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Photo by: 2026 Frames by Ty
Cornerbacks Preview: Taking it Day-by-Day, Rep-by-Rep
8/28/2026 9:17:00 AM | Football
Jaion Jackson returns to lead a 12-player cornerback contingent bolstered by transfers and experienced returnees.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.—Central Michigan cornerbacks coach Christian Dukes has been excited about the prospects of his position group heading into the 2026 season. Junior two-year starter Jaion Jackson is leading the transition to a new group that has been smoother than anticipated.
""I feel like we've made some serious strides this fall," Dukes said. "During spring practice, it was more about learning the fundamentals and setting the foundation for what we want to do on defense. Transitioning into fall camp, our guys were able to pick up where they left off, and they've done a tremendous job. The one thing we've tried to emphasize is just getting better from a day-to-day standpoint. These guys have done a great job of continuously getting better day-by-day and rep-by-rep. We didn't want to get too far ahead. If we make the next rep better than the last rep, we all believe we will be where we need to be."
Returning to mix is the playmaker Jackson, who has the opportunity to become the first four-year starter at Central Michigan since cornerback Donte Kent, who is now in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 25 games and 22 career starts, including 13 consecutive, Jackson has made 86 total tackles (51 solo), 6.5 tackles for loss for 39 yards, two sacks, intercepted one pass, broke up 11 passes, with a forced fumble and fumble recovery. Last year, he ranked No. 5 on the team in tackles with 48 and registered the second-highest pass breakup total on the squad (7), along with one interception.
All that aside, Dukes has been most impressed with Jackson's leadership ability this fall.
"Our group is being led by Jaion Jackson," Dukes said. "He's taken on a leadership role, is breaking down our team in every aspect, and doing an excellent job of leading by example both on and off the field. He does a great job in the meeting room communicating and bringing along our younger guys and our transfers. He's been tremendous. He's everything that you want out of a student-athlete. He's excellent in the classroom, he works hard on the football field, he leads by example. He's sitting up first in the meeting room. He's everything you want a student-athlete to embody. He's seen a lot of football, he's a veteran and he sees things before they happen. He has great intuition with certain formational football. Having Jaion as a leader in our room has been a tremendous asset to our position group, but also to the team. He's has accepted the challenge of being a leader."
Also returning to the unit are five players with Central Michigan experience, including fifth-year Kyle Krebs, senior Jamari Allen, junior Keyton Jones, and sophomore Max Macklem. Krebs played in 14 career games, Allen in 15 games, and Jones in five games.
"I've been extremely impressed with Kyle," Dukes said. "He's a young man who has had a great fall camp. He's done a tremendous job to put himself in a position to contribute at corner and on special teams and I can't wait to see him in action. I recruited Jamari Allen in high school when I was at another institution. Thank God, I was able to get the opportunity to coach him at Central Michigan. Jamari is another veteran leader that I'm extremely grateful to have. He's helped me out a lot with reeling in our younger guys and getting them up to speed with the playbook, and how they operate on and off the field. I'm excited to see Jamari this fall."
"Keyton Jones is a hard-nosed player. He impacts the game, whether on special teams or defensively and he's set himself up with a great fall. Max Macklem is a sophomore for us. He's done an excellent job of transitioning his body. He's picked up 15 pounds. That has allowed him to play more freely on the field and with more confidence. He's flying around, making great plays, he's fitting in the run game. He has positioned himself to have a breakout fall."
Central Michigan adds three accomplished transfers to the mix in Matthew McKenzie, Donavan Philord, and Ty Williams. Philord transfers in from Campbell, where he played two years and finished with 46 tackles, eight pass breakups and an interception last year, Williams transfers from Butte Junior College, where he was a NorCal All-Conference team selection and made 36 tackles with five pass breakups in 2025, and McKenzie is a Bethune-Cookman transplant, where he played two years, 21 games and totaled 43 tackles, and two interceptions.
"I previously recruited Matthew McKenzie at another institution," Dukes said. "We saw that he was in the transfer portal, I tried to double back, and it worked out. We're pleased and excited about Matthew. He's made tremendous strides from spring to fall. He's another guy who brings length to our room and a different dimension in physicality. Donavan is a quiet guy but in the right way. He lets his work speak for himself, extremely smart. He's one of those guys who's able to process a lot. He's able to play inside or outside. Donavan has been a tremendous asset. We are super grateful to have him. Ty Williams is a long, rangy corner. He brings physicality and length. He's super intelligent in regard to sniffing out plays. He's a playmaker. I'm extremely excited to see Ty in action this fall.
Central Michigan's four freshmen have also impressed early-on.
"JaJuan Jones was one of those guys who caught on early, which is unique for a first year guy. He's durable and extremely smart. He understands and sees football in a different way. He's able to process things at a different level, which is extremely unique to see a young guy process the plays and formations as quickly as he has. He's a tough, physical football player. Laaren is another first year player. He is another guy who has picked up the scheme extremely well. I'm pleased with him; he's a student of the game. He's always working to get extra reps. EShawn got here this summer, and he's picked up the playbook quickly. He's done a good job. Kameran Hayward is a physical specimen, he's got broad shoulders, he can run, and I've been extremely impressed and pleased with him."
2026 CORNERBACKS PERSONNEL ROSTER
21 | Jamari Allen | Sr. | 6-0 | 170 | Detroit, Mich.
28 | Laaren Cornwall | Fr. | 6-0 | 185 | Middletown, Ohio
43 | Kameran Hayward | Fr. | 6-1 | 180 | Warren, Mich.
4 | Jaion Jackson | Jr. | 5-10 | 170 | East St. Louis, Ill.
20 | JaJuan Jones | Fr. | 6-0 | 200 | Detroit, Mich.
41 | Keyton Jones | Jr. | 5-9 | 185 | Avon, Ind.
23 | Kyle Krebs | 5th Year | 6-0 | 185 | Denver, Colo.
39 | Max Macklem | So. | 6-0 | 190 | Grand Blanc, Mich.
26 | Matthew McKenzie | Jr. | 6-3 | 200 | West Palm Beach, Fla.
12 | Donavan Philord | Jr. | 5-11 | 190 | Miramar, Fla.
38 | EShawn Sutton | Fr. | 6-0 | 190 | Winter Park, Fla.
24 | Ty Williams | 5th Year | 6-2 | 170 | Tampa, Fla.
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""I feel like we've made some serious strides this fall," Dukes said. "During spring practice, it was more about learning the fundamentals and setting the foundation for what we want to do on defense. Transitioning into fall camp, our guys were able to pick up where they left off, and they've done a tremendous job. The one thing we've tried to emphasize is just getting better from a day-to-day standpoint. These guys have done a great job of continuously getting better day-by-day and rep-by-rep. We didn't want to get too far ahead. If we make the next rep better than the last rep, we all believe we will be where we need to be."
Returning to mix is the playmaker Jackson, who has the opportunity to become the first four-year starter at Central Michigan since cornerback Donte Kent, who is now in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 25 games and 22 career starts, including 13 consecutive, Jackson has made 86 total tackles (51 solo), 6.5 tackles for loss for 39 yards, two sacks, intercepted one pass, broke up 11 passes, with a forced fumble and fumble recovery. Last year, he ranked No. 5 on the team in tackles with 48 and registered the second-highest pass breakup total on the squad (7), along with one interception.
All that aside, Dukes has been most impressed with Jackson's leadership ability this fall.
"Our group is being led by Jaion Jackson," Dukes said. "He's taken on a leadership role, is breaking down our team in every aspect, and doing an excellent job of leading by example both on and off the field. He does a great job in the meeting room communicating and bringing along our younger guys and our transfers. He's been tremendous. He's everything that you want out of a student-athlete. He's excellent in the classroom, he works hard on the football field, he leads by example. He's sitting up first in the meeting room. He's everything you want a student-athlete to embody. He's seen a lot of football, he's a veteran and he sees things before they happen. He has great intuition with certain formational football. Having Jaion as a leader in our room has been a tremendous asset to our position group, but also to the team. He's has accepted the challenge of being a leader."
Also returning to the unit are five players with Central Michigan experience, including fifth-year Kyle Krebs, senior Jamari Allen, junior Keyton Jones, and sophomore Max Macklem. Krebs played in 14 career games, Allen in 15 games, and Jones in five games.
"I've been extremely impressed with Kyle," Dukes said. "He's a young man who has had a great fall camp. He's done a tremendous job to put himself in a position to contribute at corner and on special teams and I can't wait to see him in action. I recruited Jamari Allen in high school when I was at another institution. Thank God, I was able to get the opportunity to coach him at Central Michigan. Jamari is another veteran leader that I'm extremely grateful to have. He's helped me out a lot with reeling in our younger guys and getting them up to speed with the playbook, and how they operate on and off the field. I'm excited to see Jamari this fall."
"Keyton Jones is a hard-nosed player. He impacts the game, whether on special teams or defensively and he's set himself up with a great fall. Max Macklem is a sophomore for us. He's done an excellent job of transitioning his body. He's picked up 15 pounds. That has allowed him to play more freely on the field and with more confidence. He's flying around, making great plays, he's fitting in the run game. He has positioned himself to have a breakout fall."
Central Michigan adds three accomplished transfers to the mix in Matthew McKenzie, Donavan Philord, and Ty Williams. Philord transfers in from Campbell, where he played two years and finished with 46 tackles, eight pass breakups and an interception last year, Williams transfers from Butte Junior College, where he was a NorCal All-Conference team selection and made 36 tackles with five pass breakups in 2025, and McKenzie is a Bethune-Cookman transplant, where he played two years, 21 games and totaled 43 tackles, and two interceptions.
"I previously recruited Matthew McKenzie at another institution," Dukes said. "We saw that he was in the transfer portal, I tried to double back, and it worked out. We're pleased and excited about Matthew. He's made tremendous strides from spring to fall. He's another guy who brings length to our room and a different dimension in physicality. Donavan is a quiet guy but in the right way. He lets his work speak for himself, extremely smart. He's one of those guys who's able to process a lot. He's able to play inside or outside. Donavan has been a tremendous asset. We are super grateful to have him. Ty Williams is a long, rangy corner. He brings physicality and length. He's super intelligent in regard to sniffing out plays. He's a playmaker. I'm extremely excited to see Ty in action this fall.
Central Michigan's four freshmen have also impressed early-on.
"JaJuan Jones was one of those guys who caught on early, which is unique for a first year guy. He's durable and extremely smart. He understands and sees football in a different way. He's able to process things at a different level, which is extremely unique to see a young guy process the plays and formations as quickly as he has. He's a tough, physical football player. Laaren is another first year player. He is another guy who has picked up the scheme extremely well. I'm pleased with him; he's a student of the game. He's always working to get extra reps. EShawn got here this summer, and he's picked up the playbook quickly. He's done a good job. Kameran Hayward is a physical specimen, he's got broad shoulders, he can run, and I've been extremely impressed and pleased with him."
2026 CORNERBACKS PERSONNEL ROSTER
21 | Jamari Allen | Sr. | 6-0 | 170 | Detroit, Mich.
28 | Laaren Cornwall | Fr. | 6-0 | 185 | Middletown, Ohio
43 | Kameran Hayward | Fr. | 6-1 | 180 | Warren, Mich.
4 | Jaion Jackson | Jr. | 5-10 | 170 | East St. Louis, Ill.
20 | JaJuan Jones | Fr. | 6-0 | 200 | Detroit, Mich.
41 | Keyton Jones | Jr. | 5-9 | 185 | Avon, Ind.
23 | Kyle Krebs | 5th Year | 6-0 | 185 | Denver, Colo.
39 | Max Macklem | So. | 6-0 | 190 | Grand Blanc, Mich.
26 | Matthew McKenzie | Jr. | 6-3 | 200 | West Palm Beach, Fla.
12 | Donavan Philord | Jr. | 5-11 | 190 | Miramar, Fla.
38 | EShawn Sutton | Fr. | 6-0 | 190 | Winter Park, Fla.
24 | Ty Williams | 5th Year | 6-2 | 170 | Tampa, Fla.
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