Eagles improving steadily
After nearly two decades of futility, Eastern Michigan appears to have figured some things out.
The Eagles captured their first winning season in 2016 and was on track to build on the success in 2017 before a devastating sixgame losing streak midseason.
There are certainly challenges, but this team has the depth to be competitive in the Mid-American Conference and is No. 85 in Orlando Sentinel college insider Matt Murschel’s preseason 2018 college football rankings. Murschel ranked all 129 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in the country. The Sentinel staff takes a closer look at a new team daily, counting backward from No. 129 to our projected No. 1 team.
Michigan
6 Eastern
Chris Creighton (15-34, entering fifth season; 154-80 overall)
5-7, 3-5 in the Mid-American Conference; fifth in West Division
After winning just three games combined in the first two seasons under Creighton, the Eagles have won 12 games during the past two seasons.
Last season started off on the right foot, with the team winning its first two games. However, Eastern Michigan then dropped its next six contests. Each loss was decided four or fewer points, including a onepoint loss to Army on Oct. 14. Eastern Michigan rebounded to win three of its final four games, but the Eagles still finished under-.500 for the 21st time in the past 22 years.
QB Brogan Roback, WR Sergio Bailey II, TE Dan Buschman, WR Johnnie Niupalau, WR Antoine Porter, LB Jason Beck, DT Dion Dawson, NT Oddie Granger III, LB Ike Spearman
RB Ian Eriksen, OL Chris Bukoski, OL Jimmy Leatiota, OL Steve Nielsen, OL Dakota Tallman, DB Vince Calhoun, DE Maxx Crosby, DE Jeremiah Harris, DB Brody Hoying, DB Kevin McGill
The defense finished second in the conference in total defense in 2017 while allowing just 363 yards and 23 points per game. That’s a huge improvement after ranking last in the MAC in the category from 2012-15. The unit returns a pair of first-team all-conference selections in defensive end Maxx Crosby (11 sacks, 57 tackles) and defensive back Brody Hoying (78 tackles, 2 interceptions) along with second-team selections defensive end Jeremiah Harris (6.0 sacks).
Ian Eriksen powered the ground game after rushing for a team-best 805 yards with eight touchdowns in just a little more than a handful of starts last season.
The strength of the Eagles’ offense this season could be its offensive line. An experienced group of seniors return after allowing just 18 sacks and a little more than five tackles for a loss per game in 2017.
The program has seen incremental improvement on offenseafter finishing last in the Mid-American Conference in total offense in 2014, moving up to sixth last season after averaging 387 yards and more than 26 points per game. That said, the group will have challenges in 2018 with the departures of quarterback Brogan Roback and receivers Sergio Bailey, Antoine Porter and Johnnie Niupalau.
Iowa transfer quarterback Tyler Wiegers should add some much-needed depth and veteran leadership to the offense. Sophomore Isaac Stiebeling could also push for the starting job. Eastern Michigan PREVIOUS TEAMS is definitely trending up during the past two seasons as Creighton and his staff add depth and talent throughout the roster. Nothing demonstrates that more than the Eagles signing one of the best-recruiting classes in recent history in February.
Another strong showing by the defense coupled with improvement on the offensive side of the football could help Eastern Michigan avoid a losing season 2018.