CMU lands No. 3 MAC class; WMU, EMU not far behind

In the fourth year of the early signing period, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan welcomed a combined 57 players to the Mid-American Conference — seven as transfers and 50 from high school.

Of the in-state schools, EMU led the way with 20 signees, followed by WMU’s 19 and CMU’s 18.

“This is a really strong group,” EMU coach Chris Creighton said in a statement. “We are proud and excited to welcome these men into our football family. It was a challenge to recruit without any in-person contact since early March, but our culture attracted an incredible group of winners who are going to strengthen our program on and off the field.”

The Chippewas brought in one transfer — sophomore Quindario Lee — while the Eagles picked up the other six transfers: junior Jordan Crawford, sophomore Samson Evans, sophomore Steven Scheidt, sophomore Dexter Manior, sophomore Dylan Summers and sophomore Zack Westmoreland.

All three teams signed one quarterback in the 2021 class: Jase Bauer to CMU, Austin Smith to EMU and River Rouge’s Mareyohn Hrabowski to WMU.

CMU’s Bauer is from Iowa; EMU’s Smith is from Georgia.

“Austin, really early on, figured out this is where he wanted to be,” Creighton said on EMU’s ESPN3 signing day show. “It did not take us long to figure out that we wanted him. Through this process, even though all the restrictions made it tough, we know who he is. He is a leader. He is a winner. People are attracted to him, and he’s uber talented.”

Hrabowski, a transfer from West Bloomfield, rushed for 175 yards and three touchdowns — and completed 6 of 12 passes for 45 yards — in River Rouge’s 30-7 victory over Muskegon in the 2019 Division 3 state championship game. He committed to the Broncos in May.

The highest-rated player, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, between the in-state MAC schools is Macomb Dakota’s DJ Stepney, who signed with the Chippewas. He is a three-star prospect, ranked No. 944 in the country.

Stepney has immediate starter potential and CMU coach Jim McElwain plans to use him as a running back.

Free Press sports writer Evan Petzold breaks down the CMU, EMU and WMU football recruits for the class of 2021 who were expected to sign letters of intent in the early signing period: