MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Being forced to find a new starter at middle linebacker has done little to tamper the excitement of head coach Rick Stockstill surrounding the group.
The Blue Raiders have to find an answer for the loss of First Team All-Conference USA middle backer Darius Harris, but returners all around the new starter will make the linebackers a focal point of opposing teams' offensive scouting reports.
Redshirt senior Khalil Brooks, who's eight sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss away from tying two school records, and DQ Thomas, the team's leader in 2018 with 8.