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^[1]
• 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^[2]
• 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)^[3]
• 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)^[4]
• Robert Rochelle (1968) – Tennessee State Senator from 1970 to 2002.^[5]

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)^[6]
• 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^[7]
• Bayer Mack – writer, record executive and film producer.^[8][9]
• 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