# List of Middle Tennessee State University people

This is a list of notable alumni and distinguished faculty at Middle Tennessee State University.

## Athletics

* Dewon Brazelton – Major League Baseball pitcher
* Tony Burse (1986) – former National Football League running back
* Reed Blankenship (2022) - current National Football League defensive back
* Kevin Byard (2015) – 2017 All Pro Safety National Football League defensive back
* Mike Caldwell (1993) – former National Football League linebacker
* Tyrone Calico (2002) – former National Football League wide receiver
* Marty Carter (1991) – former National Football League safety
* Alysha Clark (2010) – American-Israeli basketball player for the Israeli team Elitzur Ramla and the Las Vegas Aces of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA); forward
* Jerry DeLucca (1956) – former National Football League offensive tackle
* Don Griffin (1986) – former National Football League safety
* James Griffin (1983) – former National Football League safety
* Dwone Hicks (2003) – former National Football League running back
* Andrico Hines (2003) – Arena Football League player
* Kelly Holcomb (1995) – former National Football League quarterback
* Amber Holt (2008) – Women's National Basketball Association forward
* Richie James (2017) - National Football League wide receiver
* Shawn Jones (2014) - basketball player for Hapoel Haifa of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
* Jeremy Kellem (2010) – Arena Football League defensive back
* ReShard Lee (2003) – National Football League running back
* David Little (1984) – former National Football League tight end
* Mike Moore (1978) – Houston Oilers Chattanooga Sports Hall of Fame
* Kendall Newson (2001) – former National Football League wide receiver
* Ray Oldham (1973) – former National Football League safety
* Jayhawk Owens – former Major League Baseball catcher
* Shane Primm – UFC contestant on The Ultimate Fighter Season 8 Light-Heavyweight Fighter
* Jonathan Quinn (1998) – former National Football League quarterback
* Mardy Scales (2003) – United States sprinter
* Dwight Stone (1986) – former National Football League wide receiver
* Phillip Tanner (2010) – former National Football League running back
* Joe Campbell, running back, National Football League, LA Rams
* Kenny Tippins (1989) – former National Football League linebacker
* Ken Trickey (1955) – college basketball coach
* Reggie Upshaw (2017) - basketball player in the Israel Basketball Premier League
* Erik Walden (2008) – National Football League linebacker
* Josh Walker – National Football League guard

## Musicians

* Julien Baker – singer, songwriter, and guitarist
* Brooke Barrettsmith – Billboard charting singer, songwriter, guitarist, and pianist
* Scott "Skippy" Chapman (2001) – keyboardist and singer-songwriter, Code of Ethics
* George S. Clinton (1969) – Hollywood composer (Austin Powers trilogy)
* Cedric Dent (Gospel Music Singer) – member of Take 6. Professor of Theory & Composition in the MTSU School of Music.
* Colton Dixon (2010) – American Idol Season 11 Contestant – Top 7
* Brett Eldredge - singer-songwriter, guitarist
* Bobby Bosko Grubic (a.k.a. Bobby G) (1999) – singer-songwriter, director/producer
* Chris James – singer-songwriter, producer and Grammy Award-nominated engineer for Prince; member of Self
* Matt Mahaffey (1993/dropped out) – singer-songwriter, film scorer, lead member of Self
* Amy Lee (2000/dropped out) – co-founder and lead singer, Evanescence
* Brice Long (1993) – country music singer-songwriter
* Sean McConnell – American singer-songwriter
* Connor Back - Grammy Award Winning Producer
* The Protomen (Rock Band) – Independent concept band based in Nashville
* Jeremi Richardson (singer) – member of the CCM group Avalon
* Laura Rogers – of the Americana music duo The Secret Sisters
* Hillary Scott (2006) – singer-songwriter, Lady A
* Natalie Prass – American singer-songwriter
* Sharon Van Etten – American singer-songwriter
* Chris Young – country music singer; 2006 winner, Nashville Star
* Mariah Schneider - German/American Touring Guitarist, Julien Baker, Recording Artist
* Count Bass D – rapper, producer
* Isaiah Rashad – rapper
* Torrance "Street Symphony" Esmond – producer; 57th Annual Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song
* Tay Keith – producer
* Lecrae - rapper
* Michael Wilson Hardy - American Country Music singer-songwriter

## Nobel Prize Laureates

* James M. Buchanan, B.A. (1940) – 1986 Nobel Prize in Economics Laureate
* Muhammad Yunus – 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, professor of economics (1969–1972)

## Politicians

* Bill Boner (1967) – Mayor of Nashville, Tennessee (1987–1991) and U.S. Representative (Democrat – 5th District Tennessee – 1979–1987)
* Bart Gordon (1971) – U.S. Representative (Democrat – 6th District Tennessee – 1985–2011)
* Albert Gore, Sr. (1932) – U.S. Senator (Democrat – Tennessee – 1953–1971)
* Andy Ogles (2007) – Mayor of Maury County, Tennessee (2018–2022) and U.S. Representative (Republican – 5th District Tennessee – 2023–present)
* Robert Rochelle (1968) – Tennessee State Senator from 1970 to 2002.

## Others

* Bryan M. Clayton - businessman and real estate investor, CEO and cofounder of GreenPal.
* Jon Coffelt (1981–1984) – New York City artist, painter, sculptor
* Erika Costell – YouTuber, model, and singer
* Brandon Curry – IFBB professional bodybuilder
* Donna Scott Davenport – embattled Rutherford County, Tennessee juvenile court Judge
* Lane Davies (Actor) – known for portraying Mason Capwell in Santa Barbara
* Ashley Eicher – Miss Tennessee 2004
* Mark Gwyn – director, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (2004–2018)
* Nick Levay (b. 1977) – Chief Security Officer at organizations such as the Council on Foreign Relations
* Sondra Locke (1944–2018) – Oscar-nominated actress and director
* Bayer Mack – writer, record executive and film producer.
* Mary Scales – first black MTSU faculty member and first black female Murfreesboro City Councilperson.
* Wayne White – artist, known for his work on Pee-wee's Playhouse