Central Michigan University Athletics
Junior Bernhard Raimann is one of a handful of Chippewas who have made a position switch heading into the 2020 season.
Photo by: Allissa Rusco
Chippewa Notebook: Raimann, Others Adapt To New Roles
11/3/2020 8:06:00 AM | Football
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Bernhard Raimann came to the United States from Austria as a foreign-exchange student in high School.
Moving 3 feet along the offensive line? Not such a big deal, in that context.
Raimann, a junior on the Central Michigan football team, goes into the 2020 season – the Chippewas open on Wednesday (7 p.m.) at Kelly/Shorts Stadium with a Mid-American Conference game against Ohio -- as an offensive tackle after spending his first two years as a Chippewa as a tight end.
The Chippewa coaching staff approached Raimann about the position move during spring practice in March. As a team-first guy, Raimann jumped at the opportunity.
Three of the Chippewas' 2019 starting front five graduated and a fourth, tackle Luke Goedeke, was lost for the 2020 season to an injury.
"I was on board right away because I want the team to win," Raimann said. "That day I went home, got a big gallon of ice cream and started eating."
Raimann was listed at 255 pounds as a sophomore, when he caught 10 passes for 76 yards. He caught 20 balls for 164 yards in his two seasons with the Chippewa tight end corps.
Now, he can forget about route running and instead concentrate solely on opening holes and protecting the passer. He's also tipping the scales at 295 now.
Raimann isn't the first Chippewa – and certainly not the first college football player – to change positions and he is far from the first to move from tight end to tackle. Joe Staley made the move as a Chippewa freshman in 2003 and went on to a 13-year NFL career as a tackle, retiring last May.
A more contemporary example was available to Raimann in Clay Walderzak, who moved from tight end to tackle and wrapped up his career after the 2019 season.
"I have talked to Clay about it," Raimann said. "He just really reassured me about the possibilities that (could) open up for me (as a tackle)."
Moving the interior of the offensive line makes Raimann a member of the 'Bubs,' the unofficial nickname of Chippewas who play center, guard and tackle.
"They took me in from day one," Raimann said. "We worked together during practice, but after practice they would always stay longer with me to fine tune certain drills and certain techniques. I would definitely not be in this position right now if it wasn't for them."
His upbringing in Austria helped too. He played a variety of sports as a child, including soccer, volleyball, rock climbing, skiing and snowboarding, all of which helped him develop athletically as he learned to adapt.
Others on the Move
Three other Chippewas, junior Darius Bracy, senior Kumehnnu Gwilly and Keegan Cossou, have switched positions ahead of the 2020 season.
Bracy, formerly a defensive back, is now at running back; Gwilly, who saw action as a running back over the past three seasons, is now on defense where he is likely to see playing time either on the line or at linebacker; and Cossou has moved to offensive tackle from defensive end. Coussou, a junior, joined the program in 2017 as a tight end.
The Quarterback
The Chippewas are still awaiting word from the NCAA on the eligibility of quarterback David Moore.
Until word comes, the starter is redshirt freshman Daniel Richardson, and No. 2 on the depth chart is junior Ty Brock, a transfer from Football Championship Subdivision Sam Houston State.
Moore started four games in 2019 in place of the starter, Quinten Dormady. He proved that he was quite capable, completing 57.3 percent of his passes for 1,143 yards and five touchdowns.
"Nothing changes what we're going to do offensively," CMU coach Jim McElwain said of Richardson. "Got total confidence in him and (in) Ty Brock … Looking forward to seeing those guys play and more importantly just excited to see our guys go out and run around and do the thing that they love to do and that's play the game of football."
McElwain has hinted that Brock may fill a role similar to that of Tommy Lazzaro in 2019. Lazzaro served as the quarterback in short-yardage and goal-line situations and was particularly effective as a runner. He carried 36 times and scored eight touchdowns.
"He throws the ball really well and not just on the move," McElwain said. "He brings a skill-set; he's a heck of an athlete and that's always a good thing to have back there."
Moving 3 feet along the offensive line? Not such a big deal, in that context.
Raimann, a junior on the Central Michigan football team, goes into the 2020 season – the Chippewas open on Wednesday (7 p.m.) at Kelly/Shorts Stadium with a Mid-American Conference game against Ohio -- as an offensive tackle after spending his first two years as a Chippewa as a tight end.
The Chippewa coaching staff approached Raimann about the position move during spring practice in March. As a team-first guy, Raimann jumped at the opportunity.
Three of the Chippewas' 2019 starting front five graduated and a fourth, tackle Luke Goedeke, was lost for the 2020 season to an injury.
"I was on board right away because I want the team to win," Raimann said. "That day I went home, got a big gallon of ice cream and started eating."
Raimann was listed at 255 pounds as a sophomore, when he caught 10 passes for 76 yards. He caught 20 balls for 164 yards in his two seasons with the Chippewa tight end corps.
Now, he can forget about route running and instead concentrate solely on opening holes and protecting the passer. He's also tipping the scales at 295 now.
Raimann isn't the first Chippewa – and certainly not the first college football player – to change positions and he is far from the first to move from tight end to tackle. Joe Staley made the move as a Chippewa freshman in 2003 and went on to a 13-year NFL career as a tackle, retiring last May.
A more contemporary example was available to Raimann in Clay Walderzak, who moved from tight end to tackle and wrapped up his career after the 2019 season.
"I have talked to Clay about it," Raimann said. "He just really reassured me about the possibilities that (could) open up for me (as a tackle)."
Moving the interior of the offensive line makes Raimann a member of the 'Bubs,' the unofficial nickname of Chippewas who play center, guard and tackle.
"They took me in from day one," Raimann said. "We worked together during practice, but after practice they would always stay longer with me to fine tune certain drills and certain techniques. I would definitely not be in this position right now if it wasn't for them."
His upbringing in Austria helped too. He played a variety of sports as a child, including soccer, volleyball, rock climbing, skiing and snowboarding, all of which helped him develop athletically as he learned to adapt.
Others on the Move
Three other Chippewas, junior Darius Bracy, senior Kumehnnu Gwilly and Keegan Cossou, have switched positions ahead of the 2020 season.
Bracy, formerly a defensive back, is now at running back; Gwilly, who saw action as a running back over the past three seasons, is now on defense where he is likely to see playing time either on the line or at linebacker; and Cossou has moved to offensive tackle from defensive end. Coussou, a junior, joined the program in 2017 as a tight end.
The Quarterback
The Chippewas are still awaiting word from the NCAA on the eligibility of quarterback David Moore.
Until word comes, the starter is redshirt freshman Daniel Richardson, and No. 2 on the depth chart is junior Ty Brock, a transfer from Football Championship Subdivision Sam Houston State.
Moore started four games in 2019 in place of the starter, Quinten Dormady. He proved that he was quite capable, completing 57.3 percent of his passes for 1,143 yards and five touchdowns.
"Nothing changes what we're going to do offensively," CMU coach Jim McElwain said of Richardson. "Got total confidence in him and (in) Ty Brock … Looking forward to seeing those guys play and more importantly just excited to see our guys go out and run around and do the thing that they love to do and that's play the game of football."
McElwain has hinted that Brock may fill a role similar to that of Tommy Lazzaro in 2019. Lazzaro served as the quarterback in short-yardage and goal-line situations and was particularly effective as a runner. He carried 36 times and scored eight touchdowns.
"He throws the ball really well and not just on the move," McElwain said. "He brings a skill-set; he's a heck of an athlete and that's always a good thing to have back there."
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