COACH: Chris Creighton - 8th year
2020 Results: 2-4 (5th MAC West)
2021 MAC MEDIA PRESEASON PICK: 5th MAC West
Life is tough in the MAC West. It's a division where prolific offenses abound. If you expect to have any conference success, you better be able to score -- a lot -- and be able to at least limit opponents.
While Eastern Michigan's last conference title was in 1987, head coach Chris Creighton has lifted EMU to relative success. Prior to 2020, the Eagles had gone to bowl games in three of four years.
Hitting the bowl circuit again this year . . .
OFFENSE:
>> Eastern Michigan averaged 33.2 ppg. That was eighth among MAC teams. The 406.3 ypg was seventh overall. With the Eagles surrendering 36.0 ppg (8th), turning "L's" into "W's" is an achievable challenge for 2021.
>> Junior quarterback Preston Hutchinson started all six games last year and put up some pretty good numbers. He completed 63.6 percent of his passes for 1,657 yards and tossed 12 touchdowns. He was however, intercepted six times.
With Ben Bryant arriving via transfer, the Eagles will spend part of fall camp deciding which QB gets the nod. Bryant saw limited action at Cincinnati, which has a potential pro quarterback in Desmond Ridder. Bryant completed 11-of-14 (78.6) of his passes with one TD last year.
>> Any discussion of EMU's offense must quickly turn to the offensive line. The entire unit returns, but it is a group that must produce better results. Hutchinson was sacked 16 times and the rush offense finished 10th (129.3 ypg). Junior guard Sidy Sow earned All-MAC Third Team honors.
>> Freshman Darius Boone averaged 5.8 yards per carry while appearing in three games. Samson Evans carried 41 times for 185 yards with a TD. Hutchinson contributed a team-high eight touchdowns while rushing 87 times for 192 yards. How much that changes after a camp quarterback battle remains to be seen.
DEFENSE:
>> EMU returns considerable experience, with particular strength at the linebacker level. Terry Myrick picked up Second Team All-MAC honors after recording a team-high 67 tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss. The senior's two fumble recoveries were part of an impressive team total of 12 forced turnovers (three interceptions and nine fumble recoveries).
Junior LB Tariq Speights finished the season with a career-high 52 tackles (25 solo, 27 assisted) and had a season-best 12 stops against Central Michigan.
>> Another All-MAC performer (First Team) anchors the secondary. Alvinoski LaFleur had two interceptions, which he returned for a total of 97 yards. Safety Korey Hernandez is coming off a 49-tackles season.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
>> Junior Chad Ryland is a steady performer. How steady? Well, how about going 11-of-13 on field goals, with the only misses coming outside 50 yards? Jake Julien is back after averaging 44.3 yards per punt.
SCHEDULE:
>> A Week Two trip to Wisconsin is the biggest non-conference challenge for EMU, which also visits UMass. Non-Conference home tilts bring St. Francis (Pa) and Texas State to East Lansing.
After meeting Northern Illinois on the road to open MAC play, Eastern then hosts Miami (OH) and Ball State in a pair of challenging match-ups. Five games later, EMU travels to Central Michigan for the season finale.