Football Josh Vardaman
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — After a couple of seasons not getting as much production out of its running backs as desired, Middle Tennessee added two Power 5 conference transfers in 2020 that looked like they would step in right away and help take the offense to a new level.
Graduate transfers Amir Rasul and Martell Pettaway would have to wait to make their mark on the Blue Raiders, though.
With the COVID-19 pandemic hanging over the 2020 season, both backs decided in fall camp to opt out of the year for health and safety concerns.
"It was a lot that played into it," Rasul said. "I just didn't want my family members to catch the disease without a vaccine around yet. I wanted to protect my family, and there was a lot of unknowns around. … It's been amazing being back. I'm just blessed to have this opportunity."
While they weren't allowed to practice with the team during the season, Pettaway and Rasul did their best to stay in as good of shape as possible. Their strong relationship — they were teammates in the 2016 Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl and had a hand in each other coming to MT — helped them get through the few months together.
"That helped a lot," Pettaway said. "I probably would've sat around a lot more eating if I was by myself during quarantine. Having Amir helped … because we play the same position and have the same goals.
"It was tough in matt drills [in January]. I was dying out there a few times, but after we got our wind up and got through conditioning, our bodies changed pretty quick."
They aren't strangers to college football and the stringent offseason workout routines that allow them to handle the wear and tear of a season.
Both have played plenty of major college football, Pettaway spending four seasons at West Virginia and Rasul four years at Florida State. That experience factor was one of the reasons head coach Rick Stockstill and running backs coach Jeff Beckles were excited to get them to Murfreesboro, not to mention their physical attributes.
"Amir, with his speed, we want to get him on the perimeter. He's a guy who came up in the track system, and when you get him in space, he's hard to bring down," Beckles said. "Martell, he's done some big things in some big games. He transferred here from the Big 12 and has gone over 100 yards there a couple of times. He's been under the lights in the big stadiums and has done it, and we're hoping that carries over here and he can show guys that when we get into the stadium, this is how we react."
Going through matt drills in January was maybe more exciting for Rasul and Pettaway than it would be in a normal year. Though they were a little winded at first, getting back into football shape really wasn't that tough, according to Rasul.
"We had to go through matt drills and conditioning first, but after that, it's been pretty simple," he said. "We've been playing football forever, so you never lose it."
They've both also had a lot of fun getting back to actual practices this spring.
During the Blue Raiders' first scrimmage of spring April 3, Pettaway rushed five times for 69 yards and had three catches for 40 yards and a touchdown to lead the running backs.
"That was the closest thing I've had to a game in a long time," Pettaway said. "I took it as a game situation to see how my body reacted the same way it would in a game. It was good to get that feeling back."
It might have taken a year longer than originally thought, but Rasul and Pettaway appear ready to take the Blue Raiders' run game to the level they've been looking for. They're just glad to be back in the pads.
Graduate transfers Amir Rasul and Martell Pettaway would have to wait to make their mark on the Blue Raiders, though.
With the COVID-19 pandemic hanging over the 2020 season, both backs decided in fall camp to opt out of the year for health and safety concerns.
"It was a lot that played into it," Rasul said. "I just didn't want my family members to catch the disease without a vaccine around yet. I wanted to protect my family, and there was a lot of unknowns around. … It's been amazing being back. I'm just blessed to have this opportunity."
While they weren't allowed to practice with the team during the season, Pettaway and Rasul did their best to stay in as good of shape as possible. Their strong relationship — they were teammates in the 2016 Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl and had a hand in each other coming to MT — helped them get through the few months together.
"That helped a lot," Pettaway said. "I probably would've sat around a lot more eating if I was by myself during quarantine. Having Amir helped … because we play the same position and have the same goals.
"It was tough in matt drills [in January]. I was dying out there a few times, but after we got our wind up and got through conditioning, our bodies changed pretty quick."
They aren't strangers to college football and the stringent offseason workout routines that allow them to handle the wear and tear of a season.
Both have played plenty of major college football, Pettaway spending four seasons at West Virginia and Rasul four years at Florida State. That experience factor was one of the reasons head coach Rick Stockstill and running backs coach Jeff Beckles were excited to get them to Murfreesboro, not to mention their physical attributes.
"Amir, with his speed, we want to get him on the perimeter. He's a guy who came up in the track system, and when you get him in space, he's hard to bring down," Beckles said. "Martell, he's done some big things in some big games. He transferred here from the Big 12 and has gone over 100 yards there a couple of times. He's been under the lights in the big stadiums and has done it, and we're hoping that carries over here and he can show guys that when we get into the stadium, this is how we react."
Going through matt drills in January was maybe more exciting for Rasul and Pettaway than it would be in a normal year. Though they were a little winded at first, getting back into football shape really wasn't that tough, according to Rasul.
"We had to go through matt drills and conditioning first, but after that, it's been pretty simple," he said. "We've been playing football forever, so you never lose it."
They've both also had a lot of fun getting back to actual practices this spring.
During the Blue Raiders' first scrimmage of spring April 3, Pettaway rushed five times for 69 yards and had three catches for 40 yards and a touchdown to lead the running backs.
"That was the closest thing I've had to a game in a long time," Pettaway said. "I took it as a game situation to see how my body reacted the same way it would in a game. It was good to get that feeling back."
It might have taken a year longer than originally thought, but Rasul and Pettaway appear ready to take the Blue Raiders' run game to the level they've been looking for. They're just glad to be back in the pads.
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April 08, 2021 at 06:04AM
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Rasul, Pettaway thankful to be back on practice field - GoBlueRaiders.com
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