Middle Tennessee adds 23 players in 2014 class

By foxsports
Published

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders have gotten a bit of a jump on signing day with 10 of their 23 signees announced Wednesday already enrolled in school.

''Those guys that are here now they'll have the quickest ability to have an impact on the team because they're already here,'' coach Rick Stockstill said. ''They're going to be able to go through our offense and defense and special teams systems and schemes through the spring. So that'll give them a leg up on the others.''

The Blue Raiders are coming off a bowl appearance in their debut season in Conference USA, and they also have consecutive eight-win seasons. Stockstill signed eight of his commitments from junior colleges to add some experience. Of the signees, 12 are on offense with five linemen, three tight ends, two receivers, a running back and a quarterback.

Defensively, Middle Tennessee added four linebackers, two cornerbacks, two safeties and two linemen. Stockstill says they needed help at linebacker and secondary, and he thinks the players they signed will help immediately.

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MIDDLE TENNESSEE

National rankings (Rivals 83; Scout 87).

Best in class: A.J. Wells, punter, Buena Vista, Ga. Wells was rated among the best kickers and punters in the country, and he had a long field goal of 47 yards as a senior. He graduated early and enrolled in January.

Best of the rest: Pat Martin, db, Highland Community College in Kansas and Trey Wafford, lb, Gulf Coast Community College in Mississippi. Stockstill got these three-star rated defenders to help add experience to a group of 10 signees on defense, and Martin originally signed with Tennessee out of high school.

Late addition: Daryl Rollins-Davis, RB, Knoxville. The running back out of Fulton is a Mr. Football winner in Tennessee and a two-time state champion who ran for 1,990 yards and 40 touchdowns.

Four more left: Stockstill still has four scholarships left to sign more players. ''We'll evaluate what's out there, what's available in both high and junior college. I'm not going to take somebody just to take them because we'll have such a small class next year I'll just use those numbers in that class.''