Chippewa Football: Hungry? More Like Starving

MAC Kickoff/Media Day at the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Photo by: Jack Reeber '23,M'25 - @jackreeber.raw

7/19/2024 2:21:00 PM | Football, Our Stories

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McElwain, players talk team at MAC Media Day.

By: Andy Sneddon

CANTON, Ohio – Jim McElwain was affable and good natured on Friday at the Mid-American Conference's annual football media day at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Most coaches are at the annual kickoff to the season, where everybody is undefeated and looking ahead and listing the reasons why this is their year.

That said, McElwain is well aware that a turnaround – or at least a marked level of improvement – is expected from his Central Michigan team, which is a combined 9-15 over the past two seasons and lost its final three games last season.

"It really took a lot of reflection to put together what it is and where we're at -- the competitive fire, all the things it takes to be successful," McElwain said, adding that one of the mantras this season is Push Through Struggles. "We've done a lot of really good things with this current football team in terms of trying to get a lot of those issues up front and talk about it, have a good dialogue."

Each of the 12 MAC teams was represented by its respective head coach and two selected players. The Chippewas in attendance were defensive back Donte Kent and offensive lineman Brayden Swartout, both of whom earned Second Team All-MAC honors last season.

"I wouldn't even say we're hungry, I'd say we're starving," Swartout said of the mood in the program. "We're very motivated. We've been putting in all the work in the offseason, we have a great group this year. we're just very motivated to get after it this season."

Swartout, a tackle, made his first career start as a freshman in the 2021 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl, a 24-21 win over Washington State that capped a 9-4 season. Since, the Chippewas are six games below .500 including back-to-back 3-5 MAC marks.

The vibe, Kent said, is that improvement is a must. The Chippewas finished eighth in the poll of league coaches.

"Coach Mac has always been serious; he takes his job very serious," Kent said. "I do see a difference in the way he coaches us. He's pushing us harder. Us as players we understand that. We feel the same way he does."

Swartout and Kent are among 17 returning starters on offense and defense. Davis Heinzen, a tackle, and center Dominic Serapiglia III, the center, join Swartout as returning starters up front.

Among the other notable returning starters on offense are running backs Marion Lukes and Myles Bailey along with wide receivers Chris Parker, Jesse Prewitt III and Tyson Davis.

Kent leads an experienced defense that includes returning starters Justin Whiteside (linebacker) and linemen Jason Williams and Michael Heldman, among others.

"There's an old-time ball coach that I've had an opportunity to be around and he'd always say, 'You know, we've got a lot of returners from a team that didn't win, so I don't know what that tells you,'" McElwain quipped. "You've got guys who have played in the game and I think understand what it is to push through the struggles and what it's going to take. Experience is always a good thing."

Redshirt sophomore Bert Emanuel, Jr. is the most experienced of the six quarterbacks on the roster. Emanuel, who has played in 10 career games through two seasons, has proven quite capable as a rusher. Last season's starter, Jase Bauer, transferred.

The other quarterbacks are Joe Labas, a redshirt junior transfer from Iowa; redshirt freshmen Tyler Jefferson and Ethan Lane; freshman and Mount Pleasant High School graduate Logan Borodychuk; and freshman Jadyn Glasser.

"The leadership out of the quarterback room has been fantastic and I think we've got some (receivers) on the outside who can help us take some heat out of the box, that's going to help that running back (position)," McElwain said. "In today's game, you've only got so many hits in you and to be able to keep those guys fresh is really going to help us."

Gallery: (7-19-2024) MAC Kickoff/Media Day