After achieving its first winning season in six years in 2023, coach Eddie George's Tennessee State football team has five specific areas it must improve in spring practice.
The Tigers, who went 6-5 in George's third season, have several key players returning and are making a few transfers this spring.
TSU will conclude its drills at the Blue and White Spring Game on April 13 at Hale Stadium.
Tennessee State football quarterback must improve
Quarterback Dreylen Ellis is in his third season at TSU, but this is his first time participating in spring practice.
Ellis, a transfer from Austin Peay, arrived at TSU in the fall of 2022 and started 10 games. Ellis missed 2023 spring practice due to performance issues, but returned in the fall and started alongside Deveon Bryant.
With Bryant graduating, Ellis, who completed 103 of 196 passes for 1,075 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions in 2023, will get the majority of first-team snaps this spring.
Several FBS transfers were expected to challenge Ellis for the starting spot, Tevin Carter from Memphis and George Hamsey from LSU, but neither is much of a threat so far.
Former Overton quarterback Ryder Hagan, who appeared in two games last season, is further down the depth chart along with Youngstown State transfer Demetrick Crenshaw.
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Understanding Tennessee State's running back attack
The Tigers are in the best position at running back under former Tennessee Titans running back George.
The backfield features senior Jalen Rouse and junior Jordan Gant. Rouse is using this spring to get back into shape after missing three games due to injury. Gant filled in nicely during Rouse's absence, appearing in 11 games and leading the Tigers with 553 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 144 carries.
Antwan Parker is the largest back on the roster at 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds, and is a junior college transfer who will try to join Ike Brown, a Lane transfer who appeared in six games in 2023. There is.
Tennessee State has a receiver fighting for No. 1.
The Tigers never named a No. 1 receiver in 2023. There are a lot of experienced receivers, and the coaching staff is trying to identify the No. 1 receiver.
Among them are Dashon Davis, who led the Big South/OVC in average yards per catch (27.1 yards) last season, as well as Daylon Johnson and former Franklin Road Academy standout Lance Wilhoit ( (transfer from Oregon State) and Jalal Dean (transfer from Oregon State). Tennessee Tech's Solomon Dunn, a transfer from East Tennessee State University, and former Overton star Delaney Majors.
Benson, who has a total of 53 catches, 606 yards and three touchdowns over the past two seasons, missed the spring with an injury.
TSU needs to find enough reps for a strong defensive line
The defensive line is the team's strength. The only problem is getting enough reps for each major player.
Defensive end Terrell Allen led the FCS in sacks (14.5) and tackles for loss (28), leading George's son and FCS Freshman All-American Eric George, Chris Walker and Tyler Moore. He is in the rotation with a three-star player. prospect from Locust Grove, Ga., who enrolled in January, and Cameron Blaylock, a transfer from Trinity Valley Community College.
Tackle Jalen Bell had a great season in 2022, but was injured in the 2023 opener at Notre Dame and returned to the first team.
Kieron Smith, a transfer from Georgia Southern, is expected to emerge as the starting nose tackle in the spring.
Tennessee State needs two new linebackers.
Big South/OVC middle linebacker Monroe Beard returns after leading the Tigers in tackles (95) last season, but the other two linebacker spots need help.
Ahmad Nelson, Micah Gay and former Ensworth star Sammy Taylor each have experience and are in contention for the starting spot.