(RB Marion Lukes – 247Sports)
Key Players Returning:
RB Myles Bailey, RB/KR Marion Lukes, WR Tyson Davis, WR Chris Parker, WR Jesse Prewitt III, OC Dominic Serapiglia III, OT Davis Heinzen, OT Brayden Swartout, DE Michael Heldman, NT Jason Williams, LB Dakota Cochran, LB Justin Whiteside, CB Da’Raun McKinney, NB Donte Kent, SS Caleb Spann, PR Javorian Wimberly, and PK Tristan Mattson.
Key Players Departing:
QB Jase Bauer (Sam Houston transfer), OG Cade Klimczak, OG Deiyantei Powell-Woods, DE Maurice White, DT Jacques Bristol, DT Quindario Lee (Houston transfer), LB Kyle Moretti (San Diego State transfer), SS Trey Jones (Texas A&M transfer), and PT Jake Walrath.
(WR Josiah Booker – Ryan Kohn Photo)
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: WR Josiah Booker (Sarasota, Florida), RB Brock Townsend (Caledonia, Michigan), ATH Victor Earl (Romeo, Michigan), WR JJ Douglas (Janesville, Wisconsin), QB Joe Labas (Southern Miss transfer), WR Solomon Davis (Valparaiso transfer), WR Nasir Williams (Havana, Florida), TE Travis Ambrose (Muskegon, Michigan), QB Jadyn Glasser (Venice, Florida), and LB Xavier White (Chatsworth, California),
2023 Results:
G01 @ Michigan State L 7-31
G02 NEW HAMPSHIRE W 45-42
G03 @ #9 Notre Dame L 17-41
G04 @ South Alabama W 34-30
G05 EASTERN MICHIGAN W 26-23
G06 @ Buffalo L 13-37
G07 AKRON W 17-10
G08 @ Ball State L 17-24
G09 NORTHERN ILLINOIS W 37-31
G10 @ Western Michigan L 28-38
G11 @ Ohio L 20-34
G12 TOLEDO L 17-32
Team Info:
2023 Overall: 5-7 (6th in MAC West)
Home: 4-1
Away: 1-6
Neutral: 0-0
MAC: 3-5
Non-MAC: 2-2
Head Coach: Jim McElwain
Central Michigan: 29-28
Career: 73-55
Bowls: 3-2
(QB Bert Emanuel Jr. – 247Sports)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Bert Emanuel Jr. (19-37, 286 yards, 51.7%, 7.7 avg., 3 TD, 3 INT)
Rushing: Marion Lukes (144 car., 737 yards, 5.1 avg., 5 TD)
Receiving: Jesse Prewitt III (31 rec., 438 yards, 14.1 avg., 4 TD)
TD’s Scored: Marion Lukes (6)
Sacks: Michael Heldman (2.5)
Tackles: Donte Kent (58)
Interceptions: Marcus Badgett/Dakota Cochran/Elijah Rikard (1)
Pass Deflections: Donte Kent (7)
Tackles For Loss: Maurice White (5)
Forced Fumbles: Michael Heldman/Justin Whiteside (1)
Kick Returns: Marion Lukes (25 ret., 581 yards, 23.2 avg., 1 TD)
Punt Returns: Javorian Wimberly (12 ret., 50 yards, 4.2 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Tristan Mattson (7-14 fg/fga., 50%, 31-33 xp/xpa., 52 pts.)
Punting: Jake Walrath (62 punts, 2681 yards, 43.2 avg., 12 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 3 Bert Emanuel Jr. (RS SO)
RB: 9 Marion Lukes (SR)
WR: 13 Chris Parker (RS JR)
WR: 17 Jesse Prewitt III (SR/TR)
WR: 19 Tyson Davis (RS JR)
TE: 88 DeCorion Temple (RS SO)
LT: 75 Davis Heinzen (RS JR)
LG: 76 Martin Koivisto (RS SO)
OC: 63 Dominic Serapiglia III (RS SR/TR)
RG: 78 Vashon Bailey (RS SR)
RT: 68 Brayden Swartout (SR)
KR: 9 Marion Lukes (SR)
PK: 42 Tristan Mattson (SR/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 0 Jaden Davis (SR/TR)
NT: 94 Jason Williams (JR)
DT: 9 Jonah Pace (RS JR)
DE: 97 Michael Heldman (RS JR)
LB: 14 Fernando Sanchez III (RS JR)
LB: 11 Dakota Cochran (RS JR)
NB: 4 Donte Kent (SR)
CB: 0 Marcus Badgett (RS JR/TR)
CB: 5 Da’Raun McKinney (RS SR/TR)
FS: 2 Elijah Rikard (RS JR)
SS: 15 Caleb Spann (RS JR)
PR: 7 Javorian Wimberly (SO)
PT: 36 David Chapeau (SR/TR)
(DE Donte Kent – USA Today Sports)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: C
Secondary: C
Special Teams:
Kick Returners: A
Punt Returners: D
Kickers: C
Punters: B
Schedule:
08/29 CENTRAL CONNECTICUT BLUE DEVILS | Central Michigan won (42-6) the only prior meeting between schools in 2018.
09/07 @ FIU Panthers | Central Michigan won (31-27) the only prior meeting between schools in 2021.
09/14 @ Illinois Fighting Illini | First meeting between schools.
09/21 BALL STATE CARDINALS | Central Michigan trails the series 27-28-1. The Chippewas are 5-5 since 2014, and their last series win (37-17) was in 2021.
09/28 SAN DIEGO STATE AZTECS | Central Michigan lost (11-48) the only prior meeting between schools in 2019.
10/12 OHIO BOBCATS | Central Michigan leads the series 27-6-2. The Chippewas are 5-1 since 2014, and their last series win (30-27) was in 2021.
10/19 @ Eastern Michigan Eagles | Central Michigan leads the series 64-31-6. The Chippewas are 7-3 since 2014, and their last series loss (19-38) was in 2022.
10/26 @ Miami (OH) RedHawks | Central Michigan trails the series 13-16-1. The Chippewas are 1-4 since 2014, and their last series win (34-27) was in 2014.
11/05 BOWLING GREEN FALCONS | Central Michigan trails the series 19-24. The Chippewas lost (18-34) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
11/12 @ Toledo Rockets | Central Michigan trails the series 20-29-3. The Chippewas are 2-8 since 2014, and their last series win (26-23) was in 2021.
11/19 WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS | Central Michigan trails the series 40-53-2. The Chippewas are 2-8 since 2014, and their last series win (42-30) was in 2021.
11/30 @ Northern Illinois Huskies | Central Michigan leads the series 33-25-1. The Chippewas are 8-2 since 2014, and their last series loss (38-39) was in 2021.
Predictions:
Home: 2-4
Away: 2-4
Neutral: 0-0
MAC: 2-6
Non-MAC: 2-2
Overall: 4-8 (9th in MAC)
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