Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Eleven Eagles Named Athlon Sports Preseason All-MAC
5/23/2017 5:59:00 PM | Football
Eastern Michigan had the fourth-most selections in the Mid-American Conference
Complete List.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University football team's 2017 season opener is still over three months away, but expectations from national media are already beginning. On Monday, May 22, Athlon Sports announced its Preseason All-Mid-American Conference teams, with 11 Eagles selected. EMU's total ranked fourth in the conference behind Miami University (14), Western Michigan University (14), and Ohio University (12).
On the preseason first team was redshirt junior defensive lineman Jeremiah Harris (Lambertville, Mich.-Bedford Senior). The second team was highlighted by redshirt senior quarterback Brogan Roback (Maumee, Ohio-Toledo St. John's Jesuit), redshirt junior offensive lineman Jimmy Leatiota (San Jose, Calif.-Wilcox-College of San Mateo), and redshirt sophomore kicker Paul Fricano (Rochester N.Y.-Churchville-Chili). Jason Beck (Indianapolis, Ind.-Arsenal Technical), Sergio Bailey II (La Mesa, Calif.-Olympian-Grossmont College), and Shaq Vann (South Bend, Ind.-John Adams) made third team honors. Dieuly Aristilde (Boynton Beach, Fla.-Boynton Beach), Blake Banham (St. Paul, Minn.-Cretin-Derham Hall), Vince Calhoun (Middletown, Ohio-Middletown), and Kyle Rachwal (Lapeer, Mich.-Lapeer East) rounded out the honors on the fourth team.
In 2016, EMU tied the Football Bowl Subdivision mark for biggest turnarounds, improving on their win total from one win in 2015, to seven. As an offense, EMU ranked 35th in the FBS in total offense, posting 455.2 yards per game in 13 contests. The team also shattered the school record for total offense with 5,917 yards, breaking the previous record of 5,010. Other notable offensive highlights for the Eagles this past season include ranking 16th nationally in third down conversions, 18th in passing offense, 21st in red zone offense, and 25th in first down offense.
On defense, the Eagles saw a remarkable improvement in its first season under defensive coordinator Neal Neathery. EMU allowed 86.5 yards per game less in 2016 (432.7 per game) than it did in 2015 (519.2 per game) to rank 83rd in the country and seventh in the MAC. The team also took a huge step forward in stopping the run, as the defense gave up 149 yards per game less on the ground in 2016 than it did a year earlier. Overall, EMU was nationally ranked seventh in fumbles recovered, 32nd in turnovers gained, 58th in interceptions, and 59th in rushing defense.
The Eagles open the 2017 season under the lights at "The Factory" inside Rynearson Stadium Friday, Sept. 1, versus the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. Season ticket package tickets are now available for purchase at EMUEagles.com/tickets, by calling 734.487.2282.
2017 All-MAC Honors by Athlon Sports
First-Team Defense
DL Jeremiah Harris
Second-Team Offense
QB Brogan Roback
OL Jimmy Leatiota
Second-Team Specialists
K Paul Fricano
Third-Team Offense
RB Shaq Vann
WR Sergio Bailey II
Third-Team Defense
DB Jason Beck
Fourth-Team Offense
WR Dieuly Aristilde
Fourth-Team Defense
LB Kyle Rachwal
DB Vince Calhoun
Fourth-Team Specialists
KR Blake Banham
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University football team's 2017 season opener is still over three months away, but expectations from national media are already beginning. On Monday, May 22, Athlon Sports announced its Preseason All-Mid-American Conference teams, with 11 Eagles selected. EMU's total ranked fourth in the conference behind Miami University (14), Western Michigan University (14), and Ohio University (12).
On the preseason first team was redshirt junior defensive lineman Jeremiah Harris (Lambertville, Mich.-Bedford Senior). The second team was highlighted by redshirt senior quarterback Brogan Roback (Maumee, Ohio-Toledo St. John's Jesuit), redshirt junior offensive lineman Jimmy Leatiota (San Jose, Calif.-Wilcox-College of San Mateo), and redshirt sophomore kicker Paul Fricano (Rochester N.Y.-Churchville-Chili). Jason Beck (Indianapolis, Ind.-Arsenal Technical), Sergio Bailey II (La Mesa, Calif.-Olympian-Grossmont College), and Shaq Vann (South Bend, Ind.-John Adams) made third team honors. Dieuly Aristilde (Boynton Beach, Fla.-Boynton Beach), Blake Banham (St. Paul, Minn.-Cretin-Derham Hall), Vince Calhoun (Middletown, Ohio-Middletown), and Kyle Rachwal (Lapeer, Mich.-Lapeer East) rounded out the honors on the fourth team.
In 2016, EMU tied the Football Bowl Subdivision mark for biggest turnarounds, improving on their win total from one win in 2015, to seven. As an offense, EMU ranked 35th in the FBS in total offense, posting 455.2 yards per game in 13 contests. The team also shattered the school record for total offense with 5,917 yards, breaking the previous record of 5,010. Other notable offensive highlights for the Eagles this past season include ranking 16th nationally in third down conversions, 18th in passing offense, 21st in red zone offense, and 25th in first down offense.
On defense, the Eagles saw a remarkable improvement in its first season under defensive coordinator Neal Neathery. EMU allowed 86.5 yards per game less in 2016 (432.7 per game) than it did in 2015 (519.2 per game) to rank 83rd in the country and seventh in the MAC. The team also took a huge step forward in stopping the run, as the defense gave up 149 yards per game less on the ground in 2016 than it did a year earlier. Overall, EMU was nationally ranked seventh in fumbles recovered, 32nd in turnovers gained, 58th in interceptions, and 59th in rushing defense.
The Eagles open the 2017 season under the lights at "The Factory" inside Rynearson Stadium Friday, Sept. 1, versus the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. Season ticket package tickets are now available for purchase at EMUEagles.com/tickets, by calling 734.487.2282.
2017 All-MAC Honors by Athlon Sports
First-Team Defense
DL Jeremiah Harris
Second-Team Offense
QB Brogan Roback
OL Jimmy Leatiota
Second-Team Specialists
K Paul Fricano
Third-Team Offense
RB Shaq Vann
WR Sergio Bailey II
Third-Team Defense
DB Jason Beck
Fourth-Team Offense
WR Dieuly Aristilde
Fourth-Team Defense
LB Kyle Rachwal
DB Vince Calhoun
Fourth-Team Specialists
KR Blake Banham
Players Mentioned
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