Central Michigan University Athletics
2007 Football Season Outlook
7/19/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
For the first time since 1995, Central Michigan University is defending a Mid-American Conference championship on the gridiron. The Chippewas embark on that title defense under the direction of head coach Butch Jones, who takes the reins of a team that returns seven starters on both sides of the ball.
“Last year was a great accomplishment, and what our players take away from that is confidence and an expectation to win,” Jones said. “We want to build on the success of last year, but every team every year has a new personality. The 2006 season was a great part in the storied history of CMU football. Our players gained great confidence and the expectations have increased.”
Jones and his staff have placed their own simple, yet demanding, expectations on the 2007 Chippewas.
“We want our players to be high-energy, intense, and competing on every play,” Jones said. “Our kids understand that our expectations year-in and year-out are to graduate our student-athletes, play for championships, and represent CMU, Mount Pleasant, and the state of Michigan in a first-class manner.”
CMU returns a total of 42 lettermen from the 2006 championship squad, but enters the preseason with just 12 seniors dotting the roster.
“I think we have good team chemistry based on what I saw in the spring,” Jones said. “The big thing for us is leadership. Who will step up? We need individuals to take leadership roles to provide stability and teach our younger kids in the program what it means to represent CMU football.”
Offense
Quarterback
Sophomore Dan LeFevour returns after posting arguably the finest season of any quarterback in school history. The 2006 MAC Freshman of the Year and first team All-MAC selection, LeFevour set school records for passing yards (3,031), touchdown passes (26), and yards of total offense (3,552). He already ranks 10th at CMU in career passing yards and seventh in touchdown passes.
“I thought Dan had a very productive spring,” Jones said. “He showed great progress not only in the area of leadership, but also in the technical aspects of the quarterback position like coverage identification, progressions, and a total understanding of our scheme.”
Junior Brian Brunner, who started the 2006 season opener against Boston College, is entrenched as the backup. He threw for a pair of scores and ran for two touchdowns in 2006 and came off the bench to lead CMU to a 24-17 overtime win at Eastern Michigan. Providing depth at quarterback are sophomore Sean Price, redshirt freshman Steve Beltowski and true freshman Derek Rifenbury.
“Brunner is an extremely competitive individual who continues to improve in all facets of his game,” Jones said.
Running Back
Perhaps the most competitive situation on the field is at the running back position. Junior Ontario Sneed is the incumbent, having rushed for 1,829 career yards and caught 103 career passes, the seventh-most in school history. He has averaged more than five yards per carry in his career. Junior transfer Justin Hoskins, sophomore Marcel Archer and redshirt freshman Carl Volny will all make their case for playing time during preseason camp.
Hoskins has two years of eligibility remaining after sitting out the 2006 season due to transfer requirements. He saw action as a running back and kickoff returner for Notre Dame in 2004 and 2005. Archer scored seven rushing touchdowns last season, tied with Dan LeFevour for the most on the team, including three in the Chippewas’ 31-7 win over Western Michigan. Volny redshirted in 2006.
“Each one of these guys brings something different to our offense and our program,” Jones said. “Ontario has progressed from being simply a runner to being a running back he’s improved in pass protection and being physical, and he’s obviously a gifted receiver. Volny is someone who really came on, progressed the entire spring, and has grasped the offense well. Hoskins should be able to give us a little more speed in the backfield, while Marcel has really improved in pass protection and running through contact.”
Wide Receiver
CMU must replace the production that left with departed seniors Damien Linson and Obed Ctoute. Linson, the 2006 MAC Championship Game MVP, concluded his career ranking third all-time at CMU in receiving yards and touchdowns and fourth in receptions. Ctoute nearly doubled his career production as a senior, catching 36 passes for 529 yards and five touchdowns.
CMU will not suffer from a lack of gamebreakers, however. Bryan Anderson, an All-MAC first team honoree, returns after catching a school-record 73 passes for 867 yards and five scores in 2006. Justin Gardner enjoyed a breakout year as a junior in 2006, recording 36 receptions for 471 yards and five touchdowns.
“The leader of this group is Justin Gardner,” Jones said. “He is our most consistent receiver, has really improved his leadership skills, and has a great work ethic. We expect big things from Anderson again, too. He has a good combination of size, speed, athletic ability, and toughness.”
The Chippewas also have a stable of untested receivers looking to make an impact in 2007. Senior Jemmy Jasmin, who has been limited by injuries each of the last three seasons, and juniors Darren Martin and Joe Bockheim are the veterans in a group that also includes sophomores Jean Pitts and Duane Brooks, and redshirt freshmen Chris Morris, Kito Poblah, and Matt Torres. Jasmin, Martin, and Pitts combined for just six receptions a year ago, with Pitts’ only catch going for a 50-yard touchdown in the regular season finale at Buffalo. Bockheim caught a pair of touchdown passes in the spring game, while Brooks transitioned to the receiver position during spring practice.
“We need to have some individuals step up at this position, and one of those individuals is Pitts,” Jones said. “He has very good quickness. Jemmy Jasmin is a fifth-year player who is explosive with the ball in his hands. Kito had a lot of reps in the spring and will see playing time, and Matt Torres is someone who runs good routes and is a tough player. Martin, Bockheim, and Morris certainly will be in the mix as well.”
Brooks, a converted quarterback with great athleticism, began transitioning to the receiver position during spring practice.
“Duane will start the preseason at receiver,” Jones said. “He is a gifted athlete and explosive when you he has the ball in his hands.”
Tight End
A number of players will compete for playing time at the tight end position. Junior Andre Moore and sophomore Sam Williams are the veterans at the position, while redshirt freshman Jake Ekkens will provide depth. Three incoming freshmen will add to the competition during preseason camp: Chris Starkey, J.J. Watt, and Rocky Weaver.
“Sam is very athletic, runs well, and is making progress on his entire game,” Jones said. “Andre Moore gives us some opportunities in the passing game.
“This is a position that will be up for grabs in fall camp and throughout the year until we have some stability there,” Jones said.
Offensive Line
The Chippewas welcome back three starters on the offensive front, but the two holes to fill are significant. Left tackle Joe Staley and center Drew Mormino, selected in the first and sixth round, respectively, of the 2007 NFL Draft, leave a group that helped CMU rank first in the MAC in both scoring and total offense in 2006.
Senior Eric Tunney and junior Andrew Hartline return after starting all 14 games at right guard and right tackle, respectively, in 2006. Junior Mike Decker split time at left guard and center last season, including starting at center in the Motor City Bowl.
Tunney is a lock to fill one of the guard positions, with Decker a candidate to play either center or guard. Hartline is capable of playing both tackle positions and will fill Staley’s vacated spot on the left side. Junior Greg Wojt is penciled in as the starter at right tackle. Also expected to compete for playing time across the offensive front are senior Michael Raffaeli, junior Andrew Cribbs, sophomores Adam Antonides and Allen Ollenburger, and redshirt freshmen Jeff Maddux and Colin Miller.
“Hartline is very athletic and has an unbelievable work ethic,” Jones said. “Tunney can play either guard and will be looked upon to be the leader up front. Those two give us an experienced, veteran presence up front. Decker is a fifth-year player who has paid his dues. He is very tough and competitive and provides tremendous leadership. Creating depth will be a key for us on the offensive line.”
Defense
Defensive Line
Three players with starting experience return along the defensive front, but CMU must fill a pair of vacancies on both ends of the line. Dan Bazuin is off to the NFL after one of the most decorated careers in the history of the CMU football program. Mike Ogle also graduated after posting the best season of his career as a senior. The Chippewas return senior Steven Friend and juniors Ronnie Ekdahl and Casey Droscha on the interior. Friend posted career highs of 10 tackles for loss and five sacks from his tackle spot in 2006. Ekdahl and Droscha are both run-stuffers who split time at nose guard a year ago.
“Casey Droscha had a very good spring and is a tough individual with a great work ethic,” Jones said. “Steven Friend has shown a lot of athletic ability, and we need him to be the player up front he is capable of being.”
Junior Chris Wohlgamuth, sophomores Larry Knight and Frank Zombo, and redshirt freshman Sean Murnane will compete for starting roles at defensive end. Wohlgamuth, a converted linebacker, made 14 tackles in 11 games in 2006. Knight and Zombo both played in all 14 games a year ago, with Knight posting 26 tackles, three for loss, and two sacks. Zombo tallied 23 tackles, three for loss, and 2.5 sacks, including two sacks in his first career start at Kentucky. Murnane redshirted as a true freshman last season.
“Larry Knight gives us a presence on the edge, and Frank Zombo continues to get bigger and stronger and is improving all the time,” Jones said.
Junior tackles Philip Telfer and Chris Boss provide additional returning experience for the Chippewas on the defensive front.
Linebacker
The Chippewas return three players with starting experience at the linebacker position. Senior Red Keith, the defense’s emotional leader, has led the team in tackles the past three seasons and leads all returning players in the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) with 326 career tackles. He recorded a career-high 127 stops a year ago. Senior Ike Brown will be back to full strength for the season opener after suffering a season-ending knee injury at Michigan last year. He was a second team All-MAC honoree in 2005. Junior Jonathan Lapsley started the final 12 games of the year in Brown’s place. He posted 51 tackles, an interception, and two forced fumbles last season.
“The big thing here is that we get Ike back,” Jones said. “He and Red bring us stability, accountability, and leadership on the defensive side. We need big years from both of them.”
Also in the mix at linebacker will be senior Victor Doman, junior David Lawrence, sophomore Tim Brazzel, and true freshman Nick Bellore. Doman began the transition to the defensive side of the ball late in 2006. He finished the year with 14 tackles and intercepted a pass at Buffalo. Lawrence and Brazzel saw action in a reserve role and on special teams last season, while Bellore, who enrolled early at CMU, saw considerable action with the first-string defense at middle linebacker during the spring.
“Brazzel had a very productive spring, and Bellore brings a lot of different things to the position,” Jones said. “The future looks very bright for him.
“Doman, Lawrence, and Lapsley all will be competing for playing time throughout the year.”
Secondary
Both starting safeties and one cornerback return from 2006. Senior strong safety Curtis Cutts, sophomore free safety Calvin Hissong, and sophomore corner Josh Gordy make up the group of returning starters. Sophomore Chaz West, who started the MAC Championship Game and Motor City Bowl, will compete with sophomore Tommy Mama and redshirt freshmen Vince Agnew and Bobby Seay for the corner opposite Gordy.
Cutts made 61 tackles and intercepted a pass last season; Hissong recorded 63 tackles, two interceptions, and two fumble recoveries; and Gordy tallied 66 tackles, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery. Gordy returned his first career interception 100 yards for a touchdown in a 24-21 win over Akron last season. West, who played in 13 games, made a total of 11 tackles in his two starts.
Sophomore safeties Eric Fraser and Kirkston Edwards provide quality depth in the defensive backfield. Fraser returned an interception 47 yards for a touchdown in the win over Bowling Green; Edwards played in 13 games and accounted for 13 tackles in 2006.
“I’m excited about the safety position,” Jones said. “Cutts has improved as a leader, Hissong had a very good spring, and Fraser was our Most Improved Player on defense during spring practice.
“Gordy has developed a lot of confidence at the corner,” Jones added. “We’ll decide who will play the other corner during the preseason.”
Special Teams
Senior Tony Mikulec is back for his fourth season as the starting punter. He was a second team All-MAC honoree in 2006 after averaging 42.0 yards per punt and dropping 20 punts inside the opponents’ 20-yard line. He also serves as the holder on field goals and point-after attempts.
Sophomore Brett Hartmann, who handled the majority of the kickoffs as a true freshman in 2006, is the early leader to assume the place-kicking duties. He converted field goals of 45 and 46 yards in the spring game, but will be challenged by sophomore Andrew Aguila and redshirt freshman Jonathan Mills during the preseason. A number of walk-ons could also compete for the job during preseason drills.
“Tony is very solid at punter, and Brett had a great spring,” Jones said. “He has a really live leg. The place-kicking duties will be decided in preseason camp.”
Sophomore Eric Fraser emerged as the primary kickoff returner in 2006, a season in which 12 different players returned at least one kickoff for CMU. Fraser averaged 23.4 yards on his 25 returns last season. The Chippewas must find a punt returner to replace Damien Linson, who had handled the duties for the past three seasons. Linson returned a punt for a touchdown in both 2004 and 2005, becoming the only Chippewa since 1983 to return a punt for a score. Jemmy Jasmin, Jean Pitts, Justin Hoskins, and Duane Brooks are all potential candidates to see action on both kickoff returns and punt returns.
“We must continue to improve our return game,” Jones said. “Who fills those returner roles won’t be decided until fall camp. We will also determine a long-snapper during the preseason.”
The Schedule
CMU embarks on a challenging schedule in 2007 that features nonconference opponents from the Big 12, Big 10, and Atlantic Coast Conferences, and five of the final seven games of the season on the road. The Chippewas are slated to make at least three appearances on the ESPN family of networks.
CMU opens the season on the road for the first time since 2004, visiting Kansas on September 1. It will be the first meeting between the two programs. The Chippewas’ home opener and Mid-American Conference opener is slated for September 8 against Toledo; a win would mark CMU’s first three-game winning streak over the Rockets since 1992-94.
ESPN2 will air the Chippewas’ September 15 date at Purdue. CMU returns to Kelly/Shorts Stadium to host North Dakota State (September 22) and Northern Illinois (September 29) in the only set of back-to-back home games on the schedule. The NIU contest will highlight Homecoming weekend in Mount Pleasant.
CMU visits Ball State on October 6 seeking its first four-game winning streak over the Cardinals in more than 20 years, then hosts Army on October 13 in just the second matchup between the two programs.
A three-game road swing begins with the nonconference finale at Clemson on October 20. The Chippewas also travel to Kent State (October 27) for the first time since 1997 and visit archrival Western Michigan (Tuesday, November 6) in a contest set to air on ESPN2.
The home finale is Friday, November 16 against Eastern Michigan, with the regular season finale slated for Friday, November 23 at Akron. That contest will kick off at 11 a.m. and air on ESPNU.
