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How Tennessee State coach Eddie George is schooling RB Devon Starling





Devon Starling, a former Cane Ridge star and the 2018 Class 6A Mr. Football winner, is approaching his first fall season with Tennessee State since transferring from Memphis.Photo provided by Tennessee State

Devon Starling, a former Cane Ridge star and the 2018 Class 6A Mr. Football winner, is approaching his first fall season with Tennessee State since transferring from Memphis.Photo provided by Tennessee State

How are Tennessee State football workouts going?

“Man, I don’t even want to talk about it,” Devon Starling joked when asked the question by TSU coach Eddie George.

“That’s a good thing,” George responded.

So, they must be tough.

But so are the mental workouts George has been putting Starling through.

The redshirt freshman running back and former Cane Ridge star led the Ohio Valley Conference — and all FCS freshmen nationally — in rushing last season with 648 yards on 124 carries.

Next, George wants to build up Starling’s football acumen.

“I’ve challenged him to not just exert his physical attributes on the field, but become a student of the game,” George said. “If you can understand the nuances of a defense, especially up front on the defensive line, you can play fast and be more confident.”

The school lessons between the two are already underway.

“I’m actually learning football,” Starling said. “(I’m) actually learning fronts, defenses — if (a defender) slants this way, I’m cutting this way. I’m learning the game and getting more into it.”

Cane Ridge’s Devon Starling, seen here in 2018, won the Class 6A Mr. Football before signing with Memphis. He's since transferred to Tennessee State. Main Street Nashville File Photo

Cane Ridge’s Devon Starling, seen here in 2018, won the Class 6A Mr. Football before signing with Memphis. He’s since transferred to Tennessee State. Main Street Nashville File Photo

TSU rushed for a meager 936 yards while going 2-5 in its 2020-21 spring season. George, a running back icon because of his 1995 Heisman Trophy campaign at Ohio State and later his prolific Titans career, plans to emphasize running the ball in his first season as a coach.

“I believe a strong rushing attack allows a quarterback to become more efficient,” George said. “I took a lot of pressure off Steve (McNair) early in his career. It wasn’t until his fourth, fifth or sixth year when he became MVP, when he really took over as a quarterback.

“Running the football does a lot. It shortens the game. It helps the defense out. It allows you to wear down on the opposing defense. You can impose your will. That’s kind of our philosophy, and a lot of pressure is going to be on Devon Starling.”

In 2018, Starling dazzled as a Cane Ridge senior with 2,159 rushing yards and 25 TDs as he captured the Class 6A Mr. Football award. He signed with Memphis but after a redshirt season transferred to Tennessee State to play for former Tigers coach Rod Reed.

Starling didn’t know then that Reed was on borrowed time at TSU, and that his next head coach would be George, a four-time Pro Bowler at running back.

He’s excited to be George’s student, so to speak.

“He’s been a great addition to this program because he’s helping everyone out learning the game,” Starling added. “Who better to pick their brain than a Heisman Trophy winner and hall of fame NFL running back?”

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