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Photo by: Ty Klopf
Linebackers Preview: New Faces, New Opportunities
9/1/2026 12:24:00 PM | Football
New group of players will play key role on defense.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.—Central Michigan Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach Sean Cronin has a talented group of returnees and newcomers who will see action at linebacker for the Chippewas this fall.
The challenge will be to replace three of its departed starters at linebacker and each of its top two tacklers from last year's team. Gone is First Team All-MAC, G5 Hero Sports Third Team All-America selection, and two-year starter at middle linebacker Jordan Kwiatkowski, who led the Chippewas in tackles (117), interceptions (3-92), forced fumbles (3), and ranked No. 2 in tackles for loss (14-56). Also departed is Dakota Cochran, who was a top playmaker and ranked No. 2 on the team with 82 tackles, scored two defensive touchdowns, recovered two fumbles, forced two fumbles, and finished with 6.0 tackles for loss. Lawai'a Brown, who finished the year with 43 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and three quarterback hurries, also graduated.
Even with the losses, Cronin is excited to see his 10-player linebacker unit in action.
"One of the best things that I've seen is we've gotten better every day in fall practice," Cronin said. "That's been important for our unit. There is a lot of competition for playing time. We added fresh faces who have done a really good job and we're excited about. We have a big group and there are a lot of guys who we feel can help us. Getting them in the right package and the right situation is what we've been sorting through this fall. We will play it more by committee this year rather than just having the same three guys out there."
Overall, all 10 players are vying to see playing time at linebacker. Three veterans return to the squad in juniors Xavier White and Victor Earl, and senior Jeremiah Alston. All three have played roles in the past with White and Earl as key backups who saw extensive action on defense last year. White has played in 22 games and has made 31 career tackles. He finished with 26 tackles last year in 13 games. Earl made 15 tackles in 13 games last year. Sophomore Jeremiah McKenzie is also back after redshirting the 2025 season.
The Chippewas brought in three established transfers in senior Mayson Hitchens (Weber State), fifth year Brett McCalla (Central Washington), and junior Antonio Chery, Jr. (Fresno City J.C.). Hitchens played the last three seasons at Weber State, where he made 148 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss in 28 career games and earned All-Big Sky honors. Last year, he led the Wildcats in tackles with 91. A two-time All-Lone Star Conference honoree, McCalla made 177 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss and intercepted three passes in 34 games played and 27 starts at Central Washington. Cherry made 69 tackles and broke up four passes at Fresno City J.C. last season.
Three freshmen from Michigan—Joshua Atiemo (Milford, Mich.), Drew Esper (Traverse City), and Elijah Reynolds (Holland, Mich.)—also join the mix.
"Xavier White is the one veteran who's played the most," Cronin said. "I feel good about him. He's continued to develop and has developed into a consistent guy. I think he's going to have a great year. Victor Earl is in his second year in our defense. He's long, he can run, he's done a nice job as the SAM linebacker and is becoming an expert at that position. He knows how we do things and is a leader. He rallies guys and I'm excited for him to play a bigger role. Since moving from defensive back, Jeremiah Alston is functioning a lot more like a linebacker and is getting more comfortable with the position. He's going through read progressions and doing the proper footwork. He feels more comfortable in the box and has had a good camp. Jeremiah McKenzie is a super talented, young guy. He's still learning how to play linebacker. He's athletic and an easy mover. He's very natural with his movement. He's still developing, but he's going to have a high ceiling."
"Mayson Hitchens is a guy who's played a lot of football," Cronin said. "He's gotten used to the new scheme very quickly but has done a nice job with it. He's taken things very seriously, he's intentional with his reps, and he improves each day. He's going to play a bunch of football for us. Brett McCalla. He's long, serious about his business and has gotten better each day. I'm excited about Brett and what he's going to do and how he's going to play for us. In one scrimmage he had like 10 tackles in 23 plays. Hopefully, he's going to have a great year. Antonio Cherry is a physical linebacker, we're really excited about him. He's an older guy and has played a lot of football."
"I'm also excited about our three freshmen," Cronin said. "Josh Atiemo is a new guy and smart guy. He's a bright, smart guy who has a bright future. Drew Esper is a talented freshman. We are super excited about Drew. He's going to have a great career here. He can do everything well, he can run, he's physical, he's smart. He's got to get used to the speed of the game and as he does, he continues to get better. He will play a role for us this year. Elijah Reynolds is a talented young guy who has a lot of upside, is super athletic and is going to be really good."
2026 LINEBACKERS PERSONNEL ROSTER
10 | Jeremiah Alston | Sr. | 6-0 | 230 | Detroit, Mich.
49 | Joshua Atiemo | Fr. | 6-1 | 215 | Milford, Mich.
30 | Antonio Cherry, Jr. | Jr. | 6-1 | 240 | Hopewell, Va.
8 | Victor Earl | Jr. | 6-2 | 225 | Romeo, Mich.
34 | Drew Esper | Fr. | 6-1 | 225 | Traverse City, Mich.
35 | Mayson Hitchens | Sr. | 6-1 | 225 | Anaheim, Calif.
40 | Brett McCalla | 5th Year | 6-4 | 225 | Manhattan Beach, Calif.
36 | Jeremiah McKenzie | So. | 6-2 | 210 | Starke, Fla.
33 | Elijah Reynolds | Fr. | 6-2 | 230 | Holland, Mich.
11 | Xavier White | Jr. | 6-0 | 235 | Los Angeles, Calif.
Follow Central Michigan Football: TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
The challenge will be to replace three of its departed starters at linebacker and each of its top two tacklers from last year's team. Gone is First Team All-MAC, G5 Hero Sports Third Team All-America selection, and two-year starter at middle linebacker Jordan Kwiatkowski, who led the Chippewas in tackles (117), interceptions (3-92), forced fumbles (3), and ranked No. 2 in tackles for loss (14-56). Also departed is Dakota Cochran, who was a top playmaker and ranked No. 2 on the team with 82 tackles, scored two defensive touchdowns, recovered two fumbles, forced two fumbles, and finished with 6.0 tackles for loss. Lawai'a Brown, who finished the year with 43 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and three quarterback hurries, also graduated.
Even with the losses, Cronin is excited to see his 10-player linebacker unit in action.
"One of the best things that I've seen is we've gotten better every day in fall practice," Cronin said. "That's been important for our unit. There is a lot of competition for playing time. We added fresh faces who have done a really good job and we're excited about. We have a big group and there are a lot of guys who we feel can help us. Getting them in the right package and the right situation is what we've been sorting through this fall. We will play it more by committee this year rather than just having the same three guys out there."
Overall, all 10 players are vying to see playing time at linebacker. Three veterans return to the squad in juniors Xavier White and Victor Earl, and senior Jeremiah Alston. All three have played roles in the past with White and Earl as key backups who saw extensive action on defense last year. White has played in 22 games and has made 31 career tackles. He finished with 26 tackles last year in 13 games. Earl made 15 tackles in 13 games last year. Sophomore Jeremiah McKenzie is also back after redshirting the 2025 season.
The Chippewas brought in three established transfers in senior Mayson Hitchens (Weber State), fifth year Brett McCalla (Central Washington), and junior Antonio Chery, Jr. (Fresno City J.C.). Hitchens played the last three seasons at Weber State, where he made 148 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss in 28 career games and earned All-Big Sky honors. Last year, he led the Wildcats in tackles with 91. A two-time All-Lone Star Conference honoree, McCalla made 177 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss and intercepted three passes in 34 games played and 27 starts at Central Washington. Cherry made 69 tackles and broke up four passes at Fresno City J.C. last season.
Three freshmen from Michigan—Joshua Atiemo (Milford, Mich.), Drew Esper (Traverse City), and Elijah Reynolds (Holland, Mich.)—also join the mix.
"Xavier White is the one veteran who's played the most," Cronin said. "I feel good about him. He's continued to develop and has developed into a consistent guy. I think he's going to have a great year. Victor Earl is in his second year in our defense. He's long, he can run, he's done a nice job as the SAM linebacker and is becoming an expert at that position. He knows how we do things and is a leader. He rallies guys and I'm excited for him to play a bigger role. Since moving from defensive back, Jeremiah Alston is functioning a lot more like a linebacker and is getting more comfortable with the position. He's going through read progressions and doing the proper footwork. He feels more comfortable in the box and has had a good camp. Jeremiah McKenzie is a super talented, young guy. He's still learning how to play linebacker. He's athletic and an easy mover. He's very natural with his movement. He's still developing, but he's going to have a high ceiling."
"Mayson Hitchens is a guy who's played a lot of football," Cronin said. "He's gotten used to the new scheme very quickly but has done a nice job with it. He's taken things very seriously, he's intentional with his reps, and he improves each day. He's going to play a bunch of football for us. Brett McCalla. He's long, serious about his business and has gotten better each day. I'm excited about Brett and what he's going to do and how he's going to play for us. In one scrimmage he had like 10 tackles in 23 plays. Hopefully, he's going to have a great year. Antonio Cherry is a physical linebacker, we're really excited about him. He's an older guy and has played a lot of football."
"I'm also excited about our three freshmen," Cronin said. "Josh Atiemo is a new guy and smart guy. He's a bright, smart guy who has a bright future. Drew Esper is a talented freshman. We are super excited about Drew. He's going to have a great career here. He can do everything well, he can run, he's physical, he's smart. He's got to get used to the speed of the game and as he does, he continues to get better. He will play a role for us this year. Elijah Reynolds is a talented young guy who has a lot of upside, is super athletic and is going to be really good."
2026 LINEBACKERS PERSONNEL ROSTER
10 | Jeremiah Alston | Sr. | 6-0 | 230 | Detroit, Mich.
49 | Joshua Atiemo | Fr. | 6-1 | 215 | Milford, Mich.
30 | Antonio Cherry, Jr. | Jr. | 6-1 | 240 | Hopewell, Va.
8 | Victor Earl | Jr. | 6-2 | 225 | Romeo, Mich.
34 | Drew Esper | Fr. | 6-1 | 225 | Traverse City, Mich.
35 | Mayson Hitchens | Sr. | 6-1 | 225 | Anaheim, Calif.
40 | Brett McCalla | 5th Year | 6-4 | 225 | Manhattan Beach, Calif.
36 | Jeremiah McKenzie | So. | 6-2 | 210 | Starke, Fla.
33 | Elijah Reynolds | Fr. | 6-2 | 230 | Holland, Mich.
11 | Xavier White | Jr. | 6-0 | 235 | Los Angeles, Calif.
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