Chippewas add 14, announces incoming class

MT. PLEASANT » Central Michigan football coach Jim Mcelwain announced today his 2022 signing class which includes a number of good-sized linemen, hard-hitting athletic linebackers and defensive backs, and explosive offensive skill-position players.

“We’re very excited about this class,” said Mcelwain, who is in his third year in charge of the program. “We’ve added size and length in the trenches. We’ve got some physicality. We’ve got some linebackers that are going to be really good in the run game, defensive backs that are going to help us on the back end because they have the ability to cover and defend the run.

“Offensively we’ve added some explosive, dynamic play makers and we look forward to using those guys in space.”

The majority of the 14-member class are Michigan natives, representing some of the state’s top high school programs including Sterling Heights Stevenson, Rockford, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s and East Lansing.

It also includes two future Chippewas who hail from Georgia and others from the states of South Carolina, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

“Very happy with what we’ve done recruiting in our footprint and then we’ve also been able to go outside the footprint and add some key pieces as well,” Mcelwain said.

The future Chippewas:

LEBRON BESSICK

Defensive Back

6-0

170

Coatesville, Pa. Coastsville HS High School:

Led Coatesville to 11-1 finish, Ches-mont National Division championship and district runner-up finish … named to allconference first team … clocked at 10.78 seconds in the 100-meter dash … also competed in track & field, winning league titles in 100, 200, 4×100-meter and 4×400-meter relays … qualified for state finals in 200 and 4×400 relay … mother is Angelique Torres.

Coach Mcelwain: “Lebron plays all over, including special teams and returns punts for touchdowns. Teams tried to kick away from him this year unsuccessfully. He’s a very good offensive player at wide receiver and on defense he’s shown to be a very good tackler with length and speed.”

MATTEO CARRIERE Wide Receiver 6-0 170 Alpharetta, Ga. Alpharetta HS High School:

Three-year letterwinner at Alpharetta High School … compiled 1,000 receiving yards with 10 touchdowns in final two seasons … first team all-region in 2021; second team in 2020… rated three stars and the No. 96recruit in Georgia by 247sports … holds school record in 100-meter dash (10.70 seconds) … member of school’s 4×400 relay team that ranked third in the nation … helped track team to 7A state title … parents are Jermaine Carriere and Angelica Carriere. Coach Mcelwain: “Matteo can run the entire route tree and stretch the field vertically and take it the distance. He can split the defense, run the deep post and on the slant stick his foot in the ground and separate.”

EDWARD CONORAN

Defensive Back

6-0

190

Dover, N.J. Depaul Catholic HS High

School: Three-year starter … finished career with 180 tackles, nine interceptions, 20pass breakups … earned first-team all-conference, All- Passaic County and all-state honors as a senior … carries a 3.50grade point average … led team to a 9-3 finish and conference championship as a senior … mother is Cindy Conoran.

Coach Mcelwain: “Edward was a standout two-way player at

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defensive back and wide receiver in high school. He’s a very good tackler, plays a very smart football game. He’s got great recognition, good ball skills, and has a great understanding of leverage and can defend the middle of the field.”

JALEN HANDFORD Linebacker 6-2 225 Gurnee, Ill. Warren Township HS High School:

Four-time all-conference selection … helped lead Warren Township to league titles in 2020-21 … led team to 10-2 record in 2021 … carries a 3.60 grade point average … parents are James Handford and Kelly Handford.

Coach Mcelwain: “Jalen Handford is a physical, tough football player; really explosive on contact. He runs very well and has the skill set to stop the run and the passing game.”

ALEX HEININGER Offensive Line 6-5 280 Rochester, N.Y. Brighton HS High School:

Name as the top offensive tackle in New York in the Class of 2022by Prospect NYS, a state scouting service … three-time First Team All-monroe County selection … two-time Democrat & Chronicle All-greater Rochester honoree … captained 2021team to 9-1finish and berth in Sectional championship game … parents are Jeffrey Heininger and Antonia Heininger.

Coach Mcelwain: “Alex has great size and is very physical. He has a good change of direction, strong hands, and he stays engaged when he gets up on a defender, drive his feet, and finish.”

MARTIN KOIVISTO Offensive Line 6-7 311 Shakopee, Minn. Shakopee HS High School:

Three-year starter … led team to 8-3 finish in 2021 … helped team to three section championships … played in Minnesota all-star game … earned All-metro honors from the Minneapolis Star Tribune … two-time alldistrict pick … carries a 3.1 grade point average 3.1GPA … parents are David Koivisto and Josie Koivisto.

Coach Mcelwain: “Martin is a massive offensive lineman who we think is still going to keep growing. He’s a very physical offensive lineman with good feet in space and he’s able to pull. He does a very good job working in the second level.”

KADE KOSTUS

Defensive End 6-3

250

Rockford, Mich.

Rockford HS High School:

Three-year letterwinner … helped lead Rams to 11-1finish in 2021… helped team to two Ottawa-kent Conference Red Division championships, two district crowns, and a regional title in three-year career … named to Michigan Top 25 by Rivals.com and to Top 40 by ESPN and by 247Sports … named top defense end in state by Rivals.com … 2021State Champs! Sports Michigan Anvil Award Finalist … earned three letters in lacrosse … named an Under Armor All-american in Lacrosse in 2019-20… carries a 3.45GPA … parents are Brian Kostus and Anne Kostus. Coach Mcelwain:”kade comes from a program in Michigan that has had a lot of football success. He possesses really good get-off and plays a relentless physical type of game with good burst. He has very good hands and good instincts.”

JORDAN KWIATKOWSKI

Linebacker

6-1

220

Sterling Heights, Mich. Stevenson HS High School:

Named Associated Press Division 1-2All-state in 2021… named the Macomb County Player of the Year by the Macomb County Football Coaches Association … threetime All-macomb County pick and three-time ALL-MAC Red Division selection … MAC Red Player of the Year in 2021… two-time all-region honoree … two-time Mlive Dream Team pick … two-time Detroit News Dream Team, Detroit News All-east Team and Detroit Free Press All-east … named to Detroit Free Press Dream Team … helped lead team to two district championships, two regional titles and two state semifinal appearances … amassed 1,790 yards in rushing and receiving and scored 18touchdowns (16rushing, one receiving, one passing) and made 136 tackles including 92solos during senior season … joined teammate Jordan Ramsey as school’s first 2,000-yard career rushers since 1996 … made 335 career tackles, a school record … blocked seven field goal attempts, a career school record … made eight sacks including 23 tackles-for-loss … also earned two letters each in basketball and baseball … carries a 3.56 grade point average … parents are Phil Kwiatkowski and Candace Kwiatkowski.

Coach Mcelwain:”jordan

was Mr. Do-it-all in a very good high school program that plays in one of the best leagues in the state. He never came off the field and is a hard-nosed, throwback oldschool football player. He’s a relentless competitor who’s always around the football.”

JORDAN KELLY Wide Receiver 6-1 180 Beaumont, Texas Mayde Creek HS High School:

Earned first team all-district and team most valuable player honors after making 49catches for 900 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior … three-year letterwinner … parents are Valentena Kelly and Earl Kelly.

Coach Mcelwain: “Jordan possesses great speed and good size which makes him a real threat, especially on the deep ball. He’s explosive, creates good separation in his routes. He is a highly productive wide receiver.”

LANGSTON LEWIS Wide Receiver 6-0 189 Savannah, Ga. Islands HS High School:

Three-year starter … Islands’ offensive player of the year … accumulated

481 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in senior season … led Islands to first playoff win in school history in 2020… named to WJCL Big 22 as one of the top players in the region covering the South Carolina Lowcountry and southeast Georgia … earned first team all-region honors … carries a 3.2grade point average … also a baseball standout … father is Fuches ‘Drum’ Lewis.

Coach Mcelwain:”lewis brings a lot of versatility and is a big play waiting to happen on offense, defense or special teams.”

BRADY PLOUCHA Offensive Line 6-5 291 Allen Park, Mich. Divine Child HS High School:

Three-year letterwinner … team captain … Detroit Free Press First Team Division 3 All-stater … Detroit News First Team Division 3-4 All-stater … named All-state and allregion by Michigan High School Football Coaches Association … two-time Detroit Free Press All-metro West selection … earned All-catholic recognition by the Catholic High School League … also earned two letters in track & field and one in lacrosse … Catholic League runner-up and district and regional shotput champion … parents are Chris Ploucha and Rhonda Ploucha.

Coach Mcelwain: “Brady is a physical, tough, strong offensive lineman with good size with very good athleticism and he’s a finisher. He’s proven to be a hard worker who is very strong in the weight room.”

JORDAN RAMSEY

Running Back

5-9

200

Sterling Heights, Mich. Stevenson HS High School: Named to Division 1All-state teams by both the Detroit

Free Press and the Detroit News … member of the Mlive Metro Detroit Dream Team … named All-macomb County by the Macomb County Football Coaches Association … First Team ALL-MAC Red Division selection … earned all-region honors as a defensive back … joined teammate Jordan Kwiatkowski as school’s first 2,000-yard career rushers since 1996… helped lead Stevenson to two league, two district and two regional championships … carries a 3.1 grade point average … parents are Arthur Ramsey and Felicia Ramsey.

Coach Mcelwain:”jordan is an explosive player who played running back and safety in a very good high school program that plays in one of the best leagues in the state. He’s capable of scoring form anywhere on the field and runs with great balance, vision, patience, and good change of direction.”

DECORION TEMPLE Tight End/wide Receiver 6-7 230 Ypsilanti, Mich. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Prep High School:

Threeyear starter … earned Allcatholic recognition by the Catholic High School League team captain … also lettered in basketball and track & field … earned All-state and all-conference honors in basketball … carries a 3.83 grade point average … parents are Sheree Temple and Joseph Temple.

Coach Mcelwain: “Decorion is a two-way player, tight end and defensive end, at one of the state’s outstanding programs in Orchard Lake St. Mary’s. He’s shown a great ability to run all the routes, both vertically and underneath, and has great hands. He’s shown great physicality as a blocker.”

AMBROSE WILSON Defensive Back 5-10 190 East Lansing, Mich. East Lansing HS High School:

Two-way standout finished three-year career with 112 tackles including 15 tackles-for-loss with five sacks, five interceptions, six passes defended, blocked two field goals … as a quarterback, threw for 1,097yards and 13 touchdowns, rushed for 540 yards and nine touchdowns … two-time team captain … two-time Associated Press All-stater … two-time Allcapital Area Activities Conference honoree … led team to conference title in 2019and three playoff appearances, including a district championship in 2020… carries a 3.85 grade point average … mother is Liz Kozlowski.

Coach Mcelwain:”wilson is a smart defensive player with a quarterback background. He’s a very physical player and shows great instincts and burst and is a good tackler. He’s a good, well-rounded, smart football player.”