The newest additions include . . .
"Today we made an outstanding class even better," said Creighton. "Every player matters in our program and we are excited about the contributions that will be made by this group."
The highly anticipated class features 17 student-athletes rated as three-star prospects by the national recruiting services and two of the top-10 rated recruits in EMU Football history. Overall, seven members of the class are already enrolled at Eastern Michigan.
Furthermore, 17 of the additions come from within a 270 mile radius of Ypsilanti.
Eastern Michigan returns to the gray turf for its first spring practice Tuesday, March 10. The session kicks off a string of 15 practice dates during a four-week period that culminates with the program's annual spring football game Saturday, April 11, inside "The Factory" at Rynearson Stadium.
The following is a roster and biographical sketches for each of EMU's signees...
Mikah Coleman DL 6-5 230 Fr.-Fr. Reynoldsburg, Ohio-Reynoldsburg
EMU: 2020: Joins the EMU program as an incoming recruit...HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Reynoldsburg High School and played under Head Coach Buddy White as a Raider...Ranked as a three-star recruit by Scout and 247Sports...Listed 93rd by Scout on the Top 145 Football Recruits in Ohio...Grew up playing wide receiver but also saw time at tight end and slot receiver...Posted 51 solo tackles, five tackles-for-loss, and six sacks as a senior...Had 6.5 tackles and one tackle-for-loss against Upper Arlington and 4.5 tackles, two TFLs and one sack against Licking Heights...Attended school in Huber Heights for most of elementary school through 10th grade...Was with the Raiders all of his junior season, but was ineligible to play in the final five games of the regular season as well as the playoffs because of the OHSAA transfer rule...Played in three games for Reynoldsburg but missed the other two in which he was eligible because of injury...PERSONAL: Full name: Mikah Lloyd Coleman...Son of Brandon Walker and Kendra Coleman...Has one brother, Keion, and three sisters, Mikaela, Braylin, and Jazlyn Walker...Business Management major.
Evan Egan OL 6-8 345 Fr.-Fr. Durand, Mich.-Durand
EMU: 2020: Joins the EMU program as a walk-on...HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Durand Area High School and played under Head Coach Rick Winbigler as a Railroader...Played in the Blue-Grey All-American Bowl on Jan. 13, 2020, at Mercedes Benz Stadium in a showdown of the best from the Class of 2020...Earned four letters and served one year as a team captain...Anchored an offensive line which helped produce over 3,000 team rushing yards, and the best scoring offense in school history (302 points)...Collected Argus-Press All-Area honors...Named First Team All-Mid-Michigan Activities Conference...Also played basketball...PERSONAL: Full name: Evan James Egan...Son of Sterling Egan and Shelly Tolsdorf...Has one brother, Ryan, and one sister, Erin...Brother played offensive line at Grand Valley State... Undecided major.
Evan Furtney TE 6-4 210 Fr.-Fr. Milan, Mich.-Milan
EMU: 2020: Joins the EMU program as a walk-on...HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Milan High School and played under Head Coach Jesse Hoskins as a Big Red...Garnered all-league, all-region, all-district, and Ann Arbor Dream Team accolades in his career...In his senior season, posted 250 yards receiving and three touchdowns...Also made an impact on defense with 35 tackles and four interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown in the district championship win over Romulus Summit...Caught two passes for 50 yards in his first game back from knee surgery, including a 44-yard touchdown, to help the Big Reds top Flat Rock...Helped his team to the 2019 Huron League Champions and the district championship as part of an undefeated regular season...Has overcome a pair of ACL injuries in his career...Joins the EMU program with high school teammate Tristen Hines...Also a member of the basketball team, holding the record for the second-most free throws made in a game...PERSONAL: Full name: Evan Matthew Furtney...Son of Matt and Ellen Furtney...Has one brother, Mike, who plays football at the University of Wisconsin... Business major.
Daniel Greene OL 6-4 320 Fr.-Fr. Goodrich, Mich.-Goodrich
EMU: 2020: Joins the EMU program as a walk-on...HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Goodrich High School and played under Head Coach Tom Alward as a Martian...Participated in the Blue-Grey All-American Bowl in Dallas, Texas...Collected Second Team All-Flint Metro League honors in 2019...Played in the postseason his final three years of high school...PERSONAL: Full name: Daniel Robert Greene...Son of Joesph and Cathleen Greene...Has two sisters, Jordann and Allison...Business major.
Adam Heston P 6-1 185 Fr.-Fr. Sewell, N.J.-St Augustine Prep
EMU: 2020: Joins the EMU program as an incoming recruit...HIGH SCHOOL: Attended St. Augustine Prep High School and played under Head Coach Pete Lancetta as a Hermit...Was selected First Team West Jersey Football Conference, First Team All-South Jersey, First Team Courier Post All-Conference, First Team Philadelphia Inquirer All-Conference, Atlantic City Press Honorable Mention, and Second Team All-State Non-Public...Notched an average of 40.4 yards per punt as a senior...As a linebacker, lead team with 62 tackles...Averaged 33 yards per punt in 2018 with a long of 60...Had 13 punts downed inside the 20-yard line...Was a 2018 NJ Fall Camp Punt Champion and a 2019 Vegas XXXIII Punt Finalist...Ranked as a 4.5 star talent by Chris Sailer Kicking...Raised funds for kids with cancer for every punt during the 2019 season...Was the top-ranked punter in the state of New Jersey according to Kohl's Professional Camps...Also played rugby and baseball...PERSONAL: Full name: Adam Paul Heston...Son of Paul and Erin Heston...Has a sister, Megan...Marketing major.
Jent Joseph WR 5-11 165 Fr.-Fr. New Philadelphia, Ohio-New Philadelphia
EMU: 2020: Joins the EMU program as a walk-on...HIGH SCHOOL: Attended New Philadelphia High School and played under Head Coach Matt Dennison as a Quaker...Earned special mention All-Ohio honors as well as first team all-conference and all-district accolades...As a senior, had 59 catches for 1,038 yards and 11 touchdowns...Also returned three punts for touchdowns...Set the school's single-season receiving yards record (1038) and the longest punt returned for score (94 yards)...Helped the program clinch only its second home playoff game in school history in 2019...With a final record of 10-2, the Quakers became only the fifth team in school history to win 10 games, and only the second team to win a playoff game...Captured the IBEW Electrifying Play of the Year at the WTOV9 High School Football Awards after he pinned the football to his helmet in order to haul in the touchdown pass in the Quakers' Week 9 victory over Zanesville...Joins high school teammate Baron May at EMU...Also a member of the basketball team that finished as the 2019 regional runner-up...PERSONAL: Full name: Jent Evan Joseph...Son of George and Kathy Joseph...Has one brother, Hunter, and one sister, Larkin...Brother played football in college...Communications major.
Peyton Knight LS 6-1 200 Fr.-Fr. Indianapolis, Ind.-Lutheran
EMU: 2020: Joins the EMU program as an incoming recruit...HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Lutheran High School of Indianapolis and played under Head Coach Dave Pasch as a Saint...In 2019, recorded 105 tackles, 10 special teams tackles, one forced fumble, and one blocked punt...Set the school record for most football games played...Earned First Team All-Indiana Crossroads Conference honors in 2019 as well as academic all-conference accolades...Selected 2019 All-Marion County Honorable Mention, Indianapolis Star Super Team Honorable Mention, Indiana first team all-state, and Indiana academic all-state...Voted the Torch Bearer Leadership Award winner by teammates...As a senior, team finished as the ICC champion and the Class A Runner-Up...Also a member of the track and field team... Ranked No. 2 among underclassmen Kornblue snappers in 2018...Was introduced to long-snapping in the fifth grade by his father...PERSONAL: Full name: Peyton Nicholas Knight...Son of James and Elizabeth Knight...Has one brother, Carson, and one sister, Olivia...Uncle, Myk, is the culinary director at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville...Dad played four-years of football at Concordia Chicago, while mom played basketball and volleyball at Concordia Chicago...Uncle, Chris, played football at St. Francis (Ind.) while aunt, Lindsey, played four years of basketball at Marian...Business/Finance major.
Kolton Malinczak WR 5-7 150 Fr.-Fr. Saline, Mich.-Saline
EMU: 2020: Joins the EMU program as a walk-on...HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Saline High School and played under Head Coach Joe Palka as a Hornet...Was one of the area's top receivers and was a dynamic playmaker for the Hornets in his senior season...Earned Ann Arbor News Dream Team honors as an all-purpose performer...Collected all-west football team accolades from The Detroit News...In 2019, posted 850 receiving yards, nine receiving touchdowns, one rushing touchdown, 1,350 all-purpose yards, and two return touchdowns...Set the school record for most receptions in a game and the longest receiving touchdown...Also participated in baseball, wrestling, and track...PERSONAL: Full name: Kolton Lee Malinczak...Son of Rodney and Carrie Malinczak...Has two brothers, Ethan and Jade...Supply chain management major.
C.J. Parks WR 5-10 175 Jr.-Jr. Santa Ana, Calif.-Mater Dei-Cerritos College
EMU: 2020: Joins the EMU program as an incoming recruit...CERRITOS: Played in 21 career games as a Falcon for Head Coach Dean Grosfeld...Ranked as a three-star recruit by 247Sports...Finished his career with 94 receptions for 1,336 yards and 14 touchdowns... Broke the school's all-time reception record...Was a unanimous first team all-conference selection...Capped off the 2019 season with 61 catches for 965 receiving yards, which is the second most in a season in school history...His 1,336 career receiving yards also ranks him second in school history...Set a single-game school record with 13 catches against Fullerton College for 165 yards...Finished with 142 yards on 10 catches at San Diego Mesa...Was the Joe Kapp Real State Beach Bowl's Offensive Player of the Game...Notched 33 catches for 371 yards and four scores as a freshman...HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Mater Dei High School and played under Head Coach Bruce Rollinson as a Monarch...Was a two-time All-CIF and First Team All-Trinity League selection...Earned second team all-league honors as a sophomore and was voted the Receiver of the Year his freshman season...PERSONAL: Full name: Christopher Joseph Parks...Son of Clifford Parks...Has two brothers, Charles and Corinthian, and three sisters, Sahmiah, Danielle, and Dasia...Father played football for Cerritos College and then Louisiana Tech University...Hobbies include playing the saxophone...Communications major.
Bryce Sloan WR 6-2 170 Fr.-Fr. Aurora, Colo.-Regis Jesuit
EMU: 2020: Joins the EMU program as a walk-on...HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Regis Jesuit High School and played under Head Coach Daniel Filleman as a Raider...Ranked as a two-star recruit by ESPN...Collected Second Team Class 5A All-South League honors as a senior...Recorded 50 receptions, 768 yards and eight Touchdowns in 2019...Caught seven passes for 109 yards and one score in a 42-7 defeat of Douglas County...Also a member of the baseball team...PERSONAL: Full name: Bryce William Sloan...Son of Lance and Ashley Sloan...Has one brother, Celeb, who is a member of the baseball team at TCU..Father played football and Tulsa and Grandfather played football at SMU...Business major.
Zach Walling WR 6-3 200 Fr.-Fr. Toledo, Ohio-Whitmer
EMU: 2020: Joins the EMU program as a walk-on...HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Whitmer High School and played under Head Coach Ken Winters as a Panther...Earned Three Rivers Athletic Conference Honorable Mention honors in 2017, 2018, and 2019...Notched 21 receptions, 240 yards receiving and a touchdown as a senior after being injured the first half of season....Helped the team reach the playoffs three-times, finishing as the regional runner-up in 2017...Was a three-time member of The Toledo Blade's All-Academic team (2017, 2018, 2019)...Caught the go ahead, game winning 30-yard touchdown strike against St. Johns with 30 seconds left in the game in 2018...Also a four-year member of the track team and two-year member of the basketball squad...PERSONAL: Full name: Zachary Stephen Walling...Son of Jim and Jennifer Walling...Has two brothers, Nick and Luke...Undecided major.