MTSU Football’s 2022 season preview and predictions
By Kathryn Rose
Meet Jordan Ferguson and the gang
Defense was this team’s calling card in 2021, as the Blue Raiders were a top 40 unit in terms of yards per play allowed. With four all-Conference USA players leading the charge, the team was able to effectively keep themselves in the game.
But, three of those four are gone. The remainder of the four is Jordan Ferguson, who is one of the five best players in the entire conference for 2022. He had 16.5 tackles for loss, and eight sacks in 2021, and will surely improve that number this year.
On the defensive line, there’s experience besides Ferguson. Richard Kinley and Zaylin Wood power what’s left of a tough as overcooked meat interior, and will be better in 2022.
The linebacking corps is another story. Johnathan Butler leads the middle of the corps, but two redshirt sophomores flank him at the Sam and Will linebacker roles.
In the secondary, Decorian Patterson is a solid corner, and defensed seven passes in 2022. Depending on who you talk to, Teldrick Ross is either an effective safety or a decent corner. Meanwhile, the safeties are led by Tra Fluellen, who played all 13 games for the Blue Raiders in 2021.