(Photo Credit: Associated Press)
Key Players Returning:
RB Samson Evans, WR Tanner Knue, OG Alex Howie, OT Brian Dooley, NT Peyton Price, LB Chase Kline, LB Joseph Sparacio, CB Kempton Shine, NB TJ Peavy, NB Joshua Scott, BS Quentavius Scandrett, KR Jaylon Jackson, PK Jesus Gomez and PT Mitchell Tomasek.
Key Players Departing:
QB Taylor Powell, WR/PR Hassan Beydoun, WR Dylan Drummond, WR Darius Lassiter, OC Richard Bates, OG Sidy Sow, OT Marcellus Johnson, DE Jose Ramirez and NT Jordan Crawford.
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: OL Chris Mayo (West Virginia transfer), OT Kellen McDonough (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), WR Terry Lockett (Michigan State transfer), EDGE Messiah Blair (Detroit, Michigan), OT Terrance Saunders (Stilwell, Kansas), WR Makhail Wood (Hoschton, Georgia), WR Joeseph Walker Jr. (Indianapolis, Indiana), RB Deion Brown (St. Louis, Missouri), TE Gabe Hoffman (Sammamish, Washington) and OL Owen Snively (Colorado State transfer).
2022 Results:
G01 EASTERN KENTUCKY W 42-34
G02 @ Louisiana L 21-49
G03 @ Arizona State W 30-21
G04 BUFFALO L 30-50
G05 UMASS W 20-13
G06 @ Western Michigan W 45-23
G07 NORTHERN ILLINOIS L 10-39
G08 @ Ball State W 20-16
G09 TOLEDO L 24-27
G10 @ Akron W 34-28
G11 @ Kent State W 31-24
G12 CENTRAL MICHIGAN W 38-19
BOWL vs. San Jose State W 41-27
Team Info:
2022 Overall: 9-4 (2nd in MAC West)
Home: 3-3
Away: 5-1
Neutral: 0-0
MAC: 5-3
Non-MAC: 4-1
Head Coach: Chris Creighton
Eastern Michigan: 47-65
Career: 167-101
Bowls: 1-4
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Austin Smith (68-119, 774 yards, 57.1%, 6.5 avg., 6 TD, 4 INT)
Rushing: Samson Evans (249 car., 1166 yards, 4.7 avg., 15 TD)
Receiving: Tanner Knue (45 rec., 632 yards, 14.0 avg., 9 TD)
TD’s Scored: Samson Evans (15)
Sacks: Mikah Coleman (2)
Tackles: Chase Kline (91)
Interceptions: Joshua Scott (3)
Pass Deflections: Kempton Shine (12)
Tackles For Loss: Joseph Sparacio (6)
Forced Fumbles: Kempton Shine (1)
Kick Returns: Jaylon Jackson (23 ret., 571 yards, 24.8 avg., 1 TD)
Punt Returns: None
Kicking: Jesus Gomez (14-17 fg/fga., 82%, 47-47 xp/xpa., 89 pts.)
Punting: Mitchell Tomasek (48 punts, 2125 yards, 44.3 avg., 14 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 4 Austin Smith (RS SO)
RB: 22 Samson Evans (GR/TR)
WR: 17 JB Mitchell III (JR)
WR: 24 Tanner Knue (GR)
WR: 1 Hamze El-Zayat (GR/TR)
TE: 85 Andreas Paake (RS SO)
LT: 63 Mickey Rewolinski (RS JR)
LG: 54 Zach Conti (RS JR)
OC: 70 Dimitri Douglas (GR/TR)
RG: 68 Alex Howie (GR)
RT: 77 Brian Dooley (GR)
KR: 28 Jaylon Jackson (SR/TR)
PK: 35 Jesus Gomez (JR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 45 Joseph Zelinsky (SR/TR)
NT: 94 Peyton Price (JR)
DT: 92 Alex Merritt (RS JR)
DE: 11 Mikah Coleman (RS JR)
LB: 6 Chase Kline (RS SR/TR)
LB: 19 Joe Sparacio (GR/TR)
NB: 15 Joshua Scott (JR/TR)
CB: 29 Kempton Shine (RS JR)
CB: 26 Tristen Hines (RS JR)
FS: 16 Cameron Smith (JR)
RS: 3 Quentavius Scandrett (JR)
PR: 1 Hamze El-Zayat (GR/TR)
PT: 30 Mitchell Tomasek (RS SO)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: A
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: C
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: A
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: A
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: A
Punters: A
Schedule:
09/01 HOWARD BISON | Eastern Michigan leads the series 3-0. The Eagles won (34-24) the last matchup between schools in 2013.
09/09 @ Minnesota Golden Gophers | First meeting between schools.
09/16 UMASS MINUTEMEN | The series is tied 2-2. The Eagles are 2-0 since renewing the series in 2021 and their last series loss (17-28) dates back to 2015.
09/23 @ Jacksonville State Gamecocks | First meeting between schools.
09/30 @ Central Michigan Chippewas | Eastern Michigan trails the series 31-63-6. The Eagles are 3-7 since 2013 and their last series loss 10-31) was in 2021.
10/07 BALL STATE CARDINALS | Eastern Michigan trails the series 25-37-2. The Eagles are 4-6 since 2013 and their last series loss (31-38) was in 2021.
10/14 KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES | Eastern Michigan trails the series 15-19. The Eagles are 2-2 since restarting the series in 2018 and their last series loss (23-27) was in 2020.
10/21 @ NIU Huskies | Eastern Michigan trails the series 16-35-2. The Eagles are 2-8 since 2013 and their last series win (41-33) was in 2020.
10/28 WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS | Eastern Michigan trails the series 22-34-2. The Eagles are 5-5 since 2013 and their last series loss (24-27) was in 2018.
11/08 @ Toledo Rockets | Eastern Michigan trails the series 13-37. The Eagles are 2-8 since 2013 and their last series win (52-49) was in 2021.
11/14 AKRON ZIPS | Eastern Michigan trails the series 15-19. The Eagles are 3-2 since restarting the series in 2014 and their last series loss (21-47) was in 2015.
11/21 @ Buffalo Bulls | Eastern Michigan leads the series 6-4. The Eagles are 1-4 since 2013 and their last series win (37-27) was in 2014.
Predictions:
Home: 6-0
Away: 3-3
Neutral: 0-0
MAC: 6-2
Non-MAC: 3-1
Overall: 9-3 (2nd in MAC West)
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