Image via Eastern Michigan Athletics
While a home loss to Toledo doesn’t completely knock Eastern Michigan out of the running to make the MAC title game at the end of the season, it certainly doesn’t make things much easier.
Still to come are two teams that are still undefeated in league play: Ohio (5-2, 3-0 MAC) and Western Michigan (same records, technically). EMU travels to the former this weekend and to the latter next month.
Not only does EMU still have a tough road games that it’ll have to gut out, but playing, now, nine straight weeks of football with no bye weeks is something no other team in the country has to contend with.
Ohio currently leads FBS football with 16 straight home victories at Peden Stadium. The last time EMU beat Ohio on the road was also the last time EMU won in this intraleague series: 2016 (27-20).
Below is EMU’s updated depth chart found within the game notes, and some notes of my own.
Previous team depth charts: Preseason | Game 1 vs. Sac State | Game 2 vs. San José State | Game 3 at Michigan State | Game 4 at Wisconsin | Game 5 vs. Lindenwood | Game 6 at UMass | Game 7 at Akron | Game 8 vs. Toledo
OFFENSE
Bold = listed starter(s)
Italics = First-year freshman or transfer.
Notes:
Out last week: WR Nick Devereaux, TE Armaad Sharp, OL Joshua Anderson, OL Cole Powell, WR Kozy Isaac
In-game exits last week: QB Noah Kim, OL Tyler Brumfield, OL Samuel Adjin
Tackles returned to action: Elijha Payne started his second game of the season vs. Toledo. After Tyler Brumfield came out the game at left tackle, Samuel Adjin returned to the field in his place, then exited later to an injury of his own (replaced by Tyler McMillan).
Dellinger dressed: While he didn’t play, right guard Cole Dellinger at least got to dress and warm up for the Toledo game. Still, it was too soon for him to return to the starting rotation.
On Nick Devereaux’s potential return to the field: When asked at the Monday morning press conference about an update on their top receiver’s health, Chris Creighton said that he’s at the point where he should be able to at least start running again.
Said Creighton: “There's a set amount of time that you have to be out, and so you know, we think that they're going to let him run, which is which is a good sign.”
On Noah Kim, and backup quarterbacks: The starting quarterback made his 20th with the team against Toledo, but not before having his name appear on the pregame injury report. Kim was questionable going in, and came out in the fourth quarter.
Said Creighton on QB prep this week: “We’ll just see how much Noah can take early in the week. So we've got to figure all that out, you know, in terms of dividing up the reps. We haven't made any decisions on that yet.”
Quarterback
#1 Noah Kim (20 career starts with EMU/8 this year)
#12 Jace Stuckey (0/0)
#10 Brogan McCaughey (0/0)
Running back
#15 Amareon Blue (7/7)
#24 Joey Mattord (2/1)
#28 Braydon Bennett (1/1)
X Receiver
#85 Kozy Isaac (2/2)
#86 Dalin Wilkins (2/2)
Z Receiver
#5 Harold Mack (11/7)
#11 Antonio Floyd (2/2)
H Receiver
#3 Benson Prosper (6/4)
#89 Carl Jean-Bart (0/0)
Y Tight End
#9 Joshua Long (17/7)
#88 Tanner Lemaster (3/3)
#14 Armaad Sharp (0/0)
Left Tackle
#71 Tyler Brumfield (8/8)
#77 Cole Powell (0/0)
Left Guard
#55 Guzzy Kayed (7/7)
#50 Kevin Wojciechowski (0/0)
Center
#65 Nicholas Gallegos (17/8)
#56 Chad Troxler (0/0)
Right Guard
#78 Dennis Strey Jr. (6/6)
#72 Cole Dellinger (2/2)
#76 Nily Taylor (0/0)
Right Tackle
#75 Elijha Payne (2/2)
#70 Samuel Adjin (3/3)
#68 Tyler McMillan (3/3)
DEFENSE
Notes:
Out last week: LB Barry Manning (season), DB Jaivian Norman
Limited last week: LB Zach Mowchan, DB Jason Marshall, DB Caleb Coley
In-game exits last week: LB Zach Mowchan, DB Caleb Coley, DB Rayquan Adkins, DE Carter Evans
Defensive End
#33 Carter Evans (21/8)
#90 Hector Gonzalez (2/0)
Defensive Tackle
#5 Makhi Gilbert (12/8)
#98 Joseph Oluwayemi (0/0)
Nose Tackle
#58 Peyton Christian (8/8)
#99 Warren-Stevens Tayou (0/0)
Maxx End
#54 Quincy Byas (11/8)
#88 Ronn Hardin (1/0)
#43 Marvell Eggleston (1/1)
Mike Linebacker
#51 Elgin McDuffey (5/5)
#42 Jonah Flowers (0/0)
Will Linebacker
#11 Zach Mowchan (16/7)
#40 Bryce Eliuk (4/2)
Bandit Safety
#9 Davion Williams (3/3)
#13 Jason Marshall (8/4)
Star Safety
#6 Bryce Llewellyn (21/8)
#8 Jaivian Norman (10/0)
Free Safety
#4 Juan Salas Jr. (12/6)
#10 Tylan Boykin (0/0)
Cornerback
#25 Rayquan Adkins (8/8)
#16 Caleb Coley (4/0)
Cornerback
#17 Caleb Dobbs (11/8)
#7 Jordan Toney (3/0)
SPECIAL TEAMS
Punter
#39 Daniel Hull
#38 Van Krisiloff
Kicker
#46 Rudy Kessinger
#38 Van Krisiloff
Long Snapper
#42 Jack Kautz
#43 Reeves Taylor
Kickoffs
#37 Nathan Dibert
#38 Van Krisiloff
Kick Return
#3 Benson Prosper
#15 Amareon Blue
Punt Return
#4 Quinn Fracassi
#5 Harold Mack
Holder
#39 Daniel Hull
#38 Van Krisiloff
