Central Michigan University Athletics
Position Preview: Quarterbacks
8/6/2023 3:30:00 PM | Football
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Chippewas return three quarterbacks from last year’s squad in Tyler Pape, Jase Bauer, and Bert Emanuel Jr.; Jake Kostner begins his first year as CMU quarterbacks coach.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.—Central Michigan returns three quarterbacks to the roster from the 2022 season in redshirt sophomores Tyler Pape and Jase Bauer, and redshirt freshman Bert Emanuel, Jr
New quarterbacks coach Jake Kostner is in his first year and is no stranger to CMU as he worked the 2019 season on the coaching staff. As Offensive Coordinator at Limestone University (S.C.), the Saints made one of most impressive offensive turnarounds in NCAA history. Kostner has learned under the likes of McElwain, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, and Texas coaches Tom Herman and Steve Sarkisian. CMU Offensive Coordinator Paul Petrino is now coaching wide receivers.
"Each quarterback brings a special unique trait," Kostner said. "It's our job as coaches to get that out of them, highlight their strengths and develop their weaknesses. With all of them, we are emphasizing to get us in the right play, find the right checks, and let the surrounding cast around you be better from your play. Your job as a quarterback is to improve the offense, but also make everyone else better around you."
QUARTERBACK PERSONNEL BREAKDOWN
12 | Tyler Pape | 6-4 | 225 | R-So. | Spring Arbor, Mich.
8 | Jase Bauer | 6-3 | 220 | R-So. | Ankeny, Iowa
3 | Bert Emanuel Jr. | 6-3 | 220 | R-Fr. | Houston, Texas
5 | Tyler Jefferson | 6-2 | 230 | Fr. | High Springs, Fla.
6 | Ethan Lane | 6-2 | 210 | Fr. | Chandler, Ariz.
Kostner has been happy with the progress his quarterbacks have made over the offseason.
"When you look at the quarterback room, you want to break it all down to build it back up, so there have been some growing pains," Kostner said. "We started from square one. What we focused on was our feet. Let's just start with our feet and get everything aligned to our target and then we can progress to our mechanics as far as the arm motion."
Bauer and Emanuel both saw extensive action in 2022. Bauer played in six games with one start and rushed for 312 yards and four touchdowns on 53 carries. He also completed 59 percent (35-59) of his passes for 435 yards and one touchdown. Midway through the season, he became the first quarterback at CMU since 2018 to rush for 100 yards in back-to-back games (109 vs. Bowling Green, 109 at Northern Illinois).
Emanuel played in four games and was able to preserve his redshirt year. He led the Chippewas in rushing yards per carry (7.4) and rushing touchdowns (seven) and ranked second on the team in rushing yards (496) and carries (96). He also averaged 124.0 yards rushing per game, completed 4-8 passes for 54 yards, and had three runs of 60 yards or more. His most memorable game came against Buffalo when he set a school-record for single-game rushing yards for a quarterback with 293 yards, which ranks as the fourth-highest single-game total in school-history. Against Buffalo, he also scored three touchdowns and averaged 12.2 yards per carry in the game. For his efforts, he was named the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award National Player of the Week and MAC Offensive Player of the Week.
"Jase is a bit of a wildcard as he's learning to develop as a passer," Kostner said. "The biggest thing is you're the point guard. We have plenty of playmakers on the perimeter to distribute the ball to. It's not just a one-man show. Bert stole the show the last four games running the ball, but now we need to develop the arm out of Bert Emanuel. He has the ability; he has the traits but now we're looking at refining it. We are looking for consistency with Bert. You have to bring it every day, you have to transfer the individual periods to the group periods, then go showcase it in team on 11-on-11 when there are real bullets flying around.
Pape is in his third season at Central Michigan.
"I recruited Tyler to Central Michigan," Kostner said. "He's got a very strong arm. We are working on developing him as a passer in live situations, understanding to feel the rush with your body but don't stare at it with his eyes."
Freshmen Tyler Jefferson and Ethan Lane both are new additions to the program.
"Tyler (Jefferson) and Ethan (Lane) are both great additions to the room. We're really excited to work with them and get them up to optimization," Kostner said. "There is an illusion of complexity with the quarterback position. There's a lot going on but at the end of the day, you throw it to the open guy."
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New quarterbacks coach Jake Kostner is in his first year and is no stranger to CMU as he worked the 2019 season on the coaching staff. As Offensive Coordinator at Limestone University (S.C.), the Saints made one of most impressive offensive turnarounds in NCAA history. Kostner has learned under the likes of McElwain, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, and Texas coaches Tom Herman and Steve Sarkisian. CMU Offensive Coordinator Paul Petrino is now coaching wide receivers.
"Each quarterback brings a special unique trait," Kostner said. "It's our job as coaches to get that out of them, highlight their strengths and develop their weaknesses. With all of them, we are emphasizing to get us in the right play, find the right checks, and let the surrounding cast around you be better from your play. Your job as a quarterback is to improve the offense, but also make everyone else better around you."
QUARTERBACK PERSONNEL BREAKDOWN
12 | Tyler Pape | 6-4 | 225 | R-So. | Spring Arbor, Mich.
8 | Jase Bauer | 6-3 | 220 | R-So. | Ankeny, Iowa
3 | Bert Emanuel Jr. | 6-3 | 220 | R-Fr. | Houston, Texas
5 | Tyler Jefferson | 6-2 | 230 | Fr. | High Springs, Fla.
6 | Ethan Lane | 6-2 | 210 | Fr. | Chandler, Ariz.
Kostner has been happy with the progress his quarterbacks have made over the offseason.
"When you look at the quarterback room, you want to break it all down to build it back up, so there have been some growing pains," Kostner said. "We started from square one. What we focused on was our feet. Let's just start with our feet and get everything aligned to our target and then we can progress to our mechanics as far as the arm motion."
Bauer and Emanuel both saw extensive action in 2022. Bauer played in six games with one start and rushed for 312 yards and four touchdowns on 53 carries. He also completed 59 percent (35-59) of his passes for 435 yards and one touchdown. Midway through the season, he became the first quarterback at CMU since 2018 to rush for 100 yards in back-to-back games (109 vs. Bowling Green, 109 at Northern Illinois).
Emanuel played in four games and was able to preserve his redshirt year. He led the Chippewas in rushing yards per carry (7.4) and rushing touchdowns (seven) and ranked second on the team in rushing yards (496) and carries (96). He also averaged 124.0 yards rushing per game, completed 4-8 passes for 54 yards, and had three runs of 60 yards or more. His most memorable game came against Buffalo when he set a school-record for single-game rushing yards for a quarterback with 293 yards, which ranks as the fourth-highest single-game total in school-history. Against Buffalo, he also scored three touchdowns and averaged 12.2 yards per carry in the game. For his efforts, he was named the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award National Player of the Week and MAC Offensive Player of the Week.
"Jase is a bit of a wildcard as he's learning to develop as a passer," Kostner said. "The biggest thing is you're the point guard. We have plenty of playmakers on the perimeter to distribute the ball to. It's not just a one-man show. Bert stole the show the last four games running the ball, but now we need to develop the arm out of Bert Emanuel. He has the ability; he has the traits but now we're looking at refining it. We are looking for consistency with Bert. You have to bring it every day, you have to transfer the individual periods to the group periods, then go showcase it in team on 11-on-11 when there are real bullets flying around.
Pape is in his third season at Central Michigan.
"I recruited Tyler to Central Michigan," Kostner said. "He's got a very strong arm. We are working on developing him as a passer in live situations, understanding to feel the rush with your body but don't stare at it with his eyes."
Freshmen Tyler Jefferson and Ethan Lane both are new additions to the program.
"Tyler (Jefferson) and Ethan (Lane) are both great additions to the room. We're really excited to work with them and get them up to optimization," Kostner said. "There is an illusion of complexity with the quarterback position. There's a lot going on but at the end of the day, you throw it to the open guy."
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