Courtesy of Tennessee State Athletics
Fresh off a shared OVC regular-season title and an FCS Playoff appearance, the Tennessee State Tigers are now led by new head coach Reggie Barlow. Barlow took over this summer following the departure of former head coach Eddie George to Bowling Green (FCS). This season, the Tigers will host a program-best eight home games, opening with the John A. Merritt Classic against North Carolina A&T. TSU will play its first four games of the season in Nashville to begin Barlow’s tenure.
Tennessee State vs. North Carolina A&T
Date: Sat., August 30, 2025
Time: 3:30 PM CT
Location: NASHVILLE
Venue: Nissan Stadium (69,143)
TV: ESPN+
Dan Laing (pxp)
Darren Arbet (analyst)
Radio: WNSR — 560 AM, 95.9 FM (Nashville), 107.9 FM (Smyrna)
Sirius XM: Ch. TBA / TBA (app)
Stream: TSU Tigers App, WNSR.com, Alexa (Play WNSR)
Greg Pogue (pxp)
Dean Cokinos (analyst)
Social: @TSU_Tigers | @TSUTigersFB
Game Notes: TSU | NCAT
Game Day Information: Watch | Live Stats
WHERE TO WATCH & LISTEN: TSU football can be heard on WNSR’s flagship stations: 560 AM, 95.9 FM (Nashville), and 107.9 FM (Smyrna), and streamed online at WNSR.com. The broadcast is also available globally on Sirius XM. WNSR provides comprehensive pregame and postgame analysis, exclusive interviews with coaches and players, and behind-the-scenes content to enhance fan engagement. “The Voice of the Tigers,” Greg Pogue, returns for his 14th season behind the mic and will be joined by veteran Arena Football League head coach and former Titans scout Dean Cokinos for home games, and TSU Assistant Athletic Director Nick Guerriero for road games. All TSU home games will be streamed live on ESPN+, and the action can also be accessed through the TSU Tigers app. Dan Laing returns for his third season as play-by-play announcer, joined in the booth by Arena Football Hall of Famer and Nashville Kats head coach Darren Arbet. Dean Cokinos will also serve as an analyst throughout the season.
2025 JOHN A. MERRITT CLASSIC HONOREE — LEON MURRAY: One of the most prolific quarterbacks in TSU history, Leon Murray (1997–99) earned 1998 OVC Player of the Year, 1999 Sporting News All-America honors, and was named the 1999 John A. Merritt Classic MVP. He threw for 7,207 career yards and 56 touchdowns, ranking among the program’s all-time leaders. Murray set the school single-game passing record with 491 yards against Murray State in 1998 and later tied the single-game mark with five touchdown passes at UT Martin in 1999. After his TSU career, he played professionally in the Arena Football League with the Nashville Kats, Georgia Force, and New York Dragons.
PRESEASON BY THE NUMBERS:
5: Offensive line coach Russ Ehrenfeld brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record in developing NFL talent. Ehrenfeld holds the distinction of having coached the last five NFL draft picks under his tutelage. His first came in 2000 with Michael Thompson (Atlanta Falcons), followed by Kadeem Edwards (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2014), Demetrius Rhaney (St. Louis Rams, 2014), Robert Myers (Baltimore Ravens, 2015), Anthony Morris (Oakland Raiders, 2015), and Lachavious Simmons (Chicago Bears, 2020). Known for his expertise in developing linemen at multiple positions, Ehrenfeld has consistently prepared players to compete at the next level.
8: Mark Shenouda is Tennessee State’s lone returning punter for the 2025 season. In 2024, he appeared in 10 games and punted 40 times for 1,608 yards, averaging 40.2 yards per punt with a long of 60. Shenouda consistently helped control field position, placing 13 punts inside the 20-yard line and recording seven fair catches. He also had eight punts travel 50 or more yards, showcasing both distance and accuracy, while avoiding any blocked punts.
13: Devon Starling played three seasons at Tennessee State before transferring to Northern Arizona for the 2023 season. At TSU, he totaled over 1,900 all-purpose yards and 15 touchdowns, earning OVC Co-Freshman of the Year honors as a freshman. Starling led the Tigers in rushing in multiple seasons and was a consistent threat in the passing game, while also contributing on special teams. In 2023 at Northern Arizona, he led the Lumberjacks with 726 rushing yards and seven total touchdowns, including three 100-yard rushing games. He added 210 receiving yards on 22 catches, averaged 85.1 all-purpose yards per game, and contributed four tackles on defense, showcasing his versatility and playmaking ability.
15: Ravon Johnson will face his former team, Alabama A&M, later this season in Week 3. Johnson played one season at Alabama A&M in 2024, appearing in all 15 games. He finished the year with 15 total tackles, including three solo stops and 12 assists, and added one pass defended, providing a steady presence in the Bulldogs’ secondary.
16: Braelen Perry played two seasons at Prairie View A&M before joining Tennessee State. Over his collegiate career, he appeared in 16 games, recording 16 total tackles, including three solo stops and 13 assists. Perry also added 0.5 tackles for loss, contributing consistently on the defensive front and providing depth and experience to TSU’s defense.
17: Jelani Willis played four seasons at Western Michigan, including a redshirt in 2021. In 2024, he appeared in six games and recorded 11 tackles, highlighted by three tackles each against Bethune-Cookman and Eastern Michigan. Willis contributed in 2023 with six tackles over 11 games and added a kickoff return for three yards. He also saw action in two games in 2022.
22: Brandon Hale joins Tennessee State after three seasons at Southern Utah. In 2024, he appeared in six games for the Thunderbirds, recording 12 tackles, including eight solo stops. Hale played in all 11 games in 2023, adding nine tackles (six solo, three assisted), and made two appearances in 2022, recording one tackle and catching an interception against Lincoln (Calif.).
24: Of the 24 players hailing from Nashville (area), 11 different high schools are represented. Five schools produced multiple teammates: John Overton High School — 4 players; Hillsboro High School — 5 players; Ensworth School — 3 players; Cane Ridge High School — 3 players; Fred J. Page High School (Franklin)
Hillsboro: Kaiki Baker, Kyle Hicks, Veguer Jean-Jumeau, Syncere Safeeullah, Amari Southall
Overton: Tyson Edwards, Ryder Hagan, Zachariah Lee, Juice Majors
Ensworth: Brandon Collins, DuJuan Sharp III, Sammy Taylor
Cane Ridge: Byron Davis, Joshua Reese, Devon Starling
Fred J. Page: Jonathan Palmer, Jason Hoath Jr., Ethan Cunningham
Brentwood Academy: Stephon Shivers, James Stewart
Lipscomb: Justin Hughes
Beech: Tysean Jefferson
Mt. Juliet Christian: Gavin Forsha
Antioch: Daniel Bravo
Montgomery Bell Academy: Johnothan Moore
25: Kendric Rhymes joins Tennessee State after four productive collegiate seasons, including three at Southern and one at Kilgore College. A dynamic offensive weapon, Rhymes rushed for 645 yards and seven touchdowns in 2024 at Southern, adding 10 receptions for 95 yards and one score. Over his Southern career, he totaled 1,568 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns, with 48 catches for 351 yards and five receiving scores. He began his career at Kilgore, posting 317 yards and two touchdowns as a freshman, including a season-best 255-yard game.
28: The number of NCAA Division I transfers on this seasons roster: Shaun Ayers — Sacred Heart; Alijah Bivans — Towson; Breon Brown — James Madison; Jayden Cook — Kansas State; Shamar Crawford — MTSU; Ethan Cunningham — North Alabama; Byron Davis — Kentucky Wesleyan; Terence Dotson — Wyoming; Camron Douglas — Tennessee; Tyson Edwards — Memphis; Gavin Forsha — South Alabama; Brendan Hale — Southern Utah; Lucas Harkless — Troy; Justin Hughes — Memphis / Arkansas Baptist; Jesse Igwe — Gardner-Webb; Ravon Johnson — Alabama A&M; Caleb McCreary — Troy; KJ McCou — Florida A&M; Brock Montgomery — UConn; Jonathan Palmer — Gardner-Webb; Trevor Pearson — Troy / Prairie View A&M; Braelen Perry — Prairie View A&M; Exavious Reed — Southern Miss; Caleb Reid — MTSU; Syncere Safeeullah — Nebraska; Devon Starling — Northern Arizona / Memphis; James Stewart — Memphis / MTSU; Jelani Willis — Western Michigan
40: Players from Tennessee — Kaiki Baker, Daniel Bravo, Terence Carpenter II, Brandon Collins, Ethan Cunningham, Byron Davis, Camron Douglas, Tyson Edwards, Gavin Forsha, Jakobe Freeman, Jayden Guy, Ryder Hagan, Kyle Hicks, Jason Hoath Jr., Jakhye Irby, Veguer Jean-Jumeau, Taeshawn Jefferson, Tysean Jefferson, Zachariah Lee, Juice Majors, Roman Mathis, KJ McCou, Brock Montgomery, Johnothan Moore, Steven Nelson, Jonathan Palmer, Joshua Reese, Snap Reed, Connor Ruth, Syncere Safeeullah, DuJuan Sharp III, Stephon Shivers, Amari Southall, Jaylin Suggs, Devon Starling, James Stewart, Sammy Taylor, Justin Hughes, and Jelani Willis.
40: Gavin Forsha enters Tennessee State after three seasons of collegiate experience at South Alabama and Kansas State. A versatile linebacker, Forsha recorded 27 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss in 2024 at South Alabama before a season-ending injury, highlighted by a career-high eight tackles at Arkansas State. At Kansas State in 2022, he played in nine games, notching 10 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, a sack, and a pass breakup.
51: Players that entered TSU as true freshman — Kaiki Baker, Christopher Barnett, Daniel Bravo, Plexico Brooks, Terence Carpenter II, Jayden Coleman, Brandon Collins, Nicholas Cyrus, Dominique Dixon, Darien Farmer, Jakobe Freeman, Micah Gay, Demetrius Gore, Bryce Gray, Joshua Green, Jayden Guy, Ryder Hagan, Parker Harden, Kyle Hicks, Jason Hoath Jr., Jackson Howell, Marlon Huff, Khy’Lek Jarrett, Veguer Jean-Jumeau, Taeshawn Jefferson, Jalen LaBranche, Zachariah Lee, Juice Majors, Joshua Malone, Roman Mathis, Johnothan Moore, Darius Neals, Steven Nelson, Snap Reed, Joshua Reese, Connor Ridderhoff, Brent Rowe, Connor Ruth, DuJuan Sharp III, Stephon Shivers, Devaughn Slaughter, Amari Southall, Jaylin Suggs, Anthony Taylor, Sammy Taylor, Duece Walker, LJ Walker, Deon Wiggins, Brandon Wilson, Germani Wilson, Matthew Wilson
54: James Stewart enters Tennessee State after four collegiate seasons at Memphis and MTSU. At MTSU, he totaled 46 tackles over two seasons, including seven tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble in 2024, highlighted by 2.5 TFLs and a sack against New Mexico State. Stewart earned Defensive Lineman of the Week honors in 2023 and contributed in key wins throughout his career.
