By Isaac Hillis MTN Sports Reporter April 8, 2021
The MTSU football team had their first scrimmage of spring camp on Saturday, which now marks the halfway point of their spring camp. Last season, the team was stripped of their spring camp due to COVID-19 restrictions, thus putting more pressure on newer members of the team to showcase their talent.
“For the young guys, they didn't have this last year, so we've been able to slow things down, coach them up, and improve things fundamentally. We can introduce them to schemes both offensively and defensively at a slower pace than we did last year because we didn't have this time,” said head coach Rick Stockstill.
The offense is under new management with the hiring of offensive coordinator Brent Dearmon. And as of right now the starting quarterback job seems to be between transfer quarterback Bailey Hockman, Chase Cunningham, and Mike DiLiello.
“We’re rotating those three guys, and these are three guys that show up to work every day, put their hard hat on and come out here and can compete with each other. But they are all friends with each other as well. Just to see these three guys and the way they attack everyday has been fun to watch,” said Dearmon. “We will see who comes out on top these last two to three weeks.”
Redshirt freshman defensive tackle Marley Cook has been making a great impact as a young player this spring for a defense that was in need of an inside presence last season. A defense which gave up 35.4 points per game last season.
“Marley Cook has really had a great spring and a great day today, He is really starting to become a dominating force inside," said Stockstill.
For the Raiders, there is still another three weeks of spring camp that will be concluded with a final scrimmage.