Youngsters Step Up On D Line

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – As difficult as the football season has been for Central Michigan, the rough ride and the rash of injuries has created some opportunities as CMU, like any program that finds itself 1-9 with two games to play, looks to the future.

One such case is along the defensive front, where freshman LaQuan Johnson and sophomore Robi Stuart have started the last two games, Stuart at an end spot, Johnson at nose tackle.

Both have made an immediate impact in those two games. Stuart, who has appeared in 10 games this season, has been credited with a combined 10 tackles over those two games. Johnson has posted eight tackles in that span.

Against Eastern Michigan last Saturday, Johnson was credited with the first two sacks of his career, among 2.5 tackles-for-loss. Stuart made 1.5 tackles-for-loss including one-half sack – he combined with senior Mitch Stanitzek on the play – against Eastern.

"I didn't know what to say or what to do," Johnson said of the immediate aftermath of his first sack. "When I got to the sideline, everybody was smacking me on the helmet (and) giving me high-fives, telling me good job that I got my first career sack. It was an amazing feeling."

Both Johnson and Stuart come from similar backgrounds, football-wise. Johnson, who is listed at 6-foot-3, 282 pounds, hails from Flint and played his high school ball at Burton Bendle, a Class C high school with an enrollment of 357. Stuart, 6-2, 290, is out of Saginaw and prepped at Nouvel Catholic Central, a Class D school with an enrollment of 180.

It's a big jump going from the level of football each played in high school to Division I college ball. In high school, both were most often the biggest player on the field on either their own team or the opponent's. And they frequently were the best athlete on the field.

"My welcome-to-college-football moment?" Johnson said, when asked, "it was actually (Eastern Michigan) game. I went to cross over and the guard came and he knocked me on the ground. I was like, 'this is college football.'

"Yeah I didn't see him coming. I swiped the center because the quarterback was stepping up. He (the guard) did what he was supposed to do. He got me good."

Though Johnson has played in two games and figures to either start or see extensive playing time in the Chippewas' final two, he will have four years of eligibility remaining after 2018. The new NCAA rule allows a student-athlete to play in up to four contests without 'burning' their redshirt year.

That will help as the Stuarts and Johnsons take the mantle from program mainstays such as Nate Brisson-Fast, Stanitzek and Mike Danna. Having the likes of that trio as mentors has been beneficial to both Johnson and Stuart.

"I lean on them a lot so if they call a play and I like look confused … they tell me what's going on," Johnson said. "They help me out a lot; they make sure I know where I'm going and all that stuff."

Players Mentioned

Mike Danna

LaQuan Johnson Jr.

Mitch Stanitzek

Robi Stuart