13 Teams/13 Days: Central Michigan Chippewas Football Preview
Preview courtesy of Central Michigan Sports Information
Central Michigan returns 19 starters from a team that finished 6-6 overall, 5-3 (tied for third) in the MAC West.
Among the returnees is wideout Titus Davis, a senior who was named the team MVP and earned first team All-MAC honors a year ago when he caught 61 passes for 1,109 yards and eight touchdowns. He is on the Biletnikoff Award Preseason Watch List.
The Chippewas return all five starters on the offensive line along with junior running back Saylor Lavallii, CMU’s top rusher in 2013 with 807 yards (4.4 per carry), and quarterback Cooper Rush.
Rush, a sophomore, began last season third on the depth chart but was starting by week three. He completed 56.7 percent of his passes for 15 touchdowns. He was also intercepted 15 times.
The backfield received a boost with transfers Thomas Rawls (Michigan) and Matt Zakrzewski (Indiana). Both should see ample playing time.
On defense, the Chippewas return the MAC’s leading tackler in middle linebacker Justin Cherocci along with a slew of experience both up front and in the secondary.
Among the returnees on the defensive line is Leterrius Walton, who has shed 25 pounds from his 6-foot-5 frame and appears poised for a breakout senior season. The core of the secondary includes returnees Jason Wilson, Kavon Frazier, Tony Annese and Kevin King, among others.
