Middle Tennessee Head Coach Rick Stockstill announced today that former Blackman High School and Ole Miss running back I'Tavius Mathers will be joining the Blue Raider football program. Mathers will sit out the 2015 season due to NCAA transfer rules and be eligible to play in 2016.

Mathers, who will have one year of eligibility at MT, lettered three years for the Rebels as a backup running back. The former Blaze standout led Ole Miss in rushing as a sophomore with 563 yards and three touchdowns, then added 290 yards on the ground in 2014.

In high school, Mathers was the Tennessean Player of the Year as a junior and senior for Blackman to go with Gatorade and Old Spice Player of the Year honors his junior season. Mathers rushed for 2,253 yards and 27 touchdowns as a senior after compiling 2,614 yards and 29 scores as a junior.

Mathers will begin classes at Middle Tennessee on Tuesday.