Central Michigan University Athletics
2025 Football Roster
Jersey Number 1
Dakota Cochran
- Position:
- Linebacker
- Height:
- 6-2
- Weight:
- 240
- Class:
- Redshirt Senior
- Hometown:
- Shaker Heights, Ohio
- High School:
- Shaker Heights H.S.
- Major:
- Sport Management
CAREER
In career, played in 49 games with 18 starts at linebacker … in five-year career, totaled 217 tackles (122 solo), 21 tackles for loss for 82 yards, five sacks for 40 yards, two interceptions, eight pass breakups, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and three blocked kicks … in Central Michigan career records, concludes his career ranked No. 10 in forced fumbles (4), No. 4 in blocked kicks (3), and No. 3 in most defensive touchdowns scored (two) … in season records, ranks No. 4 in blocked kicks (2 in 2022) and No. 1 in defensive touchdowns (2 in 2025) … his 85-yard fumble return vs. Buffalo (11/12/25) ranks as the No. 3 longest fumble return in school history, No. 2 longest fumble return touchdown in school history, and the No. 9 longest defensive touchdown in school history … one of only eight players in school history to earn four Academic All-MAC honors (2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025) … three-time College Sports Communicators All-District Team selection (2023, 2024, and 2025).
2025
As a redshirt senior, started all 13 games at linebacker … earned Second Team All-MAC honors by the coaches … earned CSC Academic All-District honors for the third time in his career … earned Academic All-MAC honors for the fourth consecutive year … earned preseason All-MAC honors by Lindy’s Magazine (Second Team), Phil Steele Magazine (Second Team), and Athlon Magazine (First Team) … listed as the starting linebacker all season long on the depth chart … a top playmaker, led the Chippewas in defensive touchdowns with two (30-yard interception return, 85-yard fumble return), ranked No. 2 on the team in tackles with 82 (42 solo), and totaled six tackles for loss for 17 yards, 0.5 sacks, five quarterback hurries, three pass breakups, two fumble returns for 85 yards and a touchdown, two forced fumbles and a blocked kick … also led the team fumble recoveries (2) and blocked kicks (1) … averaged 6.3 tackles per game and made at least one tackle in all 13 games … led the Chippewas in tackles in three games … in national statistics, ranked No. 14 in fumbles recovered (two) and ranked among MAC leaders in tackles (No. 22), fumbles forced (No. 13), fumbles recovered (No. 9), and fumble returns (No. 19) … made five tackles (two solo) with 0.5 tackles for loss, and a pass breakup in the GameAbove Sports Bowl vs. Northwestern (12/26) … registered nine tackles (six solo), 1.0 tackle for loss, two quarterback hurries and blocked a field goal in the season finale vs. Toledo (11/29) … finished with five tackles (four solo), with 1.5 tackles for loss, had a pass breakup, and forced a fumble at Kent State (11/19) … returned a fumble 85 yards for a touchdown, made five tackles (one solo) vs. Buffalo (11/12) … made a career-high 11 tackles (nine solo) with 2.5 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble at Western Michigan (11/1) … totaled six tackles (three solo) with two quarterback hurries vs. Massachusetts (10/25) … made eight tackles (two solo) at Bowling Green (10/18) … made five tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss with a pass breakup at Akron (10/4) … Finished with eight tackles (seven solo) vs. Eastern Michigan (9/27) … returned interception 30 yards for a touchdown, recovered fumble, and made four tackles vs. Wagner (9/20) … made three tackles (three solo) at Michigan (9/13) … made five tackles (three solo) with a quarterback hurry at Pittsburgh (9/6) … finished with eight tackles (two solo) in season opener at San Jose State (8/29).
2024
As a redshirt junior, played in all 12 games at linebacker … listed as the backup linebacker all season on the depth chart … earned College Football News All-MAC honorable mention honors … earned Fourth Team All-MAC honors by Phil Steele Magazine … College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District selection … earned Academic All-MAC honors … ranked No. 5 on the squad in tackles with 54 (29 solo), ranked No. 2 on the team in tackles for loss (10.5-52), finished with 3.5 sacks for 30 yards, recovered a fumble for eight yards, forced a team-high two fumbles, and had a quarterback hurry … ranked No. 12 in the MAC in tackles for loss (10.5) and No. 7 in the MAC in fumbles forced (two) … made at least one tackle in all 12 games … finished with three tackles (one solo) in season finale at Northern Illinois (11/30) … made three tackles (two solo) vs. Western Michigan (11/19) … totaled a career-high 3.0 tackles for loss for 17 yards, forced a fumble, and made six tackles at Toledo (11/12) … made five tackles vs. Bowling Green (11/5) … had three tackles at Miami (Ohio) (10/26) … finished with a season-high tying seven tackles (two solo) with 1.0 sack at Eastern Michigan (10/19) … had three tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble return for eight yards vs. Ohio (10/12) … registered four tackles (one solo) with 1.0 tackle for loss vs. San Diego State (9/28) … made a career-high tying seven tackles (six solo) with 1.5 sacks for nine yards vs. Ball State (9/21) … made two tackles and 1.0 tackle for loss at Illinois (9/14) … totaled six tackles (three solo) with 1.0 tackle for loss at Florida International (9/7) … made five tackles in season opener vs. Central Connecticut State (8/29).
2023
As a redshirt sophomore, played in all 12 games at linebacker … started five games … made five consecutive starts from Sept. 30-Nov. 7 … College Sports Communicators All-District Team selection … Academic All-MAC selection … ranked No. 5 on the squad in tackles with 51 (31 solo), finished with 2.0 tackles for loss for six yards, intercepted one pass for nine yards, broke up one pass, registered two quarterback hurries … made eight tackles (seven solo) in season finale vs. Toledo (11/24) … made two tackles (one solo) at Ohio (11/15) … intercepted key pass with nine-yard return, made seven tackles (five solo) with 0.5 tackle for loss at Western Michigan (11/7) … made five tackles (two solo) with one quarterback hurry vs. Northern Illinois (10/31) … made five tackles (four solo) at Ball State (10/21) … totaled a career-high 10 tackles (five solo) with 1.0 tackle for loss and a pass breakup vs. Akron (10/14) … made four tackles with 0.5 tackle for loss at Buffalo (10/7) … returned blocked point after attempt 87 yards for a two-point conversion, made six tackles (four solo) vs. Eastern Michigan (9/30) … made three tackles at South Alabama (9/23) … made one tackle in season opener at Michigan State (9/1).
2022
As a redshirt freshman, saw action in nine games and 292 plays at linebacker and on special teams … Academic All-MAC selection … made 24 tackles (18 solo) with 2.5 tackles for loss for seven yards, 1.0 sack for six yards, broke up four passes and blocked two kicks … ranked No. 5 in the nation in total blocked kicks (two punts) … made four tackles (two solo) with 0.5 sack and broke up a pass vs. Bowing Green (10/22) … made a career-high eight tackles (six solo) with one pass breakup at Akron (10/15) … made three tackles (two solo), blocked a punt at Toledo (10/1) … registered four solo tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss for six yards, 1.0 sack at Penn State (9/24) … blocked punt, totaled three tackles (two solo) in season opener at Oklahoma State (9/1).
2021
Redshirted first year at Central Michigan … saw action in four games … made five total tackles (two solo) on year.
HIGH SCHOOL
A 2021 graduate of Shaker Heights High School, where he played three years of varsity football for Head Coach Alex Nicholson … Division I First Team All-State selection … named a first team all-conference in 2019 … received honorable mention on the Cleveland.com All-Decade Team … recorded 48 tackles, including 10 for loss, four interceptions and one defensive touchdown … had 24 receptions for 346 yards and four touchdowns … also had one rushing touchdown … averaged 40.5 yards on 38 punts with 13 inside the 20-yard line … rated a three-star recruit by 247sports … also earned third team all-state honors in basketball.
PERSONAL
Born Dakota Lee Cochran on April 3, 2002 … committed to Central Michigan on December 16, 2020 … majors in Sport Management.
In career, played in 49 games with 18 starts at linebacker … in five-year career, totaled 217 tackles (122 solo), 21 tackles for loss for 82 yards, five sacks for 40 yards, two interceptions, eight pass breakups, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and three blocked kicks … in Central Michigan career records, concludes his career ranked No. 10 in forced fumbles (4), No. 4 in blocked kicks (3), and No. 3 in most defensive touchdowns scored (two) … in season records, ranks No. 4 in blocked kicks (2 in 2022) and No. 1 in defensive touchdowns (2 in 2025) … his 85-yard fumble return vs. Buffalo (11/12/25) ranks as the No. 3 longest fumble return in school history, No. 2 longest fumble return touchdown in school history, and the No. 9 longest defensive touchdown in school history … one of only eight players in school history to earn four Academic All-MAC honors (2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025) … three-time College Sports Communicators All-District Team selection (2023, 2024, and 2025).
2025
As a redshirt senior, started all 13 games at linebacker … earned Second Team All-MAC honors by the coaches … earned CSC Academic All-District honors for the third time in his career … earned Academic All-MAC honors for the fourth consecutive year … earned preseason All-MAC honors by Lindy’s Magazine (Second Team), Phil Steele Magazine (Second Team), and Athlon Magazine (First Team) … listed as the starting linebacker all season long on the depth chart … a top playmaker, led the Chippewas in defensive touchdowns with two (30-yard interception return, 85-yard fumble return), ranked No. 2 on the team in tackles with 82 (42 solo), and totaled six tackles for loss for 17 yards, 0.5 sacks, five quarterback hurries, three pass breakups, two fumble returns for 85 yards and a touchdown, two forced fumbles and a blocked kick … also led the team fumble recoveries (2) and blocked kicks (1) … averaged 6.3 tackles per game and made at least one tackle in all 13 games … led the Chippewas in tackles in three games … in national statistics, ranked No. 14 in fumbles recovered (two) and ranked among MAC leaders in tackles (No. 22), fumbles forced (No. 13), fumbles recovered (No. 9), and fumble returns (No. 19) … made five tackles (two solo) with 0.5 tackles for loss, and a pass breakup in the GameAbove Sports Bowl vs. Northwestern (12/26) … registered nine tackles (six solo), 1.0 tackle for loss, two quarterback hurries and blocked a field goal in the season finale vs. Toledo (11/29) … finished with five tackles (four solo), with 1.5 tackles for loss, had a pass breakup, and forced a fumble at Kent State (11/19) … returned a fumble 85 yards for a touchdown, made five tackles (one solo) vs. Buffalo (11/12) … made a career-high 11 tackles (nine solo) with 2.5 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble at Western Michigan (11/1) … totaled six tackles (three solo) with two quarterback hurries vs. Massachusetts (10/25) … made eight tackles (two solo) at Bowling Green (10/18) … made five tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss with a pass breakup at Akron (10/4) … Finished with eight tackles (seven solo) vs. Eastern Michigan (9/27) … returned interception 30 yards for a touchdown, recovered fumble, and made four tackles vs. Wagner (9/20) … made three tackles (three solo) at Michigan (9/13) … made five tackles (three solo) with a quarterback hurry at Pittsburgh (9/6) … finished with eight tackles (two solo) in season opener at San Jose State (8/29).
2024
As a redshirt junior, played in all 12 games at linebacker … listed as the backup linebacker all season on the depth chart … earned College Football News All-MAC honorable mention honors … earned Fourth Team All-MAC honors by Phil Steele Magazine … College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District selection … earned Academic All-MAC honors … ranked No. 5 on the squad in tackles with 54 (29 solo), ranked No. 2 on the team in tackles for loss (10.5-52), finished with 3.5 sacks for 30 yards, recovered a fumble for eight yards, forced a team-high two fumbles, and had a quarterback hurry … ranked No. 12 in the MAC in tackles for loss (10.5) and No. 7 in the MAC in fumbles forced (two) … made at least one tackle in all 12 games … finished with three tackles (one solo) in season finale at Northern Illinois (11/30) … made three tackles (two solo) vs. Western Michigan (11/19) … totaled a career-high 3.0 tackles for loss for 17 yards, forced a fumble, and made six tackles at Toledo (11/12) … made five tackles vs. Bowling Green (11/5) … had three tackles at Miami (Ohio) (10/26) … finished with a season-high tying seven tackles (two solo) with 1.0 sack at Eastern Michigan (10/19) … had three tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble return for eight yards vs. Ohio (10/12) … registered four tackles (one solo) with 1.0 tackle for loss vs. San Diego State (9/28) … made a career-high tying seven tackles (six solo) with 1.5 sacks for nine yards vs. Ball State (9/21) … made two tackles and 1.0 tackle for loss at Illinois (9/14) … totaled six tackles (three solo) with 1.0 tackle for loss at Florida International (9/7) … made five tackles in season opener vs. Central Connecticut State (8/29).
2023
As a redshirt sophomore, played in all 12 games at linebacker … started five games … made five consecutive starts from Sept. 30-Nov. 7 … College Sports Communicators All-District Team selection … Academic All-MAC selection … ranked No. 5 on the squad in tackles with 51 (31 solo), finished with 2.0 tackles for loss for six yards, intercepted one pass for nine yards, broke up one pass, registered two quarterback hurries … made eight tackles (seven solo) in season finale vs. Toledo (11/24) … made two tackles (one solo) at Ohio (11/15) … intercepted key pass with nine-yard return, made seven tackles (five solo) with 0.5 tackle for loss at Western Michigan (11/7) … made five tackles (two solo) with one quarterback hurry vs. Northern Illinois (10/31) … made five tackles (four solo) at Ball State (10/21) … totaled a career-high 10 tackles (five solo) with 1.0 tackle for loss and a pass breakup vs. Akron (10/14) … made four tackles with 0.5 tackle for loss at Buffalo (10/7) … returned blocked point after attempt 87 yards for a two-point conversion, made six tackles (four solo) vs. Eastern Michigan (9/30) … made three tackles at South Alabama (9/23) … made one tackle in season opener at Michigan State (9/1).
2022
As a redshirt freshman, saw action in nine games and 292 plays at linebacker and on special teams … Academic All-MAC selection … made 24 tackles (18 solo) with 2.5 tackles for loss for seven yards, 1.0 sack for six yards, broke up four passes and blocked two kicks … ranked No. 5 in the nation in total blocked kicks (two punts) … made four tackles (two solo) with 0.5 sack and broke up a pass vs. Bowing Green (10/22) … made a career-high eight tackles (six solo) with one pass breakup at Akron (10/15) … made three tackles (two solo), blocked a punt at Toledo (10/1) … registered four solo tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss for six yards, 1.0 sack at Penn State (9/24) … blocked punt, totaled three tackles (two solo) in season opener at Oklahoma State (9/1).
2021
Redshirted first year at Central Michigan … saw action in four games … made five total tackles (two solo) on year.
HIGH SCHOOL
A 2021 graduate of Shaker Heights High School, where he played three years of varsity football for Head Coach Alex Nicholson … Division I First Team All-State selection … named a first team all-conference in 2019 … received honorable mention on the Cleveland.com All-Decade Team … recorded 48 tackles, including 10 for loss, four interceptions and one defensive touchdown … had 24 receptions for 346 yards and four touchdowns … also had one rushing touchdown … averaged 40.5 yards on 38 punts with 13 inside the 20-yard line … rated a three-star recruit by 247sports … also earned third team all-state honors in basketball.
PERSONAL
Born Dakota Lee Cochran on April 3, 2002 … committed to Central Michigan on December 16, 2020 … majors in Sport Management.
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