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Photo by: Josie Ransley '25,M'27 - @josieransmedia
Central Michigan Football: Chippewas Open Preseason Camp With Optimism, Hope, Belief
7/25/2025 8:49:00 AM | Football
Photo GalleryMatt Drinkall InterviewJordan Kwiatkowski InterviewJoe Labas InterviewCentral Michigan ESPN+ Segment
New head coach Matt Drinkall, players talk team at annual MAC Kickoff event in Detroit.
DETROIT – With new comes hope.
There's plenty of both with regard to Central Michigan football in 2025.
"There is a ton that we're excited about," said Matt Drinkall, named in December to head the program, on Thursday at the annual Mid-American Conference Media at Ford Field in Detroit, site of the MAC Championship Game at the conclusion of the season.
"We are talented enough with the players we have and the depth that we have and the staff that we have. We don't have an excuse to not be able to compete in each game. That's on us to frame those games in ways that we think we can compete to take advantage of the game, environment, situation, depth and personnel and use those things to field a really competitive team."
During the offseason, roster retention played a key role for Drinkall and staff.
"The previous staff did such a great job recruiting and developing players," said Drinkall. "Our staff got here and hit the ground running. We've gone through three recruiting cycles: retention of our current roster, the kids you sign in your current year and adding portal players, then the players you add in the second portal cycle. We've developed them over the last few months and there are players that have played a ton of football."
"The reality is that we are all doing this at the same time and there is a ton of work to do."
Drinkall succeeded Jim McElwain, who retired after the 2024 season and a six-year tenure in Mount Pleasant. It's the first Football Bowl Subdivision head coaching job for the 42-year-old Drinkall, who helped Army West Point to great success from 2019-24 and led NAIA Kansas Wesleyan to a 42-17 record in six seasons from 2014-19.
At first blush, Drinkall would appear to be a contradiction: A relatively young coach who brings a prodigious track record of offensive success, but he is decidedly old school, preaching fast and physical football.
"We're very excited," said senior linebacker Jordan Kwiatkowski, a Second Team All-MAC honoree last season and one of eight returning starters on defense. "You can tell there's a different type of energy going on. Excited to play football again. Like that little-kid feeling, where everyone's excited to get out there, to work, to get better."
There is plenty of work to be done when the Chippewas begin preseason camp next week. The Chippewas finished 4-8 a year ago and were picked ninth in the preseason poll, which was released on Thursday.
"It really just tells us that no outsiders believe in us which, we love that," said Kwiatkowski, the Chippewas' leading tackler a year ago. "That adds more fuel to the fire. We just want to go and play football and show that Central Michigan football is on its way back."
Kwiatkowski, perhaps, epitomizes Drinkall's philosophy of throwback football. It's all about what happens from sideline to sideline, he said.
"In high school, my coach would call me an old-school player," Kwiatkowski said. "I kind of have the feel for what coach Drinkall wants and I'm doing everything I can to bring that feel to everyone and I think we're doing a good job at it.
"We don't have all the NIL talk, or that some guy got a Lamborghini – we just want to play football."
Among the other returning starters on defense are linemen Kade Kostus and Michael Heldman; linebackers Lawai'a Brown and Dakota Cochran, and Jaion Jackson, Caleb Spann and Elijah Rikard.
"You can feel the chemistry, you can feel the friendships," Kwiatkowski said. "We're all close on defense."
Few starters return on offense, but one who does, is critical: redshirt senior quarterback Joe Labas.
Labas started six games – three of them wins -- in 2024 before suffering a season-ending injury. He completed 59 percent of his pass for 1,114 yards and seven touchdowns.
Two starters, Martin Koivisto and Brady Ploucha, return on the offensive line along with tight end DeCorion Temple and wide receiver Tommy McIntosh. A handful of other skill-position players drew an occasional starter in 2024.
Labas, who transferred to CMU from Iowa before the '24 season, said he has embraced the leadership role. He said that the experience he gained the mentorship he received as a backup at Iowa is paying off now.
"The quarterback room at Iowa, I was the young guy at the time," he said. "Being loud, that was something that I learned from" the veteran quarterbacks.
"Attention to detail, that was big. We prepared a lot; our offense was extensive too and they were some really smart guys who helped me out a lot.
"The responsibility – it's all about the guys; the outside noise is not what we worry about. I care about this team and I want what's best for them. Definitely not worrying about what other people think.
"I think the biggest thing is the culture that's been brought in here. Love the new staff. God's put me in this position and it's kind of like an obligation. This is my life right now and go get the job done and lead this team the best you can. That's what I've been trying to do."
There's plenty of both with regard to Central Michigan football in 2025.
"There is a ton that we're excited about," said Matt Drinkall, named in December to head the program, on Thursday at the annual Mid-American Conference Media at Ford Field in Detroit, site of the MAC Championship Game at the conclusion of the season.
"We are talented enough with the players we have and the depth that we have and the staff that we have. We don't have an excuse to not be able to compete in each game. That's on us to frame those games in ways that we think we can compete to take advantage of the game, environment, situation, depth and personnel and use those things to field a really competitive team."
During the offseason, roster retention played a key role for Drinkall and staff.
"The previous staff did such a great job recruiting and developing players," said Drinkall. "Our staff got here and hit the ground running. We've gone through three recruiting cycles: retention of our current roster, the kids you sign in your current year and adding portal players, then the players you add in the second portal cycle. We've developed them over the last few months and there are players that have played a ton of football."
"The reality is that we are all doing this at the same time and there is a ton of work to do."
Drinkall succeeded Jim McElwain, who retired after the 2024 season and a six-year tenure in Mount Pleasant. It's the first Football Bowl Subdivision head coaching job for the 42-year-old Drinkall, who helped Army West Point to great success from 2019-24 and led NAIA Kansas Wesleyan to a 42-17 record in six seasons from 2014-19.
At first blush, Drinkall would appear to be a contradiction: A relatively young coach who brings a prodigious track record of offensive success, but he is decidedly old school, preaching fast and physical football.
"We're very excited," said senior linebacker Jordan Kwiatkowski, a Second Team All-MAC honoree last season and one of eight returning starters on defense. "You can tell there's a different type of energy going on. Excited to play football again. Like that little-kid feeling, where everyone's excited to get out there, to work, to get better."
There is plenty of work to be done when the Chippewas begin preseason camp next week. The Chippewas finished 4-8 a year ago and were picked ninth in the preseason poll, which was released on Thursday.
"It really just tells us that no outsiders believe in us which, we love that," said Kwiatkowski, the Chippewas' leading tackler a year ago. "That adds more fuel to the fire. We just want to go and play football and show that Central Michigan football is on its way back."
Kwiatkowski, perhaps, epitomizes Drinkall's philosophy of throwback football. It's all about what happens from sideline to sideline, he said.
"In high school, my coach would call me an old-school player," Kwiatkowski said. "I kind of have the feel for what coach Drinkall wants and I'm doing everything I can to bring that feel to everyone and I think we're doing a good job at it.
"We don't have all the NIL talk, or that some guy got a Lamborghini – we just want to play football."
Among the other returning starters on defense are linemen Kade Kostus and Michael Heldman; linebackers Lawai'a Brown and Dakota Cochran, and Jaion Jackson, Caleb Spann and Elijah Rikard.
"You can feel the chemistry, you can feel the friendships," Kwiatkowski said. "We're all close on defense."
Few starters return on offense, but one who does, is critical: redshirt senior quarterback Joe Labas.
Labas started six games – three of them wins -- in 2024 before suffering a season-ending injury. He completed 59 percent of his pass for 1,114 yards and seven touchdowns.
Two starters, Martin Koivisto and Brady Ploucha, return on the offensive line along with tight end DeCorion Temple and wide receiver Tommy McIntosh. A handful of other skill-position players drew an occasional starter in 2024.
Labas, who transferred to CMU from Iowa before the '24 season, said he has embraced the leadership role. He said that the experience he gained the mentorship he received as a backup at Iowa is paying off now.
"The quarterback room at Iowa, I was the young guy at the time," he said. "Being loud, that was something that I learned from" the veteran quarterbacks.
"Attention to detail, that was big. We prepared a lot; our offense was extensive too and they were some really smart guys who helped me out a lot.
"The responsibility – it's all about the guys; the outside noise is not what we worry about. I care about this team and I want what's best for them. Definitely not worrying about what other people think.
"I think the biggest thing is the culture that's been brought in here. Love the new staff. God's put me in this position and it's kind of like an obligation. This is my life right now and go get the job done and lead this team the best you can. That's what I've been trying to do."
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