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Photo by: Jasper Warner '25 - @jasperwarnermedia
Central Michigan Football Welcomes 18 New Players to Campus
1/15/2025 5:32:00 PM | Football
Twelve players are transfers, two have enrolled following a gap year, and five are incoming freshmen from CMU’s December signing class.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.—New Central Michigan Head Football Coach Matt Drinkall has welcomed 18 new student-athletes to campus for the January 2025 semester.
Among the 18 new student-athletes, 12 are transfers, two are players who took a gap year, and four were part of CMU's signing class in December 2024. All of these players are now enrolled in classes at Central Michigan University for the January 2025 semester, which began on Monday.
"We addressed a variety of needs with this group," Drinkall said. "We added experience, skill, and talent in virtually every position on the field. We can't wait to see these guys on the practice field once we begin spring drills."
The following is a list of recent incoming signees:
CENTRAL MICHIGAN INCOMING SIGNEES (13)
In addition, five student-athletes from Central Michigan's December 2024 signing class have graduated from high school and are now enrolled at CMU. Those five freshmen include wide receiver Isaiah Atchison (Montague, Mich.), defensive back Nolan Anderson (Menomonee Falls, Wis.), tight end JJ Douglas (Janesville, Wis.), defensive lineman Mason Mudd (Louisville, Ky.), and linebacker Andre Thomas (Belleville, Mich.). In addition, signee Justin Ruffin, Jr. enrolls at CMU as a freshman.
Central Michigan will announce its new coaching staff and support staff members in the coming days. The Chippewas will release spring practice dates at a later time.
Follow Central Michigan Football: TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
Among the 18 new student-athletes, 12 are transfers, two are players who took a gap year, and four were part of CMU's signing class in December 2024. All of these players are now enrolled in classes at Central Michigan University for the January 2025 semester, which began on Monday.
"We addressed a variety of needs with this group," Drinkall said. "We added experience, skill, and talent in virtually every position on the field. We can't wait to see these guys on the practice field once we begin spring drills."
The following is a list of recent incoming signees:
CENTRAL MICHIGAN INCOMING SIGNEES (13)
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown/Previous Schools |
| Marcus Beamon | QB | 6-0 | 195 | Philadelphia, Miss./Butte College/Philadelphia H.S. |
| Maddix Blackwell | DB | 5-10 | 210 | Bloomington, Ind./Indiana State/Bloomington South H.S. |
| Kalen Carroll | DB | 6-1 | 185 | Indianapolis, Ind./Cincinnati/Center Grove H.S. |
| Trey Cornist | RB | 6-0 | 215 | Cincinnati, Ohio/Tulane/Winton Woods H.S. |
| Declan Duley | P | 6-1 | 215 | El Paso, Ill./Illinois/El Paso-Gridley H.S. |
| Dylan Fisher | DL | 6-1 | 285 | Toledo, Ohio/Ohio Dominican/Toledo Central Catholic H.S. |
| Angel Flores | QB | 6-1 | 210 | Casa Grande, Ariz./Northern Arizona/Casa Grande H.S. |
| Elijah Gordon | DB | 6-0 | 195 | Midland, Mich./Saginaw Valley State/Midland H.S. |
| John Iannuzzi | OL | 6-4 | 315 | Belmont, Mass./Columbia/Dexter Southfield H.S. |
| Apisa Poumele | OL | 6-2 | 300 | Tafuga, Pago Pago, American Samoa/Laney C.C./New Mexico Military Institute |
| *Justin Ruffin, Jr. | WR | 5-9 | 160 | Buckner, Ky./Christian Academy of Louisville/Oldham H.S. |
| Jacob Russell | OL | 6-4 | 295 | Glen Ridge, N.J./Valparaiso/Glen Ridge H.S. |
| Rusty VanWetzinga IV | RB | 6-0 | 230 | Pleasant Valley, Iowa/Iowa/Pleasant Valley H.S. |
In addition, five student-athletes from Central Michigan's December 2024 signing class have graduated from high school and are now enrolled at CMU. Those five freshmen include wide receiver Isaiah Atchison (Montague, Mich.), defensive back Nolan Anderson (Menomonee Falls, Wis.), tight end JJ Douglas (Janesville, Wis.), defensive lineman Mason Mudd (Louisville, Ky.), and linebacker Andre Thomas (Belleville, Mich.). In addition, signee Justin Ruffin, Jr. enrolls at CMU as a freshman.
Central Michigan will announce its new coaching staff and support staff members in the coming days. The Chippewas will release spring practice dates at a later time.
Follow Central Michigan Football: TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
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