2024 Tennessee State Tigers football team explained

Year:	2024
Team:	Tennessee State Tigers
Sport:	football
Conference:	Big South–OVC Football Association
Short Conf:	Big South–OVC
Statsrank:	21
Fcscoachrank:	19
Record:	9–4
Conf Record:	6–2
Head Coach:	Eddie George
Hc Year:	4th
Off Coach:	Travis Partridge
Oc Year:	1st
Def Coach:	Brandon Fisher
Dc Year:	4th
Stadium:	Nissan Stadium
Champion:	Big South–OVC co-champion
Bowl:	NCAA Division I First Round
Bowl Result:	L 27–41 at Montana

The 2024 Tennessee State Tigers football team represented Tennessee State University as a member of the Big South–OVC Football Association during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Tigers were led by fourth-year head coach Eddie George, and played their home games at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.

Preseason

Preseason poll

The Big South-OVC Conference released their preseason poll on July 17, 2024. The Tigers were picked to finish fourth in the conference.^[1]

1	UT Martin	61 (5)
2	Eastern Illinois	53 (2)
3	Southeast Missouri State	51 (2)
4	Tennessee State	41
5	Gardner-Webb	40
6	Charleston Southern	27
7	Tennessee Tech	24
8	Lindenwood	18
9	Western Illinois	9

Transfers

Outgoing

Thomas Nance	DL	Bethune–Cookman
Terrell Allen	DL	Tulane
Romello Watson	OL	Georgia State
Monroe Beard III	LB	Marshall
Jahee Blake	WR	Norfolk State
Rayqwon Smith	DL	North Alabama
Bryce Phillips	DB	San Diego State
Nicholas Green	OL	San Diego State
Demeatric Crenshaw	QB	Slippery Rock
Canen Adrian	WR	Stephen F. Austin
Jashon Watkins	DB	UMass
Jalen Rouse	RB	Unknown
Jeremiah Josephs	S	Unknown

Incoming

Saidou Ba	OL	Arkansas State
CJ Evans Jr.	RB	Austin Peay
Gerard Bullock	TE	Austin Peay
Aiden Smith	WR	Bryant
Kierron Smith	DL	Georgia Southern
JayT Jackson	DB	Georgia State
Will Jones	OL	Grambling State
Anthony Smith	OL	Iowa State
Yirayah LaNier	DL	Louisville
George Hamsley	QB	LSU
Tevin Carter	QB	Memphis
Mark Shenouda	P	Memphis
Meonta Kimbrough	DL	Memphis
Tyler Jones	DB	Missouri
Marvin Atuatasi	OL	Morgan State
Blake Gamez	OL	Northern Arizona
Keandre Booker	LB	Southeast Missouri State
Camani Cobbs	DB	Southeast Missouri State
Exavious Reed	TE	Southern Miss
Kaderris Roberts	RB	Stetson
Connor Meadows	OL	Tennessee
Malik Ganaway	DB	Tennessee
Camron Douglas	DL	Tennessee
Jalal Dean	WR	Tennessee Tech
Kheagian Heckaman	TE	UTEP
Jackson Foster	K	Western Michigan

^{[2] [3] [4] [5]}

Schedule

^{[6] [7]}

Game summaries

vs Mississippi Valley State

See also: 2024 Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils football team.

Statistics	MVSU	TNST
First downs	16	21
Total yards	264	495
Rushing yards	69	138
Passing yards	195	357
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	13–23–1	22–34–1
Time of possession	30:10	29:50

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Mississippi Valley State	Passing	Jaydyn Sisk	7/10, 110 yards, 1 TD
Rushing	Zamariyon Kendall	12 carries, 26 yards
Receiving	Nathan Rembert	4 receptions, 81 yards, 1 TD
Tennessee State	Passing	Draylen Ellis	21/33, 356 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
Rushing	Jaden McGill	7 carries, 41 yards
Receiving	Jalal Dean	9 receptions, 144 yards, 1 TD

at No. 2 North Dakota State

See also: 2024 North Dakota State Bison football team.

Statistics	TNST	NDSU
First downs	12	21
Total yards	200	436
Rushing yards	72	226
Passing yards	128	210
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	17–25–0	17–23–1
Time of possession	29:46	30:14

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Tennessee State	Passing	Draylen Ellis	17/25, 128 yards
Rushing	Draylen Ellis	11 carries, 27 yards
Receiving	Jalal Dean	3 receptions, 51 yards
North Dakota State	Passing		14/18, 181 yards, 3 TD
Rushing	Nathan Hayes	1 carry, 51 yards, TD
Receiving	Bryce Lance	7 receptions, 106 yards, 2 TD

vs Arkansas-Pine Bluff

See also: 2024 Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions football team.

Statistics	UAPB	TNST
First downs	16	24
Total yards	329	424
Rushing yards	53	196
Passing yards	276	228
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	15–31–0	20–33–0
Time of possession	25:25	31:37

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Arkansas–Pine Bluff	Passing	Mekhi Hagens	15/31, 276 yards, 3 TD
Rushing	Oshawn Ross	16 carries, 51 yards, TD
Receiving	JaVonnie Gibson	5 receptions, 149 yards, TD
Tennessee State	Passing	Draylen Ellis	20/33, 228 yards, 3 TD
Rushing	CJ Evans	9 carries, 63 yards, TD
Receiving	Bryant Williams	5 receptions, 88 yards

at Tennessee Tech

See also: 2024 Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles football team and Sgt. York Trophy.

Statistics	TNST	TNTC
First downs	14	15
Total yards	246	314
Rushing yards	0	220
Passing yards	246	94
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	22–39–2	12–25–1
Time of possession	30:00	30:00

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Tennessee State	Passing	Draylen Ellis	22/39, 246 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing	CJ Evans	6 carries, 14 yards
Receiving	Karate Brenson	9 receptions, 99 yards
Tennessee Tech	Passing	Jordyn Potts	12/25, 94 yds, 1 INT
Rushing	Obie Sanni	6 carries, 75 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	D.J. Linkins	4 receptions, 39 yards

vs Charleston Southern

See also: 2024 Charleston Southern Buccaneers football team.

Statistics	CHSO	TNST
First downs	17	11
Total yards	309	206
Rushing yards	219	101
Passing yards	90	105
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	4–12–0	12–25–0
Time of possession	41:29	18:31

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Charleston Southern	Passing	Kaleb Jackson	4/12, 90 yards
Rushing	Autavius Ison	33 carries, 157 yards
Receiving	Chris Rhone	2 receptions, 39 yards
Tennessee State	Passing	Draylen Ellis	12/24, 105 yards, 1 TD
Rushing	Jordan Gant	5 carries, 40 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	Bryant Williams	5 receptions, 49 yards, 1 TD

at Lindenwood

See also: 2024 Lindenwood Lions football team.

Statistics	TNST	LIN
First downs	15	14
Total yards	285	280
Rushing yards	89	181
Passing yards	196	99
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	14–26–1	11–20–0
Time of possession	31:33	28:27

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Tennessee State	Passing	Draylen Ellis	14/26, 196 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing	Jaden McGill	15 carries, 63 yards
Receiving	CJ Evans	3 receptions, 74 yards, 1 TD
Lindenwood	Passing	Nate Glantz	11/20, 99 yards, 1 TD
Rushing	Steve Hall	7 carries, 67 yards
Receiving	Jeff Caldwell	3 receptions, 45 yards, 1 TD

vs Eastern Illinois

See also: 2024 Eastern Illinois Panthers football team.

Statistics	EIU	TNST
First downs	23	20
Total yards	435	365
Rushing yards	75	128
Passing yards	360	237
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	30–51–1	21–33–0
Time of possession	31:54	28:06

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Eastern Illinois	Passing	Pierce Holley	28/46, 338 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing	MJ Flowers	21 carries, 57 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	Cooper Willman	8 receptions, 141 yards
Tennessee State	Passing	Draylen Ellis	20/32, 224 yards, 4 TD
Rushing	Jaden McGill	9 carries, 47 yards
Receiving	Karate Brenson	6 receptions, 121 yards, 1 TD

at Howard

See also: 2024 Howard Bison football team.

Statistics	TNST	HOW
First downs	16	14
Total yards	412	209
Rushing yards	123	176
Passing yards	289	33
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	19–30–0	6–22–2
Time of possession	35:19	24:41

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Tennessee State	Passing	Draylen Ellis	19/30, 289 yards
Rushing	Jaden McGill	14 carries, 43 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	Karate Brenson	5 receptions, 153 yards
Howard	Passing	Ja'Shawn Scroggins	6/21, 33 yards, 2 INT
Rushing	Jarett Hunter	15 carries, 102 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	Breylin Smith	4 receptions, 15 yards

vs UT Martin

See also: 2024 UT Martin Skyhawks football team and Sgt. York Trophy.

Statistics	UTM	TNST
First downs	22	25
Total yards	370	354
Rushing yards	104	42
Passing yards	266	312
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	18–27–1	33–54–2
Time of possession	30:35	29:25

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UT Martin	Passing	Kinkead Dent	18/27, 266 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT
Rushing	Patrick Smith	16 carries, 73 yards
Receiving	Tyler Dostin	4 receptions, 87 yards
Tennessee State	Passing	Draylen Ellis	33/53, 153 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing	Draylen Ellis	5 carries, 29 yards
Receiving	Jalal Dean	11 receptions, 118 yards, 1 TD

at Western Illinois

See also: 2024 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team.

Statistics	TNST	WIU
First downs	23	27
Total yards	376	432
Rushing yards	188	148
Passing yards	188	284
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	12–19–1	27–50–1
Time of possession	27:02	27:16

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Tennessee State	Passing	Draylen Ellis	12/19, 188 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing	Tevin Carter	8 carries, 51 yards, 2 TD
Receiving	Bryant Williams	3 receptions, 56 yards, 1 TD
Western Illinois	Passing	Nathan Lamb	24/45, 266 yds, 1 TD
Rushing	Nathan Lamb	13 carries, 74 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	Demari Davis	2 receptions, 62 yards

at Gardner-Webb

See also: 2024 Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs football team.

Statistics	TNST	GWEB
First downs	19	18
Total yards	363	333
Rushing yards	143	126
Passing yards	220	207
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	18–31–0	19–43–1
Time of possession	32:19	27:41

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Tennessee State	Passing	Draylen Ellis	18/28, 220 yds, 2 TD
Rushing	Jaden McGill	15 carries, 100 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	Karate Brenson	8 receptions, 82 yards
Gardner–Webb	Passing	Tyler Ridell	19/43, 207 yds, 1 INT
Rushing	Edward Saydee	18 carries, 68 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	Camden Overton	7 receptions, 74 yards

vs No. 12 Southeast Missouri State

See also: 2024 Southeast Missouri State Redhawks football team.

Statistics	SEMO	TNST
First downs	18	19
Total yards	308	347
Rushing yards	75	115
Passing yards	233	232
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	27–47–0	20–32–0
Time of possession	28:17	31:43

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Southeast Missouri State	Passing	Paxton DeLaurent	27/46, 233 yards, 2 TD
Rushing	Payton Brown	10 carries, 45 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	Tristan Smith	8 receptions, 70 yards
Tennessee State	Passing	Draylen Ellis	20/31, 232 yards, 2 TD
Rushing	Jaden McGill	18 carries, 73 yards
Receiving	CJ Evans	6 receptions, 107 yards, 1 TD

at No. 13 Montana (NCAA Division I Playoff–First Round)

See also: 2024 Montana Grizzlies football team.

Statistics	TNST	MONT
First downs	18	19
Total yards	310	369
Rushing yards	14	254
Passing yards	296	115
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	29–39–1	12–23–0
Time of possession	29:48	30:12

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Tennessee State	Passing	Draylen Ellis	29/39, 296 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing	CJ Evans	6 carries, 26 yards
Receiving	Karate Brenson	11 receptions, 122 yards, 2 TD
Montana	Passing	Logan Fife	11/22, 97 yards
Rushing		20 carries, 136 yards, 2 TD
Receiving	Sawyer Racanelli	2 receptions, 35 yards

Notes and References

1. Web site: UT Martin Voted 2024 Preseason Big South-OVC Football Association Favorite . www.bigsouthovcfootball.com . July 17, 2024 . 20 November 2024 . en.
2. Web site: 2024 FCS-to-FCS Transfers . herosports . en.
3. Web site: 2024 FBS-to-FCS Transfers . herosports . en.
4. Web site: 2024 FCS-to-FBS Transfers . herosports . en.
5. Web site: 2024 Tennessee State Football Transfer Portal . on3 . en.
6. Web site: 2024 Football Schedule. tsutigers.com. Tennessee State Tigers. May 14, 2024.
7. Web site: 2024 Tennessee State Football Schedule. fbschedules.com. May 14, 2024.