Who Derek Mason, MTSU football got on 1st day of 2026 early signing period
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
Middle Tennessee State football and coach Derek Mason signed 14 players to the 2026 class on the first day of the early signing period on Dec. 3, and also gave a scholarship to former walk-on wide receiver Landon Collins, who was one of the team’s top receivers in the final few games.
“I like this roster,” said Mason, whose squad went 3-9 in 2025. “I like how this roster is going to clean up, shape out.”
Here are some things to know about MTSU’s signees in the early period, which ends Dec. 5:
Derek Mason continues local push by signing Oakland’s Justis Haggard
Signing Oakland safety Justis Haggard was another sign that Mason is intent on bringing local talent to the Blue Raiders.
But more than that, Mason is excited about the quality of player he’s getting in the 6-foot, 195-pound Haggard.
“When you look at his stats, what he’s done this year … I know he’s hurt, he’s out and he won’t be playing in the state championship game … but you know, he was phenomenal this year for that football team, on both sides of the ball,” Mason said. “He’s a two-way player who had a lot of production. (Oakland coach Kevin) Creasy’s always producing. He’s always got guys.”
Several Murfreesboro-area products are already on the 2026 roster, including Oakland’s Korey Smith and Ashton Jones, Riverdale’s DJ Taylor (who received considerable time in the backfield in 2025) and Alex Mitchell (who was a starting linebacker before injuries derailed his season), Rockvale’s Bo Bryan and Blackman’s Archie Roseman. Former Oakland standout De’Arre McDonald was starting defensive back on the 2025 team.
“When you start to look at those guys and people in our community, they want to see guys they know,” Mason said. “The important thing that I’ve seen throughout that process is that these guys that are young, that are coming from the local community, they’re talented. You’re going to be hearing a lot of local names.”
Haggard battled through early injury issues and ended his season with a broken ankle suffered during a 6A playoff win over Bradley Central, but still finished with 45 tackles, two interceptions, a forced fumble and a blocked kick.
Derek Mason, MTSU football gets flip from Houston standout
One of the biggest wins over the past few days was MTSU snatching Germantown Houston outside linebacker Jonas Jimerson away from Conference USA foe Jacksonville State.
The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Jimerson flipped his commitment this week after committing to the Gamecocks in July.
“Looking at the production of that defense and seeing how he could play and fit in to our scheme … Jonas saw how close we were,” Mason said. “He understands that he’s a definite piece that can impact this program. This was the right fit.”
A three-star recruit, Jimerson had an injury-riddled 2025, finishing with 17 tackles and a sack. He helped lead Houston to a 2023 Class 6A state title and 2024 runner-up finish.
MTSU focuses on defense in early signing period
Of MTSU’s 14 early signees, nine are expected to play on defense.
Included are three-star prospects Jayden Arenas-Michel (DT), Jimerson, Christien Moreau (DT) and Ethan Sherman (DB).
The 6-4, 271-pound Arenas-Michel is a standout for Chattanooga’s Baylor School, where he led his team to the DII-AAA state title game Nov. 4. He has 30 tackles and eight sacks.
The 6-1, 290-pound Moreau, from Miramar, Florida, had 41 tackles, 10 sacks and two fumble recoveries during his senior season.
The 5-11, 180-pound Sherman, from Jacksonville, Florida, was primarily an offensive player at Raines High, hauling in 34 receptions for 724 yards and nine touchdowns in 2025.
The Blue Raiders also signed defensive end Bryant Ausmer (6-2, 238) from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, inside linebacker Shane Rochelle (6-1, 205) from Miami and safety Bryce Williams (5-11, 182) from St. Cloud, Florida, to help bolster a defense that allowed 31 points a game in 2025.
Derek Mason, MTSU add offensive weapons
Notable signees on offense include three-star quarterback Rocco Williams (Pickerington, Ohio), three-star wide receiver Bryson Maddox (Clinton, Tennessee) and tight end Jadin Hambrick (Tyer, Texas).
The 6-0, 194-pound Williams threw for 2,426 yards and 28 touchdowns while rushing for 610 yards and nine more TDs during his senior season.
The 6-4, 180-pound Maddox was Region 3-5A MVP after catching 59 passes for 1,225 yards and 12 TDs.
The 6-6, 215-pound Hambrick, who played two years at Trinity Valley Community College, should provide the Blue Raiders with a massive target at tight end. Mason calls him a “special talent.”
Cecil Joyce covers high school sports and MTSU athletics for The Daily News Journal. Contact him at cjoyce@dnj.com and follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @Cecil_Joyce.
This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Derek Mason’s early signing class for 2026 MTSU football
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos