2019 NCAA Division I College Football Team Previews: Murray State Racers
Murray State Racers
Location: Murray, KY
Coach: Mitch Stewart (15-29), 5th Season at Murray State
Stadium: Roy Stewart Stadium (Capacity 16,800)
CSJ Projections:
6th: OVC
5th: Kentucky
66th: FCS
194th: Division I
2018 In A Sentence: Murray State lost all three of their non-conference games, which sealed their fate in 2018. In the Ohio Valley, the Racers were 5-3 including one of the most improbable comeback victories and crazy plays of the football season. In their next to last game against Southeast Missouri State, the Racers trailed 31-0 late in the first half before rattling off 34 straight points to take the lead with just under two minutes left in the game. However, SEMO scored what they thought was the winning touchdown with 20 seconds left. But, SEMO decided to squib the kickoff, but Murray State returned the kick for the game winning touchdown.
Biggest Shoes to Fill: LB Quincy Williams was a tackling machine in 2018 with 111 tackles to lead the team. Williams had 9.5 tackles for loss and 2 interceptions, both of which went back for 80-plus yard touchdowns. The Racers also lose DL Kenney Wooten, who notched 42 tackles, 10.5 sacks and 8 quarterback hits.
Key Player: Head Coach Mitch Stewart has a tall task in front of him as he has to replace his two best defensive players, top two quarterbacks, and his top running back. The Racers do get back their top receiver from 2018, WR Malik Honeycutt, who had 29 catches for 477 yards and four touchdowns. If Stewart cant find the right combination of players around him, however, it will be a long season for Murray State.
Fearless Prediction: The college basketball world was enamored with Ja Morant as he led the Murray State basketball team to the tournament before becoming the #2 overall pick in the NBA. Unfortunately, the football program does not have a similar transcendent star to carry them through 2019 in what promises to be a long season for the Racers.
Jamie is a proud 2002 graduate of James Madison University. He’s witnessed the growth of the program from no one in the stands in 1998, to the hiring of Mickey Matthews, to the 2004 National Championship, to the 2008 team, to the struggles in the early 2010s, and finally the rebuild under Mike Houston. He also allegedly really enjoys Washington, DC-based Stanley Cup winners.
Reach him at:
Mitch STEWART is the head coach, not Laird.
Thanks Jeff. The edit has been made. Thank you for keeping me honest.
Jamie, we appreciate the coverage, however the sentence “after a series of laterals” is inaccurate. Malik was the original person to field the ball and never gave up possession. A side note, he was not even supposed to be in on that play, but put himself in and the rest is history. Thanks again!
Thank you Parker. I have updated the post. I was not remembering the play correctly and I apologize for that. I remember it being an excellent play. I thought from jump that SEMO made a mistake to squib it.