Coach Jody Wright Announces Position Coach Hires

Murray State head football coach Jody Wright announced the hiring of multiple assistant coaches as part of his inaugural staff with the Racers. Dustin Royston, Zeb Noland, Tommy Ferrill, Jaylin Dickerson, Me'Leick Miles, Brannon Tidwell and Grant Kimberlin have all been added to the 2024 staff.

Dustin Royston- Linebackers/ Defensive Run Game Coordinator

Royston comes to Murray State after serving the previous seven seasons at Middle Tennessee where he served in multiple roles including linebackers coach, special teams coordinator, recruiting coordinator, co-defensive line coach, and graduate assistant.

In 2022, he helped lead the Blue Raiders to one of the most impressive defenses nationally ranking second nationally in red zone defense and interceptions (20), fourth in total turnovers (30) and defensive touchdowns, and top 25 in rush defense, sacks, tackles-for-loss and blocked kicks.

In 2023, his linebacker unit finished with 22.5 tackles-for-loss, 10 sacks, 11 quarterback hurries, and six forced fumbles and six linebackers finished with 40 or more tackles on the year. Royston helped develop 12 players at MTSU and played a key role in winning the 2017 Camelia Bowl, 2021 Bahamas Bowl, and 2022 Hawaii Bowl.

Prior to his stint at Middle Tennessee, Royston served as an outside linebacker quality control coach under legendary coach Nick Saban at Alabama. While with the Crimson Tide, Royston helped lead the team to back-to-back National Championship appearances, winning the title in 2015. Alabama won back-to-back SEC championships with Royston on the staff and the defense ranked top five nationally in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense, sacks, and tackles-for-loss.

Royston began his coaching career at Cane Ridge High School in Nashville, Tennessee as the inside linebackers coach and helped lead them to a 2014 class AAAAA state playoff appearance.

Royston played collegiately at Georgia as a fullback and on special teams from 2009-12. Royston earned SEC Academic Honor Roll honors while the Bulldogs won the SEC East divison in 2011 and 2012.

Zeb Noland- Quarterbacks

Noland begins with Murray State in 2024 after spending 2023 as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Jefferson High School (Ga.) where he coached alongside his father, Travis. He helped lead the Dragons to a 13-1 record as they posted 38 points per game.

Prior to working with JHS, Noland worked as a graduate assistant at South Carolina where gained national media attention in 2021 as he transitioned from a coaching role to the starting quarterback of the Gamecocks due to injuries on the roster. In 2022, Noland began working as a member of the coaching staff once again and helped in the development of 2024 New Orleans Saints draft pick Spencer Rattler.

Before his time at South Carolina, the Watkinsville, Georgia native played at Iowa State and North Dakota State. With the Cyclones, Noland shared a quarterback room with current San Francisco 49ers starter Brock Purdy. In his time with NDSU, he shared a QB room with former number three overall draft selection Trey Lance and helped lead the Bison to the 2019 FCS National Championship.

Tommy Ferrill- Tight Ends

Ferrill joins the Racers after serving the last four seasons as an assistant coach at Jackson Academy in Jackson, Mississippi. He helped lead the Raiders to 35 wins in the last four years, including a MAIS 6A State Championship Game appearance in 2020-21 and three semifinal appearances.

Before his time at Jackson Academy, Ferrill served as an assistant coach at Horn Lake High School for five years. He also served at Biloxi High School for four years, and East Mississippi Community College for five years. He won the 2018 MS 6A Football State Championship at Horn Lake and the 2009 MACJC State Championship and Mississippi Bowl at EMCC.

Ferrill and his wife, Amanda have three children, Roman, Lucia, and Thomas.

Me'Leick Miles- Defensive Line

Miles comes to MSU after working with Louisville in 2023 as a defensive graduate assistant. Helping lead the Cardinals to a final national ranking of 19th, Miles worked primarily with the defensive line.

Before his stint with Louisville, Miles worked from 2021-23 as a graduate assistant at Purdue. Miles also served previously at the Division II level with Indianapolis in 2021 as the Running Backs coach after working in 2020 as the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at the Division III level Manchester.

Miles began his coaching career at Franklin College as the defensive line coach and special teams coordinator in 2018. He helped lead FC to a conference championship in 2018 before becoming the defensive line coach at Alderson Broaddus in 2020.

The Indianapolis, Indiana native earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Trine in 2018 where he played for four seasons on the defensive line. Miles is the all-time career sacks leader at Trine with 20.5 sacks and won a MIAA conference championship in 2017.

Jaylin Dickerson- Cornerbacks

Dickerson comes to the Racers after serving as a defensive assistant at South Carolina from 2022-23. In his time with the Gamecocks, Dickerson helped develop and mentor two freshman All-American selections in 2022 in Nick Emmanwori and DQ Smith and 2023 freshman All-American Jalon Kilgore. He also helped in mentoring 2023 NFL Draft selections Cam Smith ( Dolphins, Second Round) and Darius Rush ( Colts, Fifth Round) and 2024 NFL Draft pick Marcellas Dial (Patriots, Fifth Round).

Before beginning his coaching career, Dickerson played for four seasons with the Gamecocks (2017-21). The Southern Pines, North Carolina Native earned the 2020-21 Gamecock Leadership Award and graduated with a degree in Psychology in 2021.

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