listening pleasure.

Lounge Update #3...

Day 3 of the Players' Lounge project is over and some significant progress has been made. The carpet has been removed, ceiling taken down and divider wall taken down. Now work will focus on stripping the floors and preparing the ceilings.

Signing Day Press Conference Live...

Watch live streaming video from coachstocklive at livestream.com

Chronological Order...

For those of you wondering how the chips fell on the fax machine here is a list of the arrival order of today's faxes..

6:53am Jonathan Brooks
6:56am Khari Burke
7:04am Judde Hunt
7:10am Morris Moore
7:26am Max Ugboaja
7:41am Reggie Whatley
7:59am Corey Carmichael
8:34am Leighton Gasque
8:53am JiaJuan Fennell
8:54am Pat Mcneil
9:24am Isaiah Anderson
10:05am Chris Sharpe
10:06am Christian Henry

Also remember that the following players signed and enrolled in classes this January..
- Logan Kilgore
- Jared Bamber
- Jamar Brown
- Jeremiah Black
- Arness Ikner
- Tyler Mason
- Preston Bailey**
**Placed on scholarship in January

Food for thought...

Because the coaches will be camped out in the staff room from 6am this morning until?? Director of Football Operations Chris Matusek has made sure everyone is fed really well. He has brought in a bagel buffet from Einstein's Bagels for everyone to enjoy.

The trusty fax machine...

Nestled in the front of the MT Football staff room is the fax machine, the bearer of good news on signing day. It is funny with all the technology available these days that this almost outdated technology still reigns supreme.