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Photo by: Madison Davidson '25 - @_mld.jpeg
Safeties Preview: Player-Led Group Filled With Experienced Veterans
8/3/2025 10:25:00 AM | Football
Led by returning starters Caleb Spann and Elijah Rikard, transfers Maddix Blackwell and Elijah Gordon, and special teams standout Ed Conoran, Central Michigan safeties are poised to make an impact.
MOUNT PLEASANT—Led by preseason All-MAC selections Caleb Spann and Elijah Rikard, two transfers in Maddix Blackwell and Elijah Gordon and special teams standout Ed Conoran, Central Michigan's eight-player safeties group is deep and talented.
"We return a lot of snaps from last year," Central Michigan safeties coach Wes Fleming said. "Obviously Elijah Rikard and Caleb Spann played over 700 snaps last year. On top of that, bringing in Maddix Blackwell and Elijah Gordon, with that group, we have a lot of senior leadership and guys who have played a lot of football. It makes my life pretty easy when I've got players who can take charge and have a player-led room. We've had a lot of good competition through the spring. I'm really excited about this group. It's a talented, physical, hard-working group and all of them align with what we're looking for in our program."
"Caleb and Elijah have physical skill sets and are both very cerebral football players. Caleb is a bit more physical kid and Elijah does a great job in space. With Maddix and Elijah Gordon showing up in January, it was like they've been here for years. They're very smart in the playbook and see situations before they arise. They play with phenomenal effort all the time. Ed Conoran is as reliable as it gets, he's a great teammate, works his tail off, and has really impressed me. Coach Riedel has done a great job with him and he'll be a guy that makes an impact this year."
"Mark-Allen Gay is a ball of energy and always has a smile on his face and I'm excited to see him do more. You look at the younger guys in Nolan Anderson and Tysen Campbell, guys who continue to grow. Nolan gained 19 pounds since January, he's a 4.0 student, great track athlete and is a player who doesn't know how to turn it off. He's physical and fast, plays with great effort. Tysen is battling back from injury last year so we're getting him back to speed. He's been great, he's shown flashes as being able to make plays. He will be a guy who will push the others and we're excited about him as well."
2025 SAFETIES PERSONNEL ROSTER
2 | Elijah Rikard | 6-1 | 190 | R-Sr. | Detroit, Mich.
15 | Caleb Spann | 6-0 | 195 | R-Sr. | New Orleans, La.
17 | Maddix Blackwell | 5-10 | 190 | Sr. | Bloomington, Ind.
10 | Elijah Gordon | 6-0 | 205 | Sr. | Midland, Mich.
7 | Ed Conoran | 5-10 | 185 | R-Jr. | Dover, N.J.
9 | Mark-Allen Gay | 6-0 | 180 | R-So. | Miami, Fla.
27 | Tysen Campbell | 6-0 | 180 | R-Fr. | Akron, Ohio
28 | Nolan Anderson | 5-10 | 195 | Fr. | Menomonee Falls, Wis.
Redshirt senior Caleb Spann returns to the strong safety position after starting 20 games, including 19 consecutive over the last two seasons. The New Orleans, La. native ranked No. 2 on the team in tackles (61), No. 3 in solo tackles (40) and No. 3 in pass breakups (six), and also contributed 4.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks last year. Over his four-year, 40-game career, Spann has made 130 tackles (85 solo) with 12 pass breakups, 7.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, and one interception.
Another redshirt senior Elijah Rikard has also seen extensive action at the free safety spot. The Detroit native has started 17 times in his career with 10 consecutive and has made 86 career tackles (44 solo) with a sack, 2.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups, a fumble recovery and interception. Last year, he ranked No. 4 on the squad in tackles with 56 (27 solo).
Redshirt junior Ed Conoran has contributed primarily on special teams throughout his career. From Dover, N.J., Conoran has made 11 career tackles (six solo) with a tackle for loss and a sack in his 28-game career.
Seniors Maddix Blackwell and Elijah Gordon both transferred into the program in the offseason. Blackwell arrives at Central Michigan from Indiana State, where he was a two-time All-Missouri Valley Conference pick and totaled 248 tackles and four interceptions over his 38-game, four-year career. Gordon, from nearby Midland, Mich., is a Saginaw Valley State transfer who was a First Team All-GLIAC player after making 70 tackles and intercepting four passes in 2024. Over his four-year career at SVSU, he finished with 137 tackles, eight for loss, six interceptions and 10 pass breakups.
Redshirt sophomore Mark-Allen Gay played in five games last year, primarily on special teams and redshirt freshman Tysen Campbell is healthy after missing the entire 2024 season with an injury.
Freshman Nolan Anderson joins the squad from Menomonee Falls, Wis., where he was a two-time Greater Metro Conference honoree.
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"We return a lot of snaps from last year," Central Michigan safeties coach Wes Fleming said. "Obviously Elijah Rikard and Caleb Spann played over 700 snaps last year. On top of that, bringing in Maddix Blackwell and Elijah Gordon, with that group, we have a lot of senior leadership and guys who have played a lot of football. It makes my life pretty easy when I've got players who can take charge and have a player-led room. We've had a lot of good competition through the spring. I'm really excited about this group. It's a talented, physical, hard-working group and all of them align with what we're looking for in our program."
"Caleb and Elijah have physical skill sets and are both very cerebral football players. Caleb is a bit more physical kid and Elijah does a great job in space. With Maddix and Elijah Gordon showing up in January, it was like they've been here for years. They're very smart in the playbook and see situations before they arise. They play with phenomenal effort all the time. Ed Conoran is as reliable as it gets, he's a great teammate, works his tail off, and has really impressed me. Coach Riedel has done a great job with him and he'll be a guy that makes an impact this year."
"Mark-Allen Gay is a ball of energy and always has a smile on his face and I'm excited to see him do more. You look at the younger guys in Nolan Anderson and Tysen Campbell, guys who continue to grow. Nolan gained 19 pounds since January, he's a 4.0 student, great track athlete and is a player who doesn't know how to turn it off. He's physical and fast, plays with great effort. Tysen is battling back from injury last year so we're getting him back to speed. He's been great, he's shown flashes as being able to make plays. He will be a guy who will push the others and we're excited about him as well."
2025 SAFETIES PERSONNEL ROSTER
2 | Elijah Rikard | 6-1 | 190 | R-Sr. | Detroit, Mich.
15 | Caleb Spann | 6-0 | 195 | R-Sr. | New Orleans, La.
17 | Maddix Blackwell | 5-10 | 190 | Sr. | Bloomington, Ind.
10 | Elijah Gordon | 6-0 | 205 | Sr. | Midland, Mich.
7 | Ed Conoran | 5-10 | 185 | R-Jr. | Dover, N.J.
9 | Mark-Allen Gay | 6-0 | 180 | R-So. | Miami, Fla.
27 | Tysen Campbell | 6-0 | 180 | R-Fr. | Akron, Ohio
28 | Nolan Anderson | 5-10 | 195 | Fr. | Menomonee Falls, Wis.
Redshirt senior Caleb Spann returns to the strong safety position after starting 20 games, including 19 consecutive over the last two seasons. The New Orleans, La. native ranked No. 2 on the team in tackles (61), No. 3 in solo tackles (40) and No. 3 in pass breakups (six), and also contributed 4.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks last year. Over his four-year, 40-game career, Spann has made 130 tackles (85 solo) with 12 pass breakups, 7.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, and one interception.
Another redshirt senior Elijah Rikard has also seen extensive action at the free safety spot. The Detroit native has started 17 times in his career with 10 consecutive and has made 86 career tackles (44 solo) with a sack, 2.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups, a fumble recovery and interception. Last year, he ranked No. 4 on the squad in tackles with 56 (27 solo).
Redshirt junior Ed Conoran has contributed primarily on special teams throughout his career. From Dover, N.J., Conoran has made 11 career tackles (six solo) with a tackle for loss and a sack in his 28-game career.
Seniors Maddix Blackwell and Elijah Gordon both transferred into the program in the offseason. Blackwell arrives at Central Michigan from Indiana State, where he was a two-time All-Missouri Valley Conference pick and totaled 248 tackles and four interceptions over his 38-game, four-year career. Gordon, from nearby Midland, Mich., is a Saginaw Valley State transfer who was a First Team All-GLIAC player after making 70 tackles and intercepting four passes in 2024. Over his four-year career at SVSU, he finished with 137 tackles, eight for loss, six interceptions and 10 pass breakups.
Redshirt sophomore Mark-Allen Gay played in five games last year, primarily on special teams and redshirt freshman Tysen Campbell is healthy after missing the entire 2024 season with an injury.
Freshman Nolan Anderson joins the squad from Menomonee Falls, Wis., where he was a two-time Greater Metro Conference honoree.
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