2011 Middle Tennessee Football Predictions

Written by Steve Janus

The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders came into the 2010 season as the overwhelming favorites to win the Sun Belt conference, but wound up going just 5-3 in conference play. The Blue Raiders managed to win their final three games of the regular season to finish 6-6, but were upended by Miami, OH in the GoDaddy.com bowl. A big reason for the Blue Raiders disappointing finish was due to star quarterback Dwight Dasher being suspended for the first four games of the season. This year they lose Dasher and will have just 10 starters back (only 3 on defense), which has a lot of people expecting another tough season for Middle Tennessee football. Here is a closer look at what the Blue Raiders will be sending to the field in 2011, plus my prediction on where I see them finishing in the Sun Belt.

Offense:

With Dasher suspended for the first four games, the Blue Raiders started freshman Logan Kilgore for three games and sophomore Jeff Murphy in one. That experience didn’t help the Blue Raiders success in 2010, but that experience should pay off for one of these two in 2011. Kilgore appears to have the edge on the starting job, but it likely won’t be decided until fall practice.

On top of losing Dasher, Middle Tennessee will also have to find a replacement for starting running back Phillip Tanner, who rushed for 928 yards and 13 touchdowns. D.D. Kyles and Benjamin Cunningham both saw limited action in 2010, and combined to rush for 769 yards and eight touchdowns. Both of these players could end up taking a seat to LSU transfer Drayton Allen-Calhoun, if he becomes eligible to play.

At wide receiver the Blue Raiders bring back four players who finished in the top five in receiving yards in 2010, but this wasn’t exactly a unit that scared opposing defenses. Malcom Beyah led the team with just 388 yards and tied for the team lead with two touchdowns. Even with all the experience coming back, it’s hard to expect much from this unit.

The big positive on the offensive side of the ball is the fact that four of five starters return on the offensive line, and will arguably be the best unit in the Sun Belt this season. The two players to look out for are senior left tackle Mike Williams and junior right guard Preston Bailey.

Defense:

With just three starters back to a defense that took a step back in 2010, there are some big concerns for this side of the ball heading into the season. The unit that is in the biggest trouble is the defensive line, where all four starters must be replaced. From the looks of it, this unit will be vastly inexperienced this season. Junior Omar McLendon and sophomore Dearco Nolan are projected to start on the outside, while sophomore Jimmy Staten and redshirt freshman Patrick McNeil look to take over at the two tackle spots.

The strength of the defense will come at linebacker, where starting outside linebackers Darin Davis and Justin Jones return. Sophomore Stephen Roberts is expected to take over in the middle. These three will have to be special to make up for the lack of experience on the defensive line.

In the secondary the Blue Raiders return one of the top corners in the conference in senior Arness Ikner, but the other three starting spots are all up for grabs. From the looks of it, sophomore Kenneth Gilstrap will team up with Ikner at corner, while seniors Eric Russell and Derrick Crumpton step in at the two safety positions.

2011 Prediction: 6th Sun Belt – A lot will have to go right for the Blue Raiders to avoid finishing in the bottom half of the Sun Belt this season. Even if Kilgore or Murphy shine at quarterback, I have a hard time believing the Blue Raiders will be able to score enough to keep up with what their defense allows on the other side of the ball. I think 4-4 would be a successful season in the Sun Belt in 2011.

Sun Belt Football Predictions by Team
Troy Football Predictions	Florida International Football Predictions
Arkansas State Football Predictions	Louisiana Monroe Football Predictions
Middle Tennessee State Football Predictions	North Texas Football Predictions
Western Kentucky Football Predictions	Louisiana Lafayette Football Predictions
Florida Atlantic Football Predictions

College Football Predictions
ACC Football Predictions	Big 12 Football Predictions
Conference USA Football Predictions	Independents Football Predictions
PAC 12 Football Predictions	SEC Football Predictions
Big East Football Predictions	Big Ten Football Predictions
MAC Football Predictions	Mountain West Football Predictions
Sun Belt Football Predictions	WAC Football Predictions

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