The Middle Tennessee State football program has been hit with some personnel attrition a couple of months ahead of its official move from the Sun Belt to Conference USA, head coach Rick Stockstill confirmed Thursday.
According to Stockstill, quarterback Shaun White and offensive lineman Roberto Loya have been dismissed from the Blue Raiders team. As is ofttimes the case, the publicly stated reason for the twin dismissals is violations of unspecified team rules.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to be on this football team and represent Middle Tennessee,” Stockstill said in a statement. “Our program has high standards both on and off the playing field and Shaun and Roberto will not be with us after failing to live up to those expectations. We wish both players well in their future endeavors.”
Both White and Loya were listed as backups at their respective positions. The former played in four games last season as a redshirt freshman while the latter played in all 12 games, mostly on special teams.
Even more damaging than those dismissals, though, is the loss of a player due to injury.
Part-time starting Justin Jones (pictured), Stockstill, said, will miss the 2013 season due to a toe injury suffered during spring practice. The surgery and subsequent rehab will keep him away from football for up to eight months, sidelining the player for what would’ve been his senior season.
“Justin has to undergo surgery which will require him to be out for six to eight months,” MTSU coach Rick Stockstill said. “He has been a valuable member of this program the past four years, and we wish him a very speedy recovery.”
Jones started 11 of the 37 games he played during his MTSU career. He was on track to earn a starting job until the spring injury derailed what was left of his collegiate career.