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Chippewas to Participate in MAC Kickoff Event at Pro Football Hall of Fame
7/15/2024 12:00:00 PM | Football
Media Day Notes/Statistics (PDF)Watch Live on ESPN+ Beginning at 11 a.m.2024 Roster2024 Schedule2024 Ticket Central2024 Season Ticket Brochure (PDF)Buy Season Tickets
Head Coach Jim McElwain, defensive back Donte Kent, and offensive lineman Brayden Swartout will represent Central Michigan at the MAC Kickoff Event held at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio; Media Day is set for Friday beginning at 8:30 a.m.
CANTON, Ohio—Head Coach Jim McElwain, senior defensive back Donte Kent, and senior offensive lineman Brayden Swartout will travel to Canton, Ohio to represent Central Michigan at the 2024 Mid-American Conference Football Kickoff event. The event will take place at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton on Friday, July 19 beginning at 8:30 a.m. to approximately 1:30 p.m.
The entire day's festivities will be broadcast live on ESPN3 beginning at 11:30 a.m. and can be accessed at this link. The show will feature segments on each of the 12 MAC programs. CMU's segment will feature McElwain and Kent.
Fans will be able to follow along on an hour-by-hour basis by accessing CMU Football's blog on www.cmuchippewas.com. McElwain, Kent, and Swartout will tape and produce several segments including with Cleveland.com/MLive.com, appear on the Call to MACtion podcast, tape several videos for the MAC, and conduct one-on-one-interviews with the assembled media. Kent, Swartout and Coach McElwain will also produce the CMU podcast from the event. The event will also feature an 11 a.m. press conference with MAC Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher, which will be streamed live on ESPN+ at this link.
On Thursday, Kent and Swartout will take a tour of the Hall of Fame and attend the MAC Student-Athlete Event at the Brew Kettle & TopGolf Swing Suites in the Hall of Fame Village.
Central Michigan's full media day schedule is listed below, along with a complete ESPN+ broadcast schedule.
The MAC Football Kickoff launches the 2024 season, which begins on Thursday, August 29 and concludes with the 2024 MAC Football Championship Game at Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday, Dec. 7.
Central Michigan opens its 2024 football season against Central Connecticut State on Thursday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. at Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Click here to access the schedule.
2024 Central Michigan Football season tickets are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased or renewed through Ticket Central at this link, clicking on this link, or by calling the CMU Athletics Ticket Office at (989) 774-3045. Lock in your tickets now for the best seats at the best value. Single-game tickets will go on sale in late July.
Central Michigan is also selling group voucher packs. By purchasing the group voucher pack, fans have the flexibility to choose the games they wish to attend. Fans can exchange vouchers for any amount needed and vouchers can be exchanged online on a ticket account. To order or for more information, go to www.cmuchippewas.com or call the CMU Athletics Ticket Office at (989) 774-3045.
For the second consecutive season, CMU is selling non-conference road game tickets for games at Florida International (Sept. 7) in Miami and Illinois (Sept. 14) in Champaign, Ill. These tickets are available for purchase. Contact the CMU Athletics Ticket Office to order.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN MEDIA DAY SCHEDULE FOR MCELWAIN, KENT, AND SWARTOUT
Note: This is CMU's schedule for the day. CMU will spend the majority of its day at its table in the main media room.
DONTE KENT
Defensive Back | 5-11 | 190 | Senior | Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg H.S.
Named preseason All-MAC by Lindy's (First Team), Athlon (First Team), and Phil Steele Magazine (Second Team) … named the MAC's best cover corner by Lindy's … two-time All-Mid-American Conference honoree (First Team in 2022 and Second Team in 2023) … named a Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America team honoree in 2021 … in two-year career, 41-game career, has made 182 tackles (138 solo), 4.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sack, two interceptions, 37 pass breakups, 39 passes defended, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and a blocked kick … as a junior defensive back, saw action in 11 of 12 games with 11 starts … played both safety and cornerback … Second Team All-MAC honoree … named to the Bronko Nagurski Award Watch List … Fourth Team All-MAC honoree by Phil Steele Magazine … consensus preseason All-MAC honoree … preseason First Team All-MAC pick by College Football Network, Athlon Magazine, and Phil Steele Magazine … preseason Second Team All-MAC by Lindy's Magazine … finished the year ranked No. 3 on the squad and No. 29 in the MAC in tackles with 58 (39 solo), led the Chippewas in pass breakups with seven, and registered 2.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sack, and a quarterback hurry … led the Chippewas in tackles in three games and registered two 10-plus tackle games … as a sophomore, played in all 12 games with 11 starts at cornerback … saw action in 898 total plays on the year … First Team All-MAC defensive back … First Team All-MAC honoree by Phil Steele Magazine … concluded the year ranked No. 9 nationally and No. 2 in the MAC in passes defended (15, 1.4 per game) … finished the year with 51 tackles (39 solo), 1.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, and a team-high 15 pass breakups … ranked sixth on the team in total tackles (51) and third on the team in solo tackles (39) … also forced a fumble and blocked a kick … registered at least one pass breakup in eight of 12 games … as a freshman, selected to the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America team … earned All-Mid-American Conference Fourth Team honors from Phil Steele … played in all 13 games, starting 12 … posted 54 tackles, including 45 solo stops … ranked sixth on the team in tackles and second in solo tackles … credited with a team-high 14 pass breakups … had at least five tackles in six games … majors in Sport Management.
BRAYDEN SWARTOUT
Offensive Lineman | 6-7 | 300 | Senior | Essexville, Mich./Garber H.S.
Named preseason All-MAC by Athlon (First Team), Lindy's (Second Team), and Phil Steele Magazine (Second Team) … named the MAC's best run blocker by Lindy's … over his three-year career, has played in 28 games, started 25, including 25 consecutive contests (current streak) … two-time Academic All-Mid-American Conference honoree … two-time College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District selection … as a junior, played and started in all 12 games at right tackle … Second Team All-MAC selection as an offensive lineman … Fourth Team All-MAC honoree by Phil Steele Magazine … Academic All-MAC selection … served as team captain in three games … part of CMU's offensive line that allowed just 26 sacks on the year … as a sophomore, played and started all 12 games at right tackle … College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District selection … Academic All-Mid-American Conference selection …saw action in 851 plays on offense … started 13 consecutive games dating back to his first career start at the Sun Bowl on December 31, 2021 … part of an offensive line that allowed just 26 sacks on the year … as a true freshman, appeared in five games with one start … earned first career start vs. Washington State in the Sun Bowl (12/31) … played behind NFL players Luke Goedeke and Bernhard Raimann … majors in Marketing/Professional Sales.
Follow Central Michigan Football: TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
The entire day's festivities will be broadcast live on ESPN3 beginning at 11:30 a.m. and can be accessed at this link. The show will feature segments on each of the 12 MAC programs. CMU's segment will feature McElwain and Kent.
Fans will be able to follow along on an hour-by-hour basis by accessing CMU Football's blog on www.cmuchippewas.com. McElwain, Kent, and Swartout will tape and produce several segments including with Cleveland.com/MLive.com, appear on the Call to MACtion podcast, tape several videos for the MAC, and conduct one-on-one-interviews with the assembled media. Kent, Swartout and Coach McElwain will also produce the CMU podcast from the event. The event will also feature an 11 a.m. press conference with MAC Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher, which will be streamed live on ESPN+ at this link.
On Thursday, Kent and Swartout will take a tour of the Hall of Fame and attend the MAC Student-Athlete Event at the Brew Kettle & TopGolf Swing Suites in the Hall of Fame Village.
Central Michigan's full media day schedule is listed below, along with a complete ESPN+ broadcast schedule.
The MAC Football Kickoff launches the 2024 season, which begins on Thursday, August 29 and concludes with the 2024 MAC Football Championship Game at Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday, Dec. 7.
Central Michigan opens its 2024 football season against Central Connecticut State on Thursday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. at Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Click here to access the schedule.
2024 Central Michigan Football season tickets are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased or renewed through Ticket Central at this link, clicking on this link, or by calling the CMU Athletics Ticket Office at (989) 774-3045. Lock in your tickets now for the best seats at the best value. Single-game tickets will go on sale in late July.
Central Michigan is also selling group voucher packs. By purchasing the group voucher pack, fans have the flexibility to choose the games they wish to attend. Fans can exchange vouchers for any amount needed and vouchers can be exchanged online on a ticket account. To order or for more information, go to www.cmuchippewas.com or call the CMU Athletics Ticket Office at (989) 774-3045.
For the second consecutive season, CMU is selling non-conference road game tickets for games at Florida International (Sept. 7) in Miami and Illinois (Sept. 14) in Champaign, Ill. These tickets are available for purchase. Contact the CMU Athletics Ticket Office to order.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN MEDIA DAY SCHEDULE FOR MCELWAIN, KENT, AND SWARTOUT
| Time | Event |
| 8:30 a.m. | Registration begins |
| 10 a.m. | Classic Teleproductions (Cleveland.com/MLive.com) |
| 10:40 a.m. | MAC Video Content |
| 11-11:30 a.m. | Commissioner Steinbrecher Press Conference (streamed live on ESPN3) |
| 11:30-1:30 p.m. | Head Coach/Student-Athlete 1-on-1 Availability (Nash Family Event & Conference Center) |
| 11:50 a.m. | ESPN3 Production (11:40 a.m. arrival) |
| 12:20 p.m. | EA Sports CFB Video Content |
Note: This is CMU's schedule for the day. CMU will spend the majority of its day at its table in the main media room.
DONTE KENT
Defensive Back | 5-11 | 190 | Senior | Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg H.S.
Named preseason All-MAC by Lindy's (First Team), Athlon (First Team), and Phil Steele Magazine (Second Team) … named the MAC's best cover corner by Lindy's … two-time All-Mid-American Conference honoree (First Team in 2022 and Second Team in 2023) … named a Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America team honoree in 2021 … in two-year career, 41-game career, has made 182 tackles (138 solo), 4.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sack, two interceptions, 37 pass breakups, 39 passes defended, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and a blocked kick … as a junior defensive back, saw action in 11 of 12 games with 11 starts … played both safety and cornerback … Second Team All-MAC honoree … named to the Bronko Nagurski Award Watch List … Fourth Team All-MAC honoree by Phil Steele Magazine … consensus preseason All-MAC honoree … preseason First Team All-MAC pick by College Football Network, Athlon Magazine, and Phil Steele Magazine … preseason Second Team All-MAC by Lindy's Magazine … finished the year ranked No. 3 on the squad and No. 29 in the MAC in tackles with 58 (39 solo), led the Chippewas in pass breakups with seven, and registered 2.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sack, and a quarterback hurry … led the Chippewas in tackles in three games and registered two 10-plus tackle games … as a sophomore, played in all 12 games with 11 starts at cornerback … saw action in 898 total plays on the year … First Team All-MAC defensive back … First Team All-MAC honoree by Phil Steele Magazine … concluded the year ranked No. 9 nationally and No. 2 in the MAC in passes defended (15, 1.4 per game) … finished the year with 51 tackles (39 solo), 1.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, and a team-high 15 pass breakups … ranked sixth on the team in total tackles (51) and third on the team in solo tackles (39) … also forced a fumble and blocked a kick … registered at least one pass breakup in eight of 12 games … as a freshman, selected to the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America team … earned All-Mid-American Conference Fourth Team honors from Phil Steele … played in all 13 games, starting 12 … posted 54 tackles, including 45 solo stops … ranked sixth on the team in tackles and second in solo tackles … credited with a team-high 14 pass breakups … had at least five tackles in six games … majors in Sport Management.
BRAYDEN SWARTOUT
Offensive Lineman | 6-7 | 300 | Senior | Essexville, Mich./Garber H.S.
Named preseason All-MAC by Athlon (First Team), Lindy's (Second Team), and Phil Steele Magazine (Second Team) … named the MAC's best run blocker by Lindy's … over his three-year career, has played in 28 games, started 25, including 25 consecutive contests (current streak) … two-time Academic All-Mid-American Conference honoree … two-time College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District selection … as a junior, played and started in all 12 games at right tackle … Second Team All-MAC selection as an offensive lineman … Fourth Team All-MAC honoree by Phil Steele Magazine … Academic All-MAC selection … served as team captain in three games … part of CMU's offensive line that allowed just 26 sacks on the year … as a sophomore, played and started all 12 games at right tackle … College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District selection … Academic All-Mid-American Conference selection …saw action in 851 plays on offense … started 13 consecutive games dating back to his first career start at the Sun Bowl on December 31, 2021 … part of an offensive line that allowed just 26 sacks on the year … as a true freshman, appeared in five games with one start … earned first career start vs. Washington State in the Sun Bowl (12/31) … played behind NFL players Luke Goedeke and Bernhard Raimann … majors in Marketing/Professional Sales.
Follow Central Michigan Football: TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
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