Rhea County's Brandon McLeroy Commits

[Rhea Co.]

Brandon "Big Mac" McLeroy has committed to Middle Tennessee State University. Congratulations to Big Mac.

 

Here is the Press Release.

 

Rhea's McLeroy says he's headed to MTSU

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

 

By Ward Gossett

Assistant Sports Editor

 

Rhea County offensive lineman Brandon McLeroy has committed to continue his football career at Middle Tennessee State University.

 

McLeroy stopped by MTSU on his return from the TSSAA's Mr. Football awards luncheon in Nashville and visited with Blue Raiders coach Rick Stockstill. With a chance to do some thinking on the ride home, McLeroy made up his mind and called Stockstill upon his return to Evensville.

 

"We talked football and we talked about life," McLeroy said. "They're building a solid program."

 

The 6-foot-4, 300-pound McLeroy played some defense at tackle and at noseguard, but his primary duty at Rhea was on the offensive line, where he recorded 58 pancake blocks and graded out at 92 percent this season. A Mr. Football finalist this year, he is a two-time Region 4-4A offensive lineman of the year.

 

He decided against waiting to see if an offer might come from Tennessee or Kentucky and chose MTSU over Jacksonville State, Tennessee Tech and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, which was first to offer a scholarship.

 

"MTSU is a good program. It's Division I and that's what he was looking for," Rhea County coach Jason Fitzgerald said. "They have upgraded their schedule, including home-and-home series with Memphis and Mississippi State. Some upper-tier schools in the SEC are still looking at Brandon, but he and I feel comfortable with his decision."

 

McLeroy could get on the field with the varsity quickly in Murfreesboro.

 

"There are several starters returning, but one of their offensive guards graduated and they also have a starter in the offensive line that they want to move to defense," Fitzgerald said. "That played a part in Brandon's decision."

 

E-mail Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com