COACH AND PROGRAM
The Central Michigan University Chippewas have been to the edge, and now head coach Mike DeBord hopes they go over it.
No, the third-year head coach is not about to toss away his players after two losing seasons produced a 5-17 record and left CMU in the MAC West Division cellar. He simply believes that after making strides last season despite being ravaged by injuries, the Chippewas are ready to take the next step.
"In year two, we really got to the edge, we were right there," the former University of Michigan offensive coordinator said. "I believe we are at the end of our rebuilding process. I expect us to take off [this season]."
CMU lost three of its final five games in 2001 by blowing fourth-quarter leads to MAC West Division opponents. With victories over Northern Illinois, Ball State and Western Michigan, the Chippewas could have finished 4-1 in the division instead of 1-4.
"We didn’t win enough," DeBord said. "We didn’t finish. … Finishing is what championship teams and winners do."
The rebuilding process was hindered by a host of injuries to players -- including six defensive starters. One of the biggest losses was middle linebacker Darvin Lewis (6-3, 230), who went down against Toledo in the third week with a knee injury and did not return. Quarterback Derrick Vickers (5-11, 190) also missed the final four games with a leg injury.
Both are back healthy this season, although Vickers, a junior, has a dogfight on his hands with three other quarterbacks battling for his job. In all, 18 starters are back, including 1,000-yard rusher Terrence Jackson (6-0, 230).
The combination of returning players and more than a dozen red-shirt freshmen made for some spirited battles during spring practices. The hard-hitting action, along with the dedication to off-season workouts, pleased DeBord.
Based on his spring critique, DeBord says the defense has gotten tougher and better at tackling, which it needs to do after allowing 208 rushing yards per game last season.
The offense has a way to go, but did make strides toward the end of practice. The biggest obstacle is to find a quarterback to effectively run the passing game and complement Jackson on the ground.
QUARTERBACKS
The Chippewas want to be able to throw the ball this season, and whoever ends up as the starting quarterback might have a lot to do with how successful they are with the passing game. They also need to take care of the football. CMU finished 12th in the MAC in turnovers with 23.
"Our biggest improvement on offense has to come from the passing game," DeBord said.
The mobile Vickers started the first seven games last season and finished 116-of-211 for 1,156 yards and seven touchdowns. He was intercepted six times and rushed for 214 yards on 53 carries.
"He knows [the pro set] offense," DeBord said.
Joining him in the battle for the No. 1 signal caller are senior Derek Gorney (6-2, 200), sophomore Grant Arnoldink (6-4, 230) and red-shirt freshman Kent Smith (6-5, 200), a southpaw.
Gorney appeared in 11 games last season, including the final four that he started. He finished with 831 yards on 74-of-150 passing for five touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also knows the offense and DeBord calls him a "great leader."
Arnoldink is a pure drop-back passer with a strong arm, while Smith also has a potent cannon for an arm. The one down side to both players is their lack of college experience.
"We had two players who started last season, but we’re going to decide on the guy who gives us the best chance to win and then build our offense around his strengths," DeBord said.
Sophomore Jeff Perry (6-1, 200) and junior Darren Tooley (6-1, 185) are also listed on the roster.
RUNNING BACKS
Jackson stepped up and seized the opening at tailback last season. The junior rolled up 1,194 yards, including seven straight 100-yard games that ended in the season finale against Boise State, and 10 touchdowns. Jackson’s 108.5 yards per game accounted for almost a third of CMU’s offense (379.5). The Chippewas were fourth in the MAC with 198.8 yards on the ground per game.
Jackson was selected the team MVP and also second team all-MAC. The power back, out of Somerset, N.J., has the ability to run over you and around you on the field.
"He plays extremely hard and runs extremely hard," DeBord said.
Junior Kenan Lawhorne (5-11, 210) ran for 512 yards and four touchdowns on 99 carries as Jackson’s backup. He was also second on the team in receptions with 33 for 190 yards. DeBord would like to see him push Jackson for more playing time.
Also in the mix are seniors Alan Parks (5-9, 190) and Robbie Mixon (5-11, 190). Injuries plagued Mixon last year, and he finished with 293 yards and two scores on 71 carries in four games.
When CMU uses a fullback, junior Adam Supianoski (6-3, 235) will likely get the call. In addition to being a sound blocker, Supianoski has been working on his pass catching. Red-shirt freshman Troy Peyerk (6-0, 230) provides some depth.
WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS
Senior Rob Turner (6-3, 200) is back after leading the team in receiving with 50 receptions for 668 yards and four touchdowns last fall. However, Steve Messam (5-9, 175) was the name people were talking about after spring practices. The junior faded into the background last year and played in only three games after starting as a freshman. Now, he appears ready to play some football once again.
"Last season, he wasn’t ready," DeBord said. "Now Messam is doing things that get us excited."
Turner, a first-team Verizon Academic All-American, needs 31 receptions to become the fifth player in school history with 100. Fellow senior Rod Means (6-3, 192) caught 23 passes for 278 yards last season, but was slowed by injuries during spring practice. Junior Willie Hill (5-11, 180), who had 19 receptions for 238 yards and three touchdowns last season, also some plating time last year.
Two freshmen figure to push for playing time in Obed Genaille (6-3, 175) and Markus Naves (6-1, 175). Genaille started taking classes at CMU this past winter after graduating early from Vanier College in Montreal, Quebec. He was ranked one of the top 25 players in Canada.
Naves, who went to Creston High School in Grand Rapids, possess 4.45 speed.
Sophomore Jacob Brown (6-2, 205), and red-shirt freshmen Scott Gibson (6-3, 180) and Justin Harper (5-11, 185) are also in the hunt for playing time. Sophomore Derrick Holoman (5-10, 180) makes the jump to receiver after starting at cornerback last season.
With sophomores Tory Humphrey (6-3, 230) and Dave Kurzen (6-5, 235) back, the Chippewas might look to the tight end a little more this season. Humphrey caught 24 passes for 237 yards and three touchdowns last season en route to being chosen a second-team freshman All-American by The Sporting News.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Senior guard Kyle Croskey (6-3, 310) has been a fixture on the CMU offensive line since he arrived as a freshman in 1999. The leader of the line is one of four starters back that helped pave the way for Jackson’s 1,000-yard season.
"Kyle, in my opinion, will be an all-conference player," said DeBord, who thinks Croskey has a chance to play professional football. "He’s tough, smart and a leader."
Junior guard Derek McLaughlin (6-5, 304) started 10 games last season. Senior guard Paul Brieger (6-4, 300) is expected to move to right tackle, but missed spring practice because of an injury. The fourth starter back is sophomore tackle Adam Kieft (6-7, 300).
Sophomore Eric Ghiaciuc (6-5, 290) won the center job after impressing coaches in spring practices. Sophomore Brandon Pitzer (6-3, 285) will back up Ghiaciuc and also can play guard.
Freshmen Jay Gillette (6-2, 285), Eric Karbowski (6-3, 294), Drew Mormino (6-4, 265) and Robert Stanger (6-4, 340), out of Hamilton, Ohio, could step in and add some depth to the line. Karbowski and Mormino were both first-team all-state players at Standish-Sterling High School in Michigan and Stevenson in Buffalo Grove, Ill., respectively.
KICKERS
The one job the Chippewas might have a hard time filling is at place-kicker. Four-year starter Paul Savich graduated, leaving a large void and five guys to try and fill it.
Among the candidates are red-shirt freshmen Andrew Christofferson (6-2, 170) and Mike Gruzwalski (5-8, 165), junior Josh Ignace (5-8, 170) and senior Adam Clyne (5-9, 160),
Walk-on freshman Chris Stoffel (5-10, 170) could be the best one in the bunch, though. He was selected all-state honorable mention after his senior campaign at Essexville Garber High in Michigan.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Opponents literally ran right over the Chippewas’ front line in their 4-4 defense last season, rolling up more than 200 yards per game on the ground. CMU returns three senior members from that line, which might sound like bad news, but DeBord views ends Matt Reynolds (6-3, 260) and Cullen Jenkins (6-3, 245), and tackle Marvin Smith (6-1, 265) as assets.
"Those three guys have played a lot of football," the coach said.
Reynolds was slowed by injuries last season, but he still managed to play in all 11 games and make 42 tackles and recovered a fumble. Jenkins was tied for the team-high in sacks with five and sixth in tackles with 48. Smith tied for fourth in tackles with 68.
DeBord wanted his defenders to get bigger and stronger in the off-season and to hone their tackling skills. Based on spring practices, he appears to have gotten his message across.
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We are a lot better tackling team and tougher," he said.
In addition to the three seniors, junior ends Matt Wohlgemuth (6-5, 265) and Ike Ajoku (6-1, 250), sophomore tackle Kalani Muragin (6-2, 270) and junior Jay Davidson (6-4, 275) also saw some playing time last season. Davidson turned in an impressive spring workout, DeBord said.
A pair of freshmen enter the mix after stellar high school careers. Defensive end Dan Bazuin (6-3, 230) was all state in Michigan at McBain, while defensive tackle Anthony Thompson (6-2, 280) was all state in Ohio at Colerain in Cincinnati.
LINEBACKERS
The return of a healthy Lewis gives this unit a huge boost, and so does the emergence of sophomore Anthony Tyus (5-10, 220) on one of the strongest areas of the team.
Tyus was so good in spring practices that he out-worked senior Jovan Clarke (6-3, 230). That’s not easy to do. Clarke, a junior college transfer, had a team-high 96 tackles last season and shared the sack lead with five.
"You look at him and say ‘he shouldn’t be in there,’ but he’s a playmaker," DeBord said of Tyus. "He runs well, tackles well and you can’t block him."
Lewis was on the verge of becoming a star last year after racking up 113 tackles as a sophomore, but a knee injury ended his season prematurely. CMU hopes he makes up for lost time.
"These three linebackers are as good as anywhere in the conference," DeBord said.
CMU has a pretty good fourth linebacker, too, in junior Ed Hillery (6-1, 225). After making 42 tackles and one interception last year on the outside, Hillery has been moved inside. Red-shirt freshman James Reese (6-1, 215) also joins the linebacker corps as a converted fullback.
Sophomore Brent Erwin and junior Derrick Wallace (6-0, 210) provide some depth along with red-shirt freshman Tyler Radtke (6-1, 180).
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Sophomore James King (6-1, 195) arrived in a big way for the Chippewas last season, on defense and special teams. The free safety finished second on the team with 86 tackles, including 11 for losses, while collecting three sacks and an interception. He also had plenty of energy left over for special teams play, where he blocked seven punts.
Backing up King is junior Bryan Keim (5-10, 190).
At the strong safety spot are sophomores Ron Bartell (6-3, 200) and Omari Colen ( 6-1, 205), who last year made 68 and 17 tackles, respectively, and will both see playing time. Sophomore Jon Nelson (6-1, 210) was injured last season and missed spring practice but is expected to be a backup.
The cornerback position has undergone some changes with Holoman moving to receiver and the departure of first-team All-MAC selection Tedaro France.
Converted receiver Dante McKnight (5-10, 187) figures to move into a starting role after taking to the position in spring ball. The junior caught 13 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown last season.
"He will hit you, and he will hit you hard," DeBord said. "He’s still learning the position, but we expect him to get better."
Red-shirt freshman Richard Kiel (5-10, 180) was injured last year but figures to challenge for time. Another red-shirt freshman, Fabrice Raymond (5-10, 180), is a hard-hitter learning the position, while red-shirt freshman Jesse Dailey (5-8, 175) adds depth.
CMU recruited heavily in the secondary, with seven players coming aboard. Three of the most decorated players in the group are Michigan products.
Cornerback Orlando Walton (5-10, 180) was an all-state first-teamer at Muskegon High School. Free safety Dennis Doe (6-4, 191) was also a first-team all-state linebacker out of Crockett High, while strong safety Jason Smith (6-2, 210) earned second-team all state honors at Bishop-Borgess.
RECRUITING CLASS
The addition of a new indoor facility, weight room and a library have helped the Chippewas in their recruiting battles while they have struggled the last few seasons on the field.
CMU signed 18 players early on, including 13 from Michigan, and two apiece from Illinois and Ohio plus one from Canada. The in-state push is something DeBord has strived for since his arrival, and this year he landed six of the top-50 ranked players in Michigan according to the Detroit Free Press and state rankings.
With 23 recruits his first season and 25 last year, the bulk of the CMU roster has DeBord’s stamp on it.
The Chippewas could use some help on both lines and in the secondary, and if a few players can step forward, this could be a productive class.
CMU went looking for size and speed at receiver and in the secondary in the off-season to match up with the rest of the MAC, and appear to have found both in its recruits.
BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS
The Chippewas have some talented players, but there are several unsettled positions heading into the season and that leaves a lot of questions.
The biggest dilemma is who will play quarterback, and if CMU picks the wrong one, it could be living life on the edge once again this season.
Vickers might get the early nod based on experience, but Smith, the all-time leading passer at Start High School in Toledo, might turn out to be the best option with his strong arm and size.
Jackson and the offensive line figure to give CMU another strong running game, but the passing game needs to be more productive and take advantage of some of its talented receivers to stretch the field.
On defense, the line needs to redeem itself after getting shredded on the ground last year and appears to have worked hard at it in the off-season. Lewis and Tyus could be special players if they get some help from the front four.
The secondary has talented athletes, but inexperience could be a trouble spot.
If the Chippewas can put it all together and stay healthy, they could take that next step and have a six or seven win season. In order to do that, however, they need to survive that three-game road trip.
