What Derek Mason has already changed about MTSU football recruiting

Middle Tennessee State football coach Derek Mason proudly donned a "Boro Built, Middle Made" T-shirt during the team's practice and media day last week.

The new slogan is a fitting one for Mason, and Nashville area high school football players are taking notice.

When he was hired in December , Mason emphasized his intent to strongly recruit Rutherford County and the Middle Tennessee area.

So far that's what he's doing.

"He's been around Rutherford County a lot more than they used to go," said Rockvale 6-foot-5, 300-pound offensive lineman and MTSU commitment Bo Bryan. "He's doing a pretty good job of doing that. It's just going to get better."

Mason and the Blue Raiders have eight 2025 commitments from Middle Tennessee: three-star prospects D.J. Taylor (Riverdale RB) , Kyle Larkin (Ravenwood OL), Ben Hubbard (Brentwood WR), Neo Clifton (Brentwood Academy WR) and Rai'keyrean Chandler (Shelbyville RB), as well as Rockvale's Bryan, Independence athlete Taylor Lawrence and Ensworth linebacker Micah Smith.

"They offered me after Mason was hired," said Hubbard, who committed to MTSU in April. He also had offers from Army, Navy, Air Force, Missouri State and Arkansas State, among others. "I didn't hear a bunch about them before he was hired."

MTSU signed no Middle Tennessee area players in former coach Rick Stockstill's last high school signing class (2023). The 2022 class had two signees (one from Rutherford County, Oakland OL Ethan Ellis) and the 2021 class had one from the Midstate (Tullahoma safety Jakobe Thomas).

MTSU football coach Derek Mason's blueprint for recruiting success

Like most Group of Five coaches, Mason knows it is a difficult task to recruit power conference recruits to MTSU.

But he is prioritizing not losing Middle Tennessee players to comparable programs elsewhere.

"It's because we're focused on our blueprint," Mason said. "We want to make sure we sort of lock down our borders. Vandy and Tennessee are going to look a little different. Memphis has built their footprint. But ours ... there's so much good football in this state. There's so much good football in Rutherford County. When I started thinking about trying to go six hours and get someplace else, it didn't make sense."

MTSU also has commitments from 2025 statewide standouts Otto Van Rensburg (Sevierville OL) and Joel Lowenberg (Baylor LB).

MORE: Why MTSU football quarterback Nick Vattiato hasn't taken keeping starting job for granted

Taylor decided to stay home after also having offers from Auburn, Vanderbilt, Indiana, Memphis, Tulane, Marshall and Charlotte, among others.

"I remember it was right around the time I got offered by Tulane, (Mason) talked to me and they let me know I was the first guy (the new coaching staff) was going to offer on offense," Taylor said. "Before that we had went to a little meeting, a visit and he had talked about heavily recruiting local guys. We have a lot of talent around here. They're been hard on it, and have been really good."

Mason kicks off his inaugural season Aug. 31 as MTSU will play host to longtime rival Tennessee Tech (6 p.m., ESPN+).

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: What Derek Mason has already changed about MTSU football recruiting