Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: Andrew Mascharka
Catching Up with the Wide Receivers on Day Seven
8/9/2017 5:54:00 PM | Football
Eastern returns 85 percent of its receiving total from the 2016 season
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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Preseason workouts continued in full swing as the Eastern Michigan University football team completed its seventh practice of the fall Wednesday, Aug. 9. During practice today, EMUEagles.com turned the spotlight on the wide receiving corps that return seven players that caught a pass during the 2016 campaign.
Eastern Michigan returns 85 percent of its receiving total from last year. However, that number grows considerably when you take out tight ends or running backs that were targeted, with recent graduate Kevin Davis becoming the only EMU wide receiver not back for 2017.
Under the direction of fourth-year Assistant Coach Herb Haygood the squad has made huge strides every season. EMU's offense made a splash in 2016 en route to its first bowl appearance in 29 years, as the Eagles ranked 35th in the FBS in total offense at 455.2 yards per game. The team 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.
Senior Sergio Bailey II (San Diego, Calif.-Olympian-Grossmont College) is one of six Mid-American Conference receivers named to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List. The San Diego, Calif. native enters the season as the top returning pass catcher from a season ago when he reeled in 60 receptions for 868 yards and seven touchdowns on his way to Third Team All-MAC honors. His seven scores ranked ninth in the MAC and 68th in the nation, while his yardage was also ninth in the conference and 63rd in the country. Additionally, the 868 yards were the most by an Eagle receiver since the 2008 season.
Senior Antoine Porter (San Francisco, Calif.-Mission-City College of San Francisco) played in 12 contests last year, hauling in 44 receptions for 491 total yards on the season and four touchdowns. Junior Eddie Daugherty (Mentor, Ohio-Mentor) is back for his third year in the offense after accounting for 302 all-purpose yards, including a 29-yard reception again Old Dominion (Dec. 23) in the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl. Also, a big cog in the offense, senior Johnnie Niupalau (San Mateo, Calif.-San Mateo-College of San Mateo) ranked third on the team with four touchdowns to go with an average of 12.8 yards per reception.
Redshirt sophomore Dieuly Aristilde (Boynton Beach, Fla.-Boynton Beach) burst on the scene late in the year and has high expectations in 2017 after earning Fourth Team Preseason All-MAC Selection by Athlon Sports. Artistilde is back healthy after suffering an injury late in the second half of the bowl game, which caused him to miss the entire spring practice period. Meanwhile, senior Jaron Johnson (Moreno Valley, Calif.-Rancho Verde-Mt. San Jacinto College), redshirt sophomore Isaac Holder (Tampa, Fla.-Sickles), and sophomore Mathew Sexton (Clinton, Mich.-Clinton) are poised to make bigger impacts in 2017.
With a crowded group of returners, a talented mix will try to establish themselves as vital parts of what is expected to be a high-octane offense. Marc Oliver (Detroit, Mich.-Cass Technical), Lemar Harris (Raleigh, N.C.-Millbrook), Keyan Marshall (Toledo, Ohio-Sylvania Southview), Edgar Cooks (Dayton, Ohio-Ponitz CTC), Anthony Lyle (Lafayette, Colo.-Legacy), Quian Williams (Moore, Okla.-Southmoore), Greg Jean (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-Boyd Anderson), and Xavier Rice (Southfield, Mich.-Detroit Jesuit) all hope to hear their name called upon by the coaching staff in a position that seems on paper to have a wealth of depth.
For updates on the EMU football team, be sure to follow @EMUFB on Twitter with the hashtag #FR4REAL.
The Eagles open the 2017 season under the lights at "The Factory" inside Rynearson Stadium Friday, Sept. 1, versus Charlotte. Single-game tickets went on sale to the today, Aug. 7. Season tickets are available for purchase at EMUEagles.com/tickets, by calling 734.487.3669 or by visiting the EMU Ticket Office daily between 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Preseason workouts continued in full swing as the Eastern Michigan University football team completed its seventh practice of the fall Wednesday, Aug. 9. During practice today, EMUEagles.com turned the spotlight on the wide receiving corps that return seven players that caught a pass during the 2016 campaign.
Eastern Michigan returns 85 percent of its receiving total from last year. However, that number grows considerably when you take out tight ends or running backs that were targeted, with recent graduate Kevin Davis becoming the only EMU wide receiver not back for 2017.
Under the direction of fourth-year Assistant Coach Herb Haygood the squad has made huge strides every season. EMU's offense made a splash in 2016 en route to its first bowl appearance in 29 years, as the Eagles ranked 35th in the FBS in total offense at 455.2 yards per game. The team 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.
Senior Sergio Bailey II (San Diego, Calif.-Olympian-Grossmont College) is one of six Mid-American Conference receivers named to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List. The San Diego, Calif. native enters the season as the top returning pass catcher from a season ago when he reeled in 60 receptions for 868 yards and seven touchdowns on his way to Third Team All-MAC honors. His seven scores ranked ninth in the MAC and 68th in the nation, while his yardage was also ninth in the conference and 63rd in the country. Additionally, the 868 yards were the most by an Eagle receiver since the 2008 season.
Senior Antoine Porter (San Francisco, Calif.-Mission-City College of San Francisco) played in 12 contests last year, hauling in 44 receptions for 491 total yards on the season and four touchdowns. Junior Eddie Daugherty (Mentor, Ohio-Mentor) is back for his third year in the offense after accounting for 302 all-purpose yards, including a 29-yard reception again Old Dominion (Dec. 23) in the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl. Also, a big cog in the offense, senior Johnnie Niupalau (San Mateo, Calif.-San Mateo-College of San Mateo) ranked third on the team with four touchdowns to go with an average of 12.8 yards per reception.
Redshirt sophomore Dieuly Aristilde (Boynton Beach, Fla.-Boynton Beach) burst on the scene late in the year and has high expectations in 2017 after earning Fourth Team Preseason All-MAC Selection by Athlon Sports. Artistilde is back healthy after suffering an injury late in the second half of the bowl game, which caused him to miss the entire spring practice period. Meanwhile, senior Jaron Johnson (Moreno Valley, Calif.-Rancho Verde-Mt. San Jacinto College), redshirt sophomore Isaac Holder (Tampa, Fla.-Sickles), and sophomore Mathew Sexton (Clinton, Mich.-Clinton) are poised to make bigger impacts in 2017.
With a crowded group of returners, a talented mix will try to establish themselves as vital parts of what is expected to be a high-octane offense. Marc Oliver (Detroit, Mich.-Cass Technical), Lemar Harris (Raleigh, N.C.-Millbrook), Keyan Marshall (Toledo, Ohio-Sylvania Southview), Edgar Cooks (Dayton, Ohio-Ponitz CTC), Anthony Lyle (Lafayette, Colo.-Legacy), Quian Williams (Moore, Okla.-Southmoore), Greg Jean (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-Boyd Anderson), and Xavier Rice (Southfield, Mich.-Detroit Jesuit) all hope to hear their name called upon by the coaching staff in a position that seems on paper to have a wealth of depth.
For updates on the EMU football team, be sure to follow @EMUFB on Twitter with the hashtag #FR4REAL.
The Eagles open the 2017 season under the lights at "The Factory" inside Rynearson Stadium Friday, Sept. 1, versus Charlotte. Single-game tickets went on sale to the today, Aug. 7. Season tickets are available for purchase at EMUEagles.com/tickets, by calling 734.487.3669 or by visiting the EMU Ticket Office daily between 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
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