NASHVILLE — Tennessee State football returns to Nissan Stadium after three weeks on the road, looking to stay perfect in Music City as it hosts Charleston Southern on Saturday at 5 p.m.
Tennessee State (2-2) vs Charleston Southern (1-2)
Date: Sat., September 28, 2024
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Venue: Nissan Stadium (69,143)
TV: ESPN+
Dan Laing (pxp)
Chris Sanders (analyst)
Radio: WNSR — 560 AM, 95.9 FM (Nashville), 107.9 FM (Smyrna)
Sirius XM: Ch. 386 / 976 (app)
Stream: TSU Tigers App, WNSR.com, Alexa (Play WNSR)
Greg Pogue (pxp)
Dean Cokinos (analyst)
Social: @TSU_Tigers | @TSUTigersFB
Game Notes: TSU | CSU
Game Day Information: Watch | Live Stats
SERIES INFORMATION: This will be the second all-time meeting between TSU and Charleston Southern. Last season, Charleston Southern jumped out to a 21-7 lead before the Tigers tied the score midway through the fourth but a late mistake saw the Bucs score twice in the final 3:22 of regulation.
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 will provide comprehensive pregame and postgame analysis, exclusive interviews with coaches and players, and behind-the-scenes content for enhanced fan engagement. "The Voice of the Tigers," Greg Pogue, returns for his 13th season behind the mic and will be joined by Dean Cokinos, head coach of the Nashville Kats of the Arena Football League, for home games and former Tennessee Titans wide receiver Chris Sanders for road games. The action can also be streamed on the TSU Tigers app.
SEASONAL NUMBERS:
200+: In the opener against Mississippi Valley State, the Tigers showcased a strong passing game with 354 yards and 3 touchdowns. The highlight came in the third game against Ark.-Pine Bluff, where TSU recorded 228 passing yards and 3 touchdowns, alongside an impressive 196 rushing yards. The most recent game against Tennessee Tech also featured a solid passing performance, with the Tigers throwing for 246 yards and 1 touchdown.
515: Jaden McGill leads the group with 112 net rushing yards on 24 attempts, averaging 4.7 yards per carry. CJ Evans follows closely, accumulating 108 net yards on 25 carries for an average of 4.3 yards and 1 touchdown, with a long run of 38 yards. Jordan Gant has contributed 81 net yards on 29 attempts, while Jalen Rouse has made an impact with 56 yards on 12 carries, scoring 2 touchdowns and averaging 4.7 yards per carry. Quarterback Draylen Ellis has also added to the ground game with 94 yards on 26 attempts, though his average is lower at 1.5 yards per carry.
1,000: Karate Brenson leads the team with 16 receptions for 231 yards, averaging 14.4 yards per catch and scoring 2 touchdowns, with a long reception of 55 yards. Jalal Dean has also been a standout, recording 17 catches for 244 yards and 3 touchdowns, averaging 14.4 yards per catch, and boasts a long of 55 yards as well. Bryant Williams has contributed significantly with 14 receptions totaling 167 yards, averaging nearly 12 yards per catch. Jordan Gant has made his presence felt with 5 catches for 28 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Jaden McGill adds depth with 5 receptions for 32 yards.
SACK EXCHANGE: Keandre Booker leads the team with 3.5 sacks for a total loss of 16 yards, alongside 15 total tackles. Jalen Bell has also been a standout, recording 2.5 sacks and 22 total tackles, showcasing his ability to disrupt opposing offenses. Sanders Ellis has added to the pressure with 1.5 sacks and 19 total tackles, while Tyler Moore and Eriq George have each chipped in with a sack, contributing to the team's overall defensive success.
WEEK 4 BY THE NUMBERS:
0: Tennessee State struggled to establish its running game against Tennessee Tech, finishing with just 0 net rushing yards. CJ Evans led the effort with 14 net yards on six carries, averaging 2.3 yards per attempt, with a long run of 6 yards. Jordan Gant added 8 yards on three carries, averaging 2.7 yards per carry. Jalen Rouse contributed 1 yard on two attempts. Jaden McGill was held to -2 yards on five carries, and quarterback Draylen Ellis, under heavy pressure, finished with -21 yards on 11 carries despite gaining 20 yards.
1-1-1-1: Boogie Trotter was a key playmaker the defense. Trotter recorded 4 solo tackles, forced and recovered a fumble, and notably returned an interception 69 yards for a touchdown, putting TSU on the board.
99: Karate Brenson led the receiving unit, hauling in 9 receptions for 99 yards, with a long of 27 yards. Bryant Williams added 41 yards on 4 catches, while Gerard Bullock contributed 32 yards on 2 receptions, including a 31-yard grab, the longest of the game. Jalal Dean made an impact with 2 catches for 31 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown, TSU's only receiving score. Jalen Rouse added 20 yards on 2 receptions, while Jason Hoath Jr., Jaden McGill, and Jordan Gant each chipped in with single catches for 11, 9, and 3 yards, respectively.
246: Quarterback Draylen Ellis completed 22 of 39 passes for 246 yards, throwing one touchdown and two interceptions in the matchup against Tennessee Tech. His longest completion of the game was a 31-yard pass. Despite his efforts, Ellis faced significant pressure, being sacked seven times during the contest.
320: Punter Jackson Foster had a solid outing against Tennessee Tech, handling the ball 9 times for a total of 320 yards, averaging 35.6 yards per punt. His longest punt traveled 45 yards, and he successfully placed 3 kicks inside the 20-yard line, providing valuable field position for the TSU defense. Foster's consistency and ability to pin the opponent deep contributed to the overall effectiveness of the special teams unit.
777: The defense had a strong showing against Tennessee Tech, with multiple players contributing across the board. Ahmad Nelson led the team with 8 total tackles (2 solo, 6 assists), while Jalen Bell added 7 tackles, including 2.0 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack. Sanders Ellis also tallied 7 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss, while Tyler Jones recorded 7 tackles and 1 pass breakup. Keandre Booker added 4 tackles, including 1.0 for a 7-yard loss. The Tigers' defense forced turnovers and applied consistent pressure throughout the game, with Boogie Trotter's pick 6 and fumble recovery standing out as a crucial moment.
