MTSU Football National Signing Day

The first Wednesday of February marks National Signing Day for college football.

Middle Tennessee currently has 24 commits for the 2015 season, which includes cornerback Dontavious Heard and running back I’Tavius Mathers.

Heard was originally scheduled to be an early enrollee, but did not qualify academically. Heard will look to enroll for the summer semester.

Mathers is a transfer from Ole Miss that will have to sit out the 2015 season due to NCAA transfer rules.

Coach Stockstill and his staff’s recruiting efforts will culminate today into what they hope is one of the best classes in school history.

Signed Letter of Intent:

Nick Beasley, Sophomore – Safety

Copiah-Lincoln C.C., Wesson, Mississippi

Height: 6’2, Weight: 205 lbs.

Rivals – ★★

247 Sports – ★★

ESPN – NR

Nick Beasley is a lengthy safety that brings great speed and sure tackling to the Blue Raider secondary. While Kevin Byard and Xavier Walker are holding down the starting safety roles, Beasley should be able to work himself into the rotation, as he makes few mistakes. 

Beasley racked up 44 tackles, a sack and an interception last season for Copiah-Lincoln Community College.

Held offers from: Georgia St., Memphis, North Texas, Southern Miss, Western Kentucky

Khalil Brooks, Freshman – Cornerback

Mays High School, Atlanta, Georgia

Height: 5’10, Weight: 180 lbs.

Rivals – ★★

247 Sports – ★★

ESPN – NR

Brooks is the definition of a cover corner. He’s more likely to go for the sure tackle over the interception. Brooks doesn’t have elite speed, but has great pursuit. He will be given every chance to play with the graduations of Khari Burke and Chris Sharpe.

While leading his high school to a 12-3 record, Brooks amassed 78 tackles and three interceptions.

Held offers from: Georgia St., Kent St., UMass, Western Kentucky

Rod Ducksworth, Sophomore – Wide Receiver

Jones County J.C., Ellisville, Mississippi

Height: 6’1, Weight: 185 lbs.

Rivals – ★★

247 Sports – ★★

ESPN – NR 

A speedy receiver, Rod Ducksworth brings raw talent to the Blue Raiders receiving corps. He’s great in the slot and could remind Blue Raider fans of a young Ed’Marques Batties. He may not have an immediate impact, but given a year to polish his skills, Ducksworth will certainly prove his worth.

Ducksworth caught 20 passes for 346 yards and a touchdown in 2014.

Held offers from: Alcorn St., Florida A&M, UT Martin, Texas Southern

Myles Harges, Junior – Linebacker

Itawamba C.C., Fulton, Mississippi

Height: 6’2, Weight: 220 lbs.

Rivals – ★★

247 Sports – ★★

ESPN – NR 

A great pass rusher with the ability to shed blocks with ease, Harges is a excellent rush linebacker that has a nose for getting into the backfield and terrorizing the quarterback. The junior college transfer will make for a good situational pass rusher.

Harges had 57 tackles, seven sacks and a forced fumble last season.

Held offers from: Arkansas St., California, Memphis, South Alabama, Southern Miss, Texas St.

I’Tavius Mathers, Senior – Running Back

Ole Miss via Blackman High School, Murfreesboro

Height: 5’11, Weight: 190 lbs.

Rivals – ★★★★

247 Sports – ★★★★

ESPN – ★★★★

Due to NCAA transfer rules, Ole Miss transfer I’Tavius Mathers will not be eligible to play for Middle Tennessee till the 2016 season. However,  when he is deemed eligbile immediate game changer for the Blue Raiders in 2016.

Ranked as a consensus 4-star prospect in 2012, the former Blackman star combines decent size with breakaway speed. He will be a great change of pace back with Shane Tucker handling short yardage duties.

In three seasons with the Rebels, Mathers carried the ball 189 times for 1061 yards and seven touchdowns.

In 2012, held offers from: Alabama, Notre Dame, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt

Dontavious Heard, Junior – Cornerback

Phoenix C.C., Phoenix, Arizona

Height: 6’1, Weight: 195 lbs.

Rivals – ★★★

247 Sports – ★★★

ESPN – NR

Heard has the size and skill to be an elite corner at the C-USA level. He brings length to a position that severely lacked it last season, as Jared Singletary and Shon Akins are both under 5-foot-9. With the departure of Shon Akins, Khari Burke and Chris Sharpe, Heard should be able to come in and contribute right away.

Playing on both sides of the ball for Phoenix Community College, Heard caught four passes for 82 yards and two touchdowns, while also collecting 32 tackles and nine pass breakups.

Held offers from: Colorado, Idaho, Iowa St., Memphis, North Texas

Matt Bonadies, Freshman – Kicker/Punter

Buford High School, Buford, Georgia

Height: 6’1, Weight: 190 lbs.

Rivals – ★★

247 Sports – NR

ESPN – NR

Bonadies is versatile, as he can punt and kick. The powerful, accurate specialist will have the opportunity to see the field early with the graduation of Sean O’Kane.

Held offers from: N/A

John Urzua, Freshman – Quarterback

North Gwinett High School, Suwanee, Georgia

Height: 6’3, Weight: 172 lbs.

Rivals – ★★

247 Sports – ★★

ESPN – NR

Urzua is your typical pocket passer. He excels at hitting his receivers in stride and fitting footballs in tight windows. He has all the talent he needs to make a run at the second string quarterback spot.

In 2014, Urzua completed 194 of his 317 passes for 3142 yards with 34 touchdowns and only six interceptions.

Held offers from: Western Kentucky

Ruben Garnett, Freshman – Running Back

Aquinas High School, Hephzibah, Georgia

Height: 5’8, Weight: 178 lbs.

Rivals – ★★★

247 Sports – ★★★

ESPN – ★★★

A homerun threat every time he touches the ball, Garnett combines his ability to break tackles with his blue chip speed to elude defenders. Look for him to make an impact early in his career.

Garnett ran for 2033 yards and 27 touchdowns in 2014, while also hauling in 17 receptions for 377 yards and five touchdowns.

Held offers from: Air Force, Appalachian St., Cincinnati, Duke, Georgia St., Louisiana Lafayette, Marshall, Miami (OH), Old Dominion, Southern Miss

Josh Fannin, Freshman – Offensive Center/Guard

Mill Creek High School, Hoschton, Georgia

Height: 6’3, Weight: 290 lbs.

Rivals – ★★★

247 Sports – ★★★

ESPN – ★★★

Fannin is a great run blocker with division one size. He can play anywhere on the interior offensive line, but his natural position is at center.

Held offers from: Army, Georgia St., Marshall, Old Dominion, South Alabama, Southern Miss

Trae Philpots, Freshman – Defensive End

Creekside High School, Fairburn, Georgia

Height: 6’3, Weight: 235 lbs.

Rivals – NR

247 Sports – ★★

ESPN – NR

A speedy defensive end that can also power through smaller offensive linemen, Philpots finds the backfield with ease. He has the pass rushing skill to see the field early in his career.

Held offers from: UMass, Miami (OH)

DeAndre Ford, Freshman – Offensive Tackle

Creekside High School, Fairburn, Georgia

Height: 6’6, Weight: 315 lbs.

Rivals – ★★

247 Sports – ★★

ESPN – NR

Ford is a monstrous offensive tackle that thrives at beating his opponents at the point of attack. His size will help him see the field in his collegiate career.

Held offers from: Georgia St.

Chris Melton, Freshman – Safety

Lee County High School, Leesburg, Georgia

Height: 6’1, Weight: 195 lbs.

Rivals – ★★

247 Sports – ★★

ESPN – NR

Chris Melton is a lengthy safety with the speed and strength to take down running backs in the open field. His elite pursuit and special teams ability should help him touch the field early in his career.

Held offers from: Air Force, Southern Miss

Chandler Brewer, Freshman – Offensive Guard/Tackle

Central High School, Florence, Alabama

Height: 6’6, Weight: 296 lbs.

Rivals – ★★

247 Sports – ★★★

ESPN – ★★★

A versatile offensive lineman, Brewer combines his size and skill to get running backs past the second level. He may be on the bench during his freshman season, but the talented trenchman will make an impact for Middle Tennessee in the future.

Held offers from: Arkansas St., Georgia St., Memphis, Southern Miss, Texas St., Troy

Terrelle West , Freshman – Athlete

Clay-Chalkville High School, Pinson, Alabama

Height: 5’9, Weight: 183 lbs.

Rivals – ★★★

247 Sports – ★★★

ESPN – ★★★

Though West is listed as an athlete, he should find himself in the running back rotation for his Blue Raider career. The Pinson, Alabama-native has great open field speed and knack for breaking tackles in the backfield.

West ran for 1071 yards on 116 carries for 12 touchdowns in 2014.

Held offers from: Arkansas St., Cincinnati, Mississippi St., South Alabama, Southern Miss, Western Kentucky

Isiah Upton, Freshman – Athlete

East Nashville Magnet School, Nashville, Tennessee

Height: 6’2, Weight: 173 lbs.

Rivals – ★★★

247 Sports – ★★★

ESPN – NR

The local product can do a little bit of everything. He has a knack for seeing an open field and running his way to the endzone. However, he is equally as good at finding his receivers open downfield.

Playing in only eight games, Upton passed for 1128 yards and 12 touchdowns, also rushing for 977 yards and 15 touchdowns on 71 carries.

Held offers from: Army, Georgia St., Marshall, Old Dominion, South Alabama, Southern Miss

Desmond Anderson, Freshman – Running Back

Gettys D. Broome High School, Spartansburg, South Carolina

Height: 5’9, Weight: 170 lbs.

Rivals – NR

247 Sports – ★★

ESPN – NR

A true running back with breakaway speed, Anderson may not see the field immediately, but given time the Spartansburg-native will be given plenty of opportunities to make an impact for the Blue Raiders.

Anderson rushed for 2154 yards and 26 touchdowns in 2014.

Held offers from: Coastal Carolina

Vernon Walker, Freshman – Safety

Dr. Phillips High School, Orlando, Florida

Height: 6’1, Weight: 195 lbs.

Rivals – ★★

247 Sports – ★★★

ESPN – NR

Walker is a safety with great cover skills. He makes a name for himself by jumping routes and intercepting passes, but never shies away from making big hits.

Held offers from: Akron, Tulane

Peter Bailey, Junior – Defensive End

Hinds C.C., Raymond, Mississippi

Height: 6’4, Weight: 245 lbs.

Rivals – ★★

247 Sports – ★★★

ESPN – NR

A powerful edge rusher with great pursuit, Bailey has the potential to see the field early and often in 2015 with the departures of Leighton Gasque and Shubert Bastien.

The defensive end picked up 61 tackles and six and a half sacks last season.

Held offers from: California, Florida Atlantic, Georgia St., Illinois, Kansas St., Louisiana Tech, Nebraska, Southern Miss

Martez Durrah, Freshman – Safety

East Hamilton High School, Ooltewah, Tennessee

Height: 6’1, Weight: 181 lbs.

Rivals – ★★

247 Sports – ★★

ESPN – NR

Durrah is a ball hawking defensive back that can play either cornerback or safety. He has great pursuit and may touch the field early in his career with the vacancies at cornerback and nickelback.

The former Chattanooga-commit collected 65 tackles, four forced fumbles and both an interception and fumble recovery that went for touchdowns in 2014.

Held offers from: Chattanooga

Trae Meadows, Freshman – Safety

Dudley High School, Greensboro, North Carolina

Height: 6’1, Weight: 190 lbs.

Rivals – ★★

247 Sports – ★★★

ESPN – NR

With great ball skills and pursuit, Meadows makes every game a rough day for the receiver he’s assigned to. Kevin Byard and Xavier Walker seemed to have locked down the starting safety roles, but expect Meadows to roll in and make plays.

Meadows put together a 73-tackle, six-interception season in 2014.

Held offers from: Army, Charlotte, Navy

JoVante’ Moffatt, Freshman – Cornerback

Union City High School, Union City, Tennessee

Height: 6’0, Weight: 180 lbs.

Rivals – NR

247 Sports – ★★

ESPN – NR

JoVante’ Moffatt has excellent pursuit and excels at finding the ball in the air. He likely would benefit from a red shirt, but has all the ability to make a great corner.

Moffatt racked up 34 tackles, three forced fumbles and four interceptions, while winning a state championship with Union City.

Held offers from: Western Kentucky

Tyshun Render, Freshman – Tight End/Defensive End

Westlake High School, Atlanta, Georgia

Height: 6’4, Weight: 225 lbs.

Rivals – ★★

247 Sports – ★★★

ESPN – NR

Philpots can high point balls when he’s on offense and hit the quarterback when he’s on defense. He’ll likely play along the defensive line, given the offense the Blue Raiders run.

Playing on both sides of the ball, Render caught eight passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns, and picked up 54 tackles, 15 TFLs and seven sacks on defense.

Held offers from: Georgia St., Western Kentucky

Jonathan Roth, Freshman – Defensive End

Fulton High School, Knoxville, Tennessee

Height: 6’5, Weight: 267 lbs.

Rivals – ★★

247 Sports – ★★

ESPN – NR

While he played defensive end in high school, Roth could find himself playing defensive tackle for the Blue Raiders. His sheer size, makes him a force to be reckoned with on a defensive line.

Roth picked up 38 tackles and two and a half sacks last season.

Held offers from: Navy

Malik Manciel, Freshman – Defensive Tackle

Florence High School, Florence, Alabama

Height: 6’2, Weight: 265 lbs.

Rivals – ★★★

247 Sports – ★★★

ESPN – NR

Manciel is a powerful defensive end with the versatility and frame to play defensive tackle. He can meet running backs in the whole or pressure the quarterback in the backfield when his number is called.

Held offers from: Arkansas St., Louisiana Lafayette, Southern Miss, Texas St., Western Kentucky

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To contact sports editor Connor Grott, email sports@mtsusidelines.com or reach him on Twitter at @Connor_Grott.