© Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Alabama Football Early Opponent Preview | Game 1: Middle Tennessee State
Ah — the beginning of a new season. Can you smell the fresh grass at Bryant-Denny Stadium? The popcorn, the Denny Dogs? Now — the cold, refreshing taste of a beer on a brutally-hot September afternoon in Tuscaloosa?
It’s coming — and soon.
The Alabama Crimson Tide opens its season at home for the second year in a row — this time against the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders. The Crimson Tide started last season with a 55-0 thrashing of Utah State at Bryant-Denny Stadium — the first home-opening game since 2011 against head coach Nick Saban’s alma mater, Kent State. The neutral-site games to kickoff the regular season seem to be in the past for Alabama, at least for now.
So who are the Blue Raiders? Let’s dive into that.
Offense
You know what you’re getting with Middle Tennessee — it’s going to throw the football, and a lot. The Blue Raiders run an Air Raid offense. If you aren’t familiar with that terminology, it means the ball is going to be in the air for the majority of the evening. It’s not that crazy — head coach Rick Stockstill was a quarterback himself at Florida State under the legendary Bobby Bowden from 1977-1981.
If you want to run the Air Raid, you have to have a lot of production at the quarterback position. It appears that Middle Tennessee will turn to Nicholas Vattiato to take over the quarterbacking duties in 2023-24 — and he’s had an interesting journey to get here. Vattiato started five games in 2021-22, making the C-USA All-Freshman Team and being named the MVP of the Bahamas Bowl. He only made one start in 2022-23 though, falling behind Chase Cunningham for the starting spot. With Cunningham out of Murfreesboro, Vattiato is set to take over the offense yet again this season.
The other key position in the Air Raid? Wide receiver.
Unfortunately for the Blue Raiders, their top three pass catchers in 2022-23 are all gone. Jaylin Lane racked up 940 yards and five touchdowns last season — now he’s off to Virginia Tech. Izaiah Gathings was signed by the New York Jets.
Middle Tennessee isn’t returning too much at the wide receiver position, but DJ England-Chisolm (23 REC, 366 YDS, 4 TDs) and Elijah Metcalf (26 REC, 309 YDS, 2 TDs) are both veteran receivers that will get their chance at larger roles in a pass-heavy offense.
Running back Frank Peasant will play a big role in the offense this season. Peasant was a star in 2022-23, rushing for 774 yards and nine touchdowns while catching 28 passes for 286 yards and two scores.
It’s relatively inexperienced, but the Blue Raiders’ offense has a chance to put up big numbers like usual if it can get strong outputs from guys that have waited for their turn.
Defense
Middle Tennessee is returning a lot of talent on the defensive side of the football. The name to circle is safety Tra Fluellen, who led the Blue Raiders in tackles with 104 in 2022-23. He also recorded four tackles for loss, two interceptions and eight pass breakups. Fellow safety Jakobe Thomas had four interceptions himself last season.
Zaylin Wood and Marley Cook combined for 13 sacks in 2022-23.
While Middle Tennessee will feel good about its returners, it did lose two of its biggest stars to the NFL. DE Jordan Ferguson signed with the Seattle Seahawks after a season that saw him lead the Blue Raiders with nine sacks and 17 tackles for loss — as well as a first team All-C-USA selection. CB Decorian Patterson led the country with seven interceptions — and transferred to head coach Gus Malzahn and UCF.
Middle Tennessee will have to replace some star power, but it should feel good about what remains on its defensive unit in 2023-24.
Schedule
With it being the first game of the season — and it being Nick Saban and Alabama — the Blue Raiders have surely been preparing for the Sept. 2 collision in Tuscaloosa for the entire offseason. A win against Alabama would be the biggest in program history — so bet on Middle Tennessee looking to do whatever it takes to pick up a near-impossible win.
For the Crimson Tide, it is still an important game. It will more than likely be an unofficial tryout for the starting quarterback position between Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson and Tyler Buchner.
Questions will need to be answered quickly with the Texas Longhorns coming into Bryant-Denny Stadium the following Saturday night.
Outlook
No, Alabama isn’t going to lose this game — let’s just be honest. As much as Saban hates it, we are all penciling in the Crimson Tide a ‘W’ before the monumental clash against Texas on Sept. 9.
But as mentioned before, this game holds a lot of importance for Alabama. Will a quarterback separate itself from the rest? Or will Crimson Tide fans leave the stadium worrying about where the team stands before a daunting stretch?
Also, you never want to get anyone hurt in a game like this.
Prediction
Alabama 38, Middle Tennessee State 6
Alabama vs. Middle Tennessee State
The Game
Date: Sept. 2
Time: 6:30 p.m. CT
TV: SEC Network
Location: Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Series: Crimson Tide leads 2-0 (ALA win in 2005 was vacated)
Last meeting: In 2015, Alabama won 37-10. QB Jake Coker was 15-for-26 for 214 yards, with a touchdown and an interception, all in the first half, while competing for the starting job. RB Derrick Henry scored three touchdowns. The Crimson Tide had an edge in total yards 532-275.
© Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
The Team
The Coach: Rick Stockstill (17 years, 109-103 record)
Offensive Coordinator: Mitch Stewart
Defensive Coordinator: Scott Shafer
2022 Record: 8-5 (4-4 Conference USA)
2022 Rankings: None
Returning Starters: 13 (five on offense, eight on defense).
Players to Watch: RB Frank Peasant, WR DJ England-Chisolm, DT Marley Cook, CB Teldrick Ross, S Tra Fluellen, G Keylan Rutledge, DE Zaylin Wood, LB Devyn Curtis, T Steling Porcher, DT Jordan Branch, K Zeke Rankin, LS Brody Butler.
Top Newcomer: Sam Brumfield. With MLB Devyn Curtis missing the spring due to a shoulder injury (and reserve Jonathan Butler also out), the Northwest Mississippi CC transfer took advantage and will make it tough for coaches not to have him on the field. Last season he was credited with 115 tackles, including 13 for a loss and six sacks, five hurries and two forced fumbles.
Biggest Question: The Blue Raiders have to replace their starting quarterback and three top receivers, plus the top four tacklers on defense including end Jordan Ferguson. Two years ago, quarterback Nicholas Vattiato was at the bottom of the depth chart as a true freshman — but ended up starting the final five games due to injuries and was named MVP of the Bahamas Bowl. He only played in two games last season while backing up Chase Cunningham, so this is his chance to show what he can do as the starter once again. Against Charlotte last season he was 22-for-29 for 203 yards. His top target could be DJ England-Chisolm, who had a big game against Miami last season. Led by defensive tackle Marley Cook and safety Tra Fluellen the defense should be stout. But can the offense, especially the passing game, do enough to get Middle Tennessee back to a bowl game?
Steven Erler/ USA Today Sports
The School
Location: Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Founded: 1911
Enrollment: Approximately 22,000
Nickname: Blue Raiders
Colors: Blue and Black
Mascot: Lightning
The Program
Coaching Changes During Saban Era: None
Last Time Beat Alabama: Never
Last Time Won Conference Championship: 2006
National Championships: None
Playoff Appearances: None
Conference titles: 13
Bowl Appearances: 14 (6-8)
Last Time Didn’t Play in a Bowl: 2020
Heisman Trophies: None
Consensus All-Americans During Saban Era: None
First-Round NFL Picks During Saban Era: None
2023 NFL Draft: No selections
Last Four Recruiting Class Rankings: No. 120 in 2023, No. 113 in 2022, No. 125 in 2021, No. 94 in 2020
Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
The Schedule
- Sept. 2: at Alabama
- Sept. 9: at Missouri
- Sept. 16: vs. Murray State
- Sept. 23: vs. Colorado State
- Sept. 28: at Western Kentucky
- Oct. 4: vs. Jacksonville State
- Oct. 10: vs. Louisiana Tech
- Oct. 17: at Liberty
- Nov. 4: at New Mexico State
- Nov. 11: vs. Florida International
- Nov. 18: vs. UTEP
- Nov. 25: at Sam Houston
Steven Erler / USA Today Sports
Did You Know?
Stockstill is one of the few college football head coaches who has been at his job longer than Nick Saban at Alabama. He’s fourth on the longevity list after Kirk Ferentz at Iowa (24 years), Kyle Whittingham at Utah (19), and Mike Gundy at Oklahoma State (18). He ranks sixth nationally in most wins by an active FBS coach all coming at the same school, and has led the Blue Raiders to 10 bowl appearances (eligible 12 times). Prior to being named the head coach at Middle Tennessee, Stockstill spent 23 years as an assistant coach including at South Carolina (2004-05) and Clemson (1989-98).
Helen Comer / The Daily News Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
This is the first story in a series previewing Alabama's 2023 opponents.
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