2002 Home Boys

[iamoz]

Here are brief bios on Middle's in-state players. Always good to keep up with them, since there's at least one from everybody's backyard.

 

6 - Wardell Alsup WR Jr. (Oakland)

In the spring of 2001 he was moved from receiver to the defensive backfield, then in the spring of 2002 Alsup was switched back to receiver ... Blue Raider coaches like his toughness and competitive edge ... Has 4.4 speed in the 40 ... Chose MT over Mississippi, Louisville, Memphis, and Oklahoma State ... Has played in 17 career games and started six contests.

 

12 - Will Martin FS Jr. (Clarksville, TN)

Inked with the Blue Raiders as a mid-term signee in December of 2001 ... Participated in spring drills and will enter fall camp as the backup to Michael Woods at free safety ... Chose MT over Maryland, Ohio, Ole Miss, and West Virginia. High School: Played quarterback and safety during a stellar four-year high school career at Kenwood in Clarksville, TN, for coach Terry Arrington ... As a senior, he was a Super Prep All-American, Region 6-4A Player of the Year, and was named to two All-State teams (Associated Press and Tennessee Sports Writers) ... Was also the Leaf Chronicle Player of the Year and a Mr. Football finalist ... Registered 250 yards rushing and four touchdowns by halftime against Clarksville High School his junior year ... Signed with Kansas State out of high school.

 

18 - Sean Waller WR Fr. (Hunters Lane)

Chose MT over Ole Miss and Memphis ... Runs a 4.4 40 ... Rates as a pretty good singer as a member of a show choir.

 

20 - Robert Billings P r-Jr. (Collierville)

Enters the 2002 campaign ranked 10th in career punting yards, 10th in punting attempts, and sixth in career average ... His 42.3-yard average in 2001 was the fourth best in school history. Noteworthy: A walk-on who was put on scholarship by Andy McCollum in the fall of 2001 ... Clocked at 1.68 in the 10-yard dash, which is exceptional for a punter ... Has booted 13 punts for 50 or more yards during his career.

 

23 - Alvin Fite LB So. (Hillsboro)

Has unlimited potential and the ability to be a standout player for the Blue Raiders ... Ended spring practice as the starter at left pony (outside linebacker) ... A local product who possesses a strong work ethic and tremendous attitude ... A key contributor on special teams.

 

27 - Tyrone Calico WR r-Sr. (Millington)

An all-Sun Belt Conference candidate in 2002 ... A panel of sportswriters and broadcasters voted unanimously his catch at Mississippi State as the Best Reception of the Year in all of college football for 2000 ... Power cleans over 350 pounds, which is one of the top marks on the team ... Has five career 100-yard receiving games ... Began his Blue Raider career on defense at linebacker, but was switched back to his normal position of wide receiver later in the fall of 1998 ... Was a member of the Blue Raider basketball team in 1998

 

44 - Fletcher Williams LB r-Fr. (Red Bank)

Has really turned some heads since his arrival on campus last year ... Coaches feel he will be a big contributor to the program ... Possesses all the tools to be an outstanding linebacker for the Blue Raiders ... Enjoyed a solid spring and enters fall camp No. 3 at the rightside linebacker position. High School: Led Red Bank to a 15-0 record and a state championship in 2000 ... Was also recruited by LSU, Auburn, and Tennessee.

 

46 - David Richmond FS r-So. (Melrose)

Walked on to the Blue Raider football team during the fall of 2000 ... Richmond is the cousin of Memphis Grizzlies forward Lorenzen Wright, who was also a star at the University of Memphis.

 

49 - Paul Wheeler K r-Fr. (Tullahoma)

Possesses a very strong leg and could become Middle Tennessee's kickoff man, while doubling as the team's long field goal kicker ... In the spring scrimmage he connected on all seven of his field goal attempts, including a 53-yarder.

 

53 - Joey Montalbano LB r-Jr. (Father Ryan)

A walk-on to the Blue Raider program who was awarded a scholarship during the 2001 season ... Won the team's 2001 Lifter of the Year award ... Despite weighing just 200 pounds, Montalbano power cleans an impressive 341 pounds and bench presses 390 ... A hard-nosed, tough player, who works extremely hard at improving his game ... Has the desire and attitude coaches look for in a player ... Accepted membership into the Golden Key International Honour Society in April of 2002 ... Has played in 21 career games.

 

54 - Randy Arnold LB r-Jr. (Glencliff)

Is coming off his first injury-free season, which turned out to be his career best ... Should develop into a solid leader on defense in 2002 ... Grew up in Detroit, MI, before moving to Nashville ... Has played in 22 career games and started nine times.

 

55 - Josh Willoughby OL r-Jr. (Brentwood Academy)

Has really matured over the past year and the coaching staff expects a big year out of him in 2002 ... A member of the 'Short Yardage Big Boys' ... Struggled with injuries early in his career, which slowed his progress ... Possesses good size and ability ... A punishing blocker who should push for a starting role ... Is listed No. 2 at right guard entering fall camp ... Saved a man's life from choking on Jan. 29, 2002, at a local Murfreesboro restaurant when he successfully used the Heimlich maneuver (man asked how to repay him for saving his life and Willoughby replied "buy season tickets").

 

58 - Demitri Carter DS r-Fr. (Hillsboro)

Joined the team as a walk-on in the fall of 2001 ... Looks to be the starting deep snapper in 2002 ... Transferred from Lane College where he was a member of the 2000 football team as the starting tight end ... Missed most of spring practice with a dislocated wrist he suffered in the weight room, but should be 100 percent in the fall.

 

64 - DeLorean Jordan DS Fr. (Glencliff)

 

69 - Brett Trott OL r-Fr. (Oakland)

Helped lead Oakland to three straight playoff appearances, including a state championship in 1998 ... Originally committed to Michigan during the summer of 2000, but changed his mind for the hometown Blue Raiders ... Chose MT over Mississippi State.

 

71 - Jonathan Barry OL r-Sr. (Beech)

2001: Played in nine games and started twice ... Was in on a total of 146 snaps during the season and had six knockdowns ... Earned the team's Most Physical Lineman award following the Idaho game.

 

78 - John Crawford DS Fr. (Karns)

 

80 - David Youell WR r-Sr. (Sevier County)

A candidate for all-conference honors in 2002 ... Has caught at least one pass in 22 straight games ... Needs 10 catches in 2002 to jump into the top 10 in all-time receptions at MT ... Is coming off a career year ... The unsung receiver on the team, but the one who gets the most out of what he has ... One of the toughest players on the team ... An intelligent player, who never takes a play off ... Has the ability to run all four receiver positions, including running back in the passing game ... A student of the game ... Makes up for lack of speed with precise route running and excellent hands ... Is also the team's holder on field goals ... Has played in 32 career games and earned 12 starts ... Represented Middle Tennessee at the 2002 Sun Belt Conference SAAC Meetings ... Missed the spring scrimmage due to a broken hand ... David's father was a baseball pitcher for Alabama during his collegiate career.

 

85 - Chris Henry WR r-Fr. (Dobyns-Bennett)

Was redshirted ... Worked with the offense daily and was on the travel squad, which helped him gain valuable experience. High School: Rated one of the state's top receivers ... Earned all-state honors after leading Dobyns-Bennett to a 12-2 record and a spot in the state semifinals ... Hauled in a school-record 48 receptions for 800 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2000 ... Also registered 14 punt returns for 190 yards ... Set a school record by returning a punt 94 yards for a touchdown and established another school mark when he brought back a 93-yard kickoff return for a score ... Chose MT over UAB, Louisville, Marshall, and Appalachian State.

 

87 - Ryan Edmiston WR r-Jr. (Lincoln County)

A walk-on to the program who joined the team in the fall of 2000 ... Transferred from UT-Chattanooga in fall 2000 ... Has worked extremely hard and moved all the way to No. 2 on the depth chart behind Tyrone Calico at the "X" receiver spot.

 

89 - Curt Brown DE r-Fr. (Loudon County)

Took a redshirt year, but gained valuable experience working with the defensive scout team ... Moved from linebacker to defensive end during spring drills.

 

93 - Thomas Johnson DL r-So. (Hamilton)

Will compete for starting duties at defensive tackle ... Came out of spring practice listed No. 2 on the depth chart behind Jerry Vanderpool ... A very versatile athlete because of his ability to play multiple positions ... Plays the run well and is an excellent pass rusher ... Runs a 4.8 40 ... Chose MT over Mississippi St., Mississippi, and Memphis. High School: Played TE, DL, and LB for Hamilton HS ... Led Hamilton for two straight years in tackles and sacks ... Was voted all-state, all-metro and all-city ... Was a class officer.

 

97 - Jerry Vanderpool DL r-So. (Brentwood Academy)

Played inside at tackle in 2001 and will be back in the middle in 2002 after a brief look at end during the spring ... Is listed as the starter following spring practice ... Possesses exceptional quickness for a big man ... Rated one of the top recruits in the Midstate coming out of high school ... Runs a 4.9 40 ... Chose MT over Mississippi and Marshall.

[Edited by iamoz on 8-10-02 9:23P]