With the Tennessee State football offense in desperate need of a star, freshman running back Brenton Paul stepped up andled the Tigers to their first win of the 2026 season on Sept. 19.
The win snaps TSU's eight-game losing streak, the longest in program history.
Paul, a Denham Springs, Louisiana native, gave TSU its first hint of a running game this season, scoring three touchdowns, including the game-winner in a 29-26 victory over Florida A&M (1-3) at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. Paul also played a role in the passing game. Two of his TDs came on catches.
"For a true freshman, that's a tall task, doing it in the running game and passing game," TSU second-year coach Reggie Barlow said. "The protection part (doesn't) get talked
about, but he's done it there as well. For me, watching him out there sometimes, I'm like, 'Let's get him a break because he is a freshman,' but he welcomes it."
Paul had to carry an extra load with fellow running back Zack Simmons-Brown sidelined with an injury.
How RB Brenton Paul finally got TSU's running game going
TSU (1-3) entered the game with one of the worst rushing attacks in the FCS, ranked 110th at 49 yards per game. The Tigers did not have a player rush for more than 40 yards in their first three games.
Paul finished with 92 yards on 26 carries and four catches for 36 yards. His first touchdown, a 4-yard catch, tied the game at 7-7. His second, a 1-yard run, put TSU up 13-7. His last was a 20-yard catch with 51 seconds remaining for the final score.
His ability to run the ball also helped the offense enjoy its most productive game of the season since the Rattlers' defense could not focus solely on the pass.
TSU finished with 390 total yards, the offense's best performance in Barlow's two-year tenure. With Paul chipping away on the ground, TSU also won the battle for time of possession by more than 12 minutes.
"It makes a big difference on offense when you're able to run the ball," Barlow said. "It changes what the defense can do."
TSU avoids worst start in five years
TSU avoided getting off to its worst start since 2022, when the Tigers, in their second year under coach former Eddie George, went 0-4.
TSU has an open week on Sept. 26 before returning to action on Oct. 3 at Western Illinois in its first Ohio Valley Conference game.
"I didn't bring it up as much to the players, but the bye week coming up was something I definitely had in my head," Barlow said. "With how our conference was set up, you get these preseason games, then you get the chance to get a little break. We can use that time to get healthy and then go into your conference games. It helps a lot to go into that break coming off a win."
Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: How freshman RB Brenton Paul led TSU football to its first win
