Murfreesboro, Tennessee – The Blue Raiders are counting down to the first kickoff of the 2026 campaign, a home showdown with Murray State scheduled for September 5 that will mark the culmination of a month‑long preseason regimen.
At the heart of the offensive overhaul is Anthony Scelfo, who arrived in Murfreesboro after a stint that saw his Southeastern Louisiana team average 31 points per game and rank among the top five in both rushing and passing in the Southland Conference. His balanced attack promises to diversify the Raiders’ playbook, moving beyond the 20.3 points per game average recorded under Bodie Reeder last season.
Adding to the line’s pedigree, Christopher Browne brings a résumé that includes stints under Sam Pittman at the University of Arkansas and Kirk Ferentz at the University of Iowa, as well as four transfer linemen who are expected to shore up a unit that struggled with ball‑handling efficiency in recent years.
A Revamped Defense
The defensive side of the ball is being rebuilt around transfers Ashton Taylor and Kaven Call. Call, a redshirt junior from East Tennessee State, contributed 23 tackles, including four tackles for loss and two sacks, before joining the Raiders. He will pair with Ashton Taylor, whose own experience is expected to stabilize a unit that lost linebacker Parker Hughes, drafted in the seventh round by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Coach Derek Mason believes the combination of a more balanced offense and a retooled defense will finally deliver the consistency the program has chased for years. As the Raiders open the season against Murray State, the new schemes on both sides of the ball could prove decisive.