MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — A new NCAA rule in 2018 drastically changed how Middle Tennessee handles part of its special teams.
The NCAA's kickoff fair catch rule, where teams can signal a fair catch on a kickoff and take the ball at the 25, almost took out MT's need to return kicks completely. The Blue Raiders only returned four kicks in 2018 compared to 25 in 2017, making the need for a dynamite kick returner a little less necessary as compared to one who has sure hands.
"The top five teams in the country averaged starting on the 28 or 29-yard line," head coach Rick Stockstill said.