2016 Middle Tennessee State University Football Team Preview | #BeABlueRaider

A father-and-son combination will look to get the Blue Raiders back to a bowl game.

Middle Tennessee comes into the 2016 season with a lot to prove, especially after a tough loss 14-point loss in the Bahamas Bowl to Western Michigan last year. After finishing second in Conference USA’s East division for the second consecutive season, the Blue Raiders look to take the Eastern division crown this season.

Players To Watch

The Blue Raider offense boasts one of the most prolific attacks in all of C-USA. The offense is orchestrated by the 2015 Conference USA Freshman of the Year QB Brent Stockstill, who threw a Conference USA record 4,005 passing yards, and an FBS record 327 pass completions.

Stockstill is playing alongside Freshman WR Richie James, who came out of the gate with his shoes on fire in his first season for the Blue Raiders. James had 108 receptions -- a new school record -- and over 1,300 receiving yards earning him 2015 Freshman All-American honors.

Middle Tennessee has created a culture of gridiron excellence as the Blue Raiders have been bowl eligible in seven out of the last 10 years under head coach Rick Stockstill, who happens to be his starting quarterback's father. The Blue Raiders have competed in five bowl games, including last season’s Bahamas Bowl. Look for coach Stockstill to get his team over the hump this season and win their first bowl game since 2009.