New Dawgs Help Lead Middle Tennessee To Championship Game

NASHVILLE (August 9, 2018)- Around Nashville, there are some familiar names when it comes to developmental football. Veterans like Romeo Gilbert, Twin Johnson, Chris Moseley, Chris Perkins, Zach Ducker, Keon Bohannon, Randall Smith and others have established a name for themselves and respect from their peers. This season, their team the Middle Tennessee Bulldawgs decided to join the Gridiron Developmental Football League for their summer campaign. The GDFL is arguable the top league in the country.

On this level of football, an important aspect of a great team is to have players that have a "next man up" mentality. The truth is, coaches don't know who will show up to games until they et to the stadium. Work, family and injuries play a part in what you have. Bulldawg owner Ricky Prochaska and general manager Scott Wallace started a spring league called the Tennessee Football Alliance. Their roster has 18 players from the TFA and one from another league. The Bulldawgs have a strong core of players. But some new teammates have shown their wares in getting them to the championship game.

"Our new guys have really stepped up for is this season," said Bohannon. "Just look at the Erie game. Cliff (Lett) stepped in at QB, Rahiim (Muhammad)  scored both touchdowns and Decorye (Miller) sealed the deal with an interception. Those guys showed how good they are when we played against them in the spring. We needed them to get us here."

 Contributions have come across the board from the new players. Muhammad at running back, Corvon Booker and Court Dillard at wide receiver, Jamar Fletcher, Erick Melvin and Reggie Mayes on the offensive line have boosted the offense. On defense, Joseph Hawkins and Denzel Jones on the line, Lett has played most of the season at linebacker. In the backfield; TJ Hutcherson, Roy Logan, Jamalik Rogers and Dennis Dzurkenin have all seen significant playing time. Zach Turnipseed has played both on the offensive and defensive lines. Simon Hill has been steady at kicker.

"We went after some of the best players that played in the spring," said Wallace. "We had some issues in the beginning of the season trying to see the team jell. Some guys didn't like that we had some top players coming in. Some took it as a threat. All in all the new guys have earned their spot on this team. They worked hard to get us here. Once the team meshed, we all came together. We added a couple in the spring to these guys. Sure glad we did."