Second linebacker of the day hits the portal

Linebacker Muaaz Byard is planning to enter the transfer portal, according to ON3.

As a redshirt junior in 2025, Byard played in eight games including four starts. Byard was fourth on the team with 37 tackles, while adding four and half tackles for loss to pair with an interception.

Byard is the brother of MTSU alum, and current Chicago Bears safety Kevin Byard. The linebacker will have one year of eligibility to carry with him after spending the first four years of his career with Middle Tennessee.

Linebacker leaves

Inside linebacker Alex Mitchell is intending to enter the portal, according to a report by ON3’s Hayes Fawcett.

Mitchell played in four games in his senior season, his only with Middle Tennessee while obtaining a redshirt. Across those four appearances, the Murfreesboro, Tennessee native compiled 28 tackles, three tackles for loss and a forced fumble.

A former linebacker at Murfreesboro’s Riverdale High School, Mitchell spent the first three years of his collegiate career at the Football Championship Subdivision level with the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga.

Mitchell will carry one year of eligibility with him into the portal after being granted a redshirt for this past season.

Offensive line anchor hits portal

Middle Tennessee’s Mateo Guevara has announced his intent to enter the transfer portal, according to a post from Guevara’s Instagram account.

Guevara has spent the last four seasons with the Blue Raiders, and has started all 24 games of the Derek Mason era. This past season, he started games at both center and guard.

A native of Flowery Branch, Georgia, Guevara redshirted his true freshman season in 2022 before playing nine games in 2023.

Guevara will carry one year of eligibility to the portal, according to his Instagram post.

Running back to the portal

Redshirt sophomore running back Rickey Hunt Jr has announced his intention to enter the transfer portal, per a post on Hunt’s X account.

Hunt accumulated 111 rushing yards and one touchdown in his lone season as a Blue Raider, after settling in as the third running back on the depth chart. The Oklahoma native began the year as the backup to Jekail Middlebrook, but fell behind true freshman back DJ Taylor on MTSU’s two deep.

This will be the third time Hunt has hit the portal, after spending his first two collegiate seasons at Ohio. Hunt made a stop at Tulsa in the first transfer window of last season before re-entering in the spring window in 2025 to commit to MTSU.

Hunt becomes the second Blue Raider running back to enter the portal after Middlebrook announced his intention to transfer on Dec. 4.

Another receiver hits the portal

Wide receiver Amorion Walker announced his intention to enter the transfer portal per his X account.

Walker spent his redshirt junior season with Middle Tennessee after spending the previous three seasons with the University of Michigan. He spent his first two years playing as both a wideout and a defensive back with the Wolverines, before transitioning primarily to offense.

In 10 games with the Blue Raiders in 2025, Walker recorded 15 receptions for 201 yards and a touchdown. The Ponchatoula, Louisiana native dropped down the depth chart for the Blue Raiders, with names such as Cam’Ron Lacy, Landon Collins and AJ Jones jumping above Walker for playing time.

Walker is set to have one year of eligibility remaining, after redshirting in his junior season as Michigan.

Offensive line loss

Senior offensive lineman EJ Harris has announced he will be leaving Middle Tennessee’s program to pursue the transfer portal with one year of eligibility.

Harris made three starts in his first and only season with MTSU after spending three years at Auburn University. He was previously coached by Kendall Simmons at Auburn, who served as Middle Tennessee’s offensive line coach until stepping away from the program on Nov. 4.

Key pass rusher enters portal

Redshirt junior outside linebacker Reggie Johnson has announced he will enter the transfer portal, according to a report by Hayes Fawcett of On3 Sports.

Johnson picked up 3.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss this season, breaking out as a key cog to the Blue Raiders’ pass rush. Johnson carries one year of eligibility with him into the portal.

Leading rusher to the portal

Redshirt sophomore Jekail Middlebrook announced his intention to enter the transfer portal, according to a report by Hayes Fawcett of On3 Sports.

Middlebrook totaled 1,164 all-purpose yards in his third season as a Blue Raider as the lead running back this season. The Fayetteville, Georgia native scored seven touchdowns, including four on the ground.

The running back was recently named a All-CUSA honorable mention.

2025 team captain intends to transfer

MTSU safety and 2025 team captain Rickey Smith announced his intent to transfer on his Instagram on Thursday, Dec. 4.

Smith played in six games prior to injury in 2025 and totaled seven tackles with five solo. The Orlando, Florida, native will enter the portal as a graduate student.

First intended commitment

Junior college tight end Jadin Hambrick has announced his intention to transfer to Middle Tennessee. Hambrick has spent the last two years at Trinity Valley Community College, where he has appeared in 15 games.

Across 10 games this year, Hambrick caught nine passes for 67 yards and one touchdown at TVCC.

A native of Tyler, Texas, the six-foot-six sophomore will slot into the Blue Raiders plans at tight end just a day after starter Hunter Tipton announced his intention to transfer.

Tipton hits the portal

Redshirt junior tight end Hunter Tipton is intending to hit the portal, according to a report by 247 Sports and Tipton’s agency, A&P Sports.

Middle Tennessee’s top producer out of the tight end room hits the portal after just one year on campus, joining the program after a season at Louisiana Tech and the previous two with seperate junior colleges.

Tipton was fifth on the team in receiving yards, adding two touchdowns on 39 receptions.

The Timpson, Texas native will look for his next destination with one more year of eligibility.

Defensive line losses

Redshirt sophomores Anthony Bynum and Shakai Woods are both planning to enter the transfer portal, according to Hayes Fawcett of ON3 and Chris Hummer of 247 Sports.

An edge rusher from Covington, Georgia, Bynum was an anchor of the Blue Raiders defense the past two seasons. In 2025 he totaled 2.5 sacks, and 63 tackles. This was the second highest tackle mark on the team, following senior standout Parker Hughes’ 99.

Bynum jumped onto the season in 2024, with 60 tackles and 2.5 sacks in his first year as a starter.

Woods followed Bynum closely in the tackling statistic this year, tallying 52 tackles. He added seven tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in his third season as a Blue Raider.

Both Woods and Bynum were members of the 2024 All-CUSA freshman team.

Nov. 30

One of MTSU’s leading receivers, Nahzae Cox plans to enter the transfer portal, according to Chris Hummer of 247 Sports.

Cox is departing the program after spending one season with the Blue Raiders. He emerged as one of the top targets for the team in the first half of the season, with four touchdowns in the first four games.

The former Fresno City College wideout led Conference USA in receiving touchdowns through five weeks, but struggled to find production in the latter half of the season. Cox fell down MTSU’s depth chart, with freshman walk-on Landon Collins getting a starting nod over him in the final two games of the season.

Cox was tied for the team lead in touchdowns with five, while hauling in 40 receptions for the second highest total on the team. He also amassed 473 yards, which was the third most by a Blue Raider this year.