2026 MAC Football Preseason Preview: Eastern Michigan Eagles

Back in 2016, the Eastern Michigan Eagles were only just emerging from the crater of mediocrity the program had been buried under for decades. The grey turf which is now synonymous with the program had only been around for two years.

Chris Creighton, then a third-year head coach, was still in the process of proving himself as well, with a 3-21 record the prior two seasons. He had organized several turnabouts at the lower levels, but his latest task was also proving to be his toughest.

Then, something funny happened: it all came together.

The 2016 squad finished 7-5 in the regular season, including a 4-4 league mark, the program's first winning season since 1995, and qualified for their second-ever bowl game. A one-possession loss in the Bahamas Bowl to Old Dominion could not dampen the enthusiasm the 2016 season instilled in the program.

Fast-forward to 2026, and EMU has appeared in six bowl games under his tutelege, had a seven-year streak of winning records in full campaigns from 2016-2023, and even earned a split of the MAC West division title in 2022– something that wasn't even conceivable a few years prior.

Now, Creighton and company have a new task ahead of them: getting back to a winning way.

The Eagles have struggled the last two years to maintain the continuity they rode on after that important 2016 campaign, faltering to a five-win record in 2024 for the first time in a full season since 2015. 2025 was even worse, as the Eagles finished an incredibly unlucky 4-8.

“I do think that we, that we all share that, I don't know, maybe a little bit of an underdog [mentality],” Creighton told Ypsilanti 11 after spring camps. "[Y]ou want to prove people right or prove people wrong. And [have] belief.”

Belief in the program will need to be strong; EMU's in-state rivals have improved quickly after new coaching hires, and the floor of the MAC has raised in the last five years.

But if there's something Eastern has been good at the last 13 years or so, it's been pulling rabbits out of hats. Can they get back on track and ride the train to the postseason in 2026?

What’s New?

Creighton, now one of the elder statesman in the Mid-American Conference amongst coaches, has a tall task ahead of him, especially in the self-scouting department. EMU let a lot of winnable games get away from them the last few years; the offseason has shown Creighton might be open to changes in philosophy.

Mike Piatkoski also returns for his fourth season as the offensive coordinator after serving as a QB coach and pass game coordinator from 2020-22. "Coach Pike" (as he's referred to) has been instrumental in constructing the present-day offense, which has been amongst the most productive units in the league in recent years.

Long-time defensive coordinator Ben Needham stepped away from the program in the offseason, forcing a sudden change in defense. Creighton opted to split the duties between two assistants, granting co-defensive coordinator titles to Kasey Teegardin (who was EMU's special teams coordinator in 2025) and Tate Omli (previously pass game coordinator from 2023-25.)

Teegardin was a football wunderkid early on in his coaching career, earning the defensive coordinator job at his alma mater Charleston in 2010– two years after graduating from the football program– becoming the youngest coordinator in the NCAA at 24 years old.

Teegardin's success at lower levels with Charleston, Northwood [MI], and Valparaiso caught the eye of Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson, who hired Teegardin as a graduate assistant. Teegardin would stay with the Hoosiers from 2014 to 2024, climbing up the ladder to special teams coordinator before EMU offered him at the same position.

In his tenure in Bloomington, Teegardin coached 10 All-Big Ten performers.

Tate Omli, who learned under Creighton as an EMU grad assistant in 2015, made his mark in the junior college ranks as Hutchinson [KS] CC's defensive coordinator from 2020-23.

His defense aided Hutchinson's JCCA national title run in 2020, finishing fourth in the NJCAA in points per game allowed (13.4), sixth in rushing yards per game (76.6), 10th in total yards allowed per game (258.6), and 15th passing yards per game (182).

Omli's defense also produced 12 all-conference players and five NJCAA All-Americans in 2021.

Grant Kurzner returns to Ypsilanti as special teams coordinator after spending the last two seasons at Michigan as an analyst. Kurzner was previously at the role from 2022-23, where he coached up all-MAC specialists Mitchell Tomasek, Jesus Gomez and Jaylon Jackson.

Offense

• Key arrivals: HB Malachai James (Syracuse) and Braydon Bennett (Coastal Carolina), OGs Cole Dellinger (Michigan State), Nate Henry (Drake), and Guzzy Kayad (St. Francis [PA]), OT Tyler Brumfield (Oklahoma State)
• Key departures: HBs Dontae McMillian and Tavierre Dunlap, WR Terry Lockett, OL Micky Rowlinski
• Key incumbents: QB Noah Kim, WRs Nick Deveraux and Harold Mack, TE Joshua Long, OC Nicholas Gallegos, RT Joshua Anderson

Quietly, Eastern Michigan was one of the best offenses in the conference in 2025. The Eagles were top five in the MAC in all but two statistical categories (rushing yards per game and rushing touchdowns), and lead the MAC in four different statistical categories– including an incredible 94 percent redzone conversion rate.

The team's overall finish indeed betrayed the on-paper stats, but it was clear the team elevated their performance from 2024 with the addition of quarterback Noah Kim, who transferred in from Coastal Carolina. Kim finished the campaign with 3,000+ scrimmage yards (the sixth-ever Eagle to accomplish the feat), passing for 2,817 yards and 18 touchdowns, while logging an additional six rushing scores.

Kim comes back for his seventh year of eligibility, and will be an early candidate for the MAC's passing leader title.

The team also returns three of their favored passcatchers from last year, which has not often been the case for EMU in recent years.

Former walk-on receiver Nick Devereaux was a breakout star in 2025, with 34 receptions for a team-leading 515 yards and seven touchdowns. His seven scores placed the emergent Devereaux seventh all-time for single-season scoring receptions in EMU history.

Rising sophomore Harold Mack also made a scene upon his debut last season, mossing Miami defenders to the tune of 169 yards and two touchdowns on six receptions. Mack finished with 20 catches for 333 yards and two scores in six games (four starts), and should be positioned to battle for a starting spot.

Tight end Joshua Long is the man to keep an eye on in the pass game, as the seam-stretcher led the team with 37 receptions for 357 yards and three touchdowns to earn second-team all-MAC honors.

Halfback is still a question mark as the Eagles enter fall camps. They lose their top two runners from last season in Dontae McMillian and Tavierre Dunlap, with tertiary back Joey Mattord (48 yards in 2025) returning. EMU went to the portal to find several contributors to fill the gaps, including Braydon Bennett (1,907 yards from 2021-24 at Coastal Carolina) and Malachai James, who was primarily a special teamer at Syracuse. Dual back XaVior Tyus is a late addition from D-II Wayne State, where he was honorable mention all-GLIAC in one of the division's toughest conferences.

If there's one thing you can depend on from EMU, it is efficient offensive line play.

Creighton and staff have graduated several players to the professional ranks, and this year's prospect to watch will be center Nicholas Gallegos. Gallegos quickly established himself after taking over the starting job mid-season, anchoring the MAC's best pass-protecting line. Gallegos was named to the preseason Rimington Award Watch List earlier this month and will be a favorite to land on the all-MAC list at season's end.

Around Gallegos will be a rotating cast of characters as EMU tries to figure out their best five. A pair of intriguing transfers look to be favored at the tackle spots in Elijha Payne (Delaware State) and Tyler Brumfield (Oklahoma), the latter of which is a former JUCO All-American.

A few incoming transfers are slated for potential starting guard spots, including FCS up-transfer Guzzy Kayad (St. Francis [PA]) and Michigan State transfer Cole Dellinger. 2025 right tackle Josh Anderson (17 starts last two seasons) is also in the mix at one of the guard spots.

Defense

• Key arrivals: DT Peyton Christian (Lamar), LB Elgin McDuffey (East Central CC [JUCO]), CB Rayquan Adkins (Cincinnati)
• Key departures: DTs Tyrelle Martin and Donovan Green; DL Sterling Miles (UTEP), LBs Andrew Marshall (Minnesota) and Marco Patierno (transfer); DBs Joshua Scott (Nevada), Dramarian McNulty and Tyrelle Deener
• Key incumbents: DLs Mahkai Gilbert, Jefferson Adam and Carter Evans; NT Warren-Stevens Tayou, LBs Zach Mowchan, Quincy Byas and Barry Manning (conversion from SAF); CB Caleb Coley, SAFs Bryce Llewellyn, Jaivian Norman and Jason Marshall

The Eagles, generally known to be adequate if not flashy on defense under Creighton, were– to put it bluntly– simply awful in 2025, finishing dead last in the NCAA in rushing defense while also being one of the worst teams in the country at stopping opponents on leverage downs, generating pressure along the defensive line and at creating turnovers. That's generally not a recipe for success.

(Granted, the team had to replace their top 10 tacklers in 2025, but the drop was very noticeable when looking at 2024's numbers.)

As a result, this offseason has been a "burn the tape" one; Creighton's decision to have two defensive coordinators and allow for a change in scheme certainly suggests as much. Creighton has also emphasized a more aggressive style of play, as team captain Bryce Llewellyn so eloquently put it at MAC Media Days:

“The biggest thing for us, we kind of stand on like TTE [tackling, turnovers, effort]. Those are three big things that we're gonna stand on, and that's what we're gonna be about.”

They'll certainly need to get better at tackling and quick; the eye test over the last few years has suggested the MAC has started to shift to a power run league, and EMU's secondary struggled immensely with missed tackles, with six returners whiffing on 20 percent or more of their tackles, per Pro Football Focus.

Turnovers will also need to be addressed, as the Eagles averaged less than one per game over 12 contests.

The good news is that EMU has an immense amount of returning contributors along the defensive line, with Makhi Gilbert (16 tackles in five games), Jefferson Adam (25 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks in 2024) and Carter Evans (37 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks) all coming back. Depth pieces such as Javon Thomas and Hector Gonzalez have also made enough of an impression to be listed on EMU's pre-season two-deep, indicating they'll have a real chance of getting on-field reps.

Peyton Christian was one of the big prizes in the transfer portal for EMU; he's coming off a 2025 season at Lamar where he finished with second-team All-Southland Conference honors after collecting 38 tackles, four TFLs and three sacks. Standing at five-foot-11, 300 lbs., he'll key right in at nose tackle for the Eagles in run-stopping packages.

The defensive backfield also returns all-MAC talent, with the aforementioned Llewellyn, who led the team with 87 tackles in 2025, anchoring at the "bandit" safety position. Jason Marshall (64 tackles), Jaivian Norman (29 tackles last two years) and Juan Salas (34 tackles, INT) seem poised to join Llewewllyn at the safety spots, especially with Barry Manning transitioning to linebacker (more on that in a moment.)

Joshua Scott, EMU's best corner, transferred to Nevada, which leaves a gap at outside corner. Calebs Coley and Dobbs are projected to be the starters as of fall camps. Coley was a transfer from Michigan State last year who got four pass breakups, while Dobbs is a homegrown talent who got 13 tackles, an interception and two pass break-ups in his first season of action. Both Coley and Dobbs showed promise in limited reps, but will be tested early.

Linebacker is a true mystery; only Zach Mowchan (82 total tackles, 30 solo, two TFLs, PBU, fumble) returns any significant experience in last year's defense. Barry Manning made a mid-season shift to linebacker from safety to help shore the numbers in 2025 and seems to have stuck over the offseason, as he is the team's listed starter at MIKE. Despite the transition, Manning still finished second on the team in tackles (72), while also collecting two sacks, an interception and 5.5 TFLs (tied for team lead).

JUCO transfer Elgin McDuffey (86 tackles, five TFLs, five PBUs, three INTs over 20 games) and on-roster option Quincy Byas could also key into the rotation.

Special Teams

• Key arrivals: LS Luke Grant (Memphis), PK Adam Samaha (Akron)
• Key departures: PUNT Michell Tomasek (graduation), LS Mitchell Dietzel (James Madison)
• Key incumbents: PK Rudy Kessinger, PK/KOS Nathan Dibert, PUNT Daniel Hull, PR Juan Salas

Special teams were adequate in 2025 for EMU, and now a question mark in 2026.

All-MAC punter Mitchell Tomasek graduated in the offseason, leaving a huge hole in the punting department for EMU after four years of service. Mitchell Dietzel also departs the program, necessitating a new long snapper.

Rudy Kessinger does return at placekicker after serving as the starter in 2025, where he made over 73 percent of his field goals, but a look at the offseason moves and spring ball suggests the 2026 starter is in flux.

Kessinger notably struggled in the spring game, missing all five of his attempts. Nathan Dibert, the former LSU transfer, went 4-of-6 in the same period. Spring games aren't everything, and Kessinger is still listed as the starter in the preseason depth chart, but this will be a position to keep an eye on if EMU struggles down the stretch.

Punter is more settled, with senior Daniel Hull expected to take over those duties.

There will be battles at the returner spot after EMU put up one of the worst kickoff units in the MAC.

Jayvin Norman departs the program after returning kicks in 2025; the preseason depth chart has Nick Deveraux and Hutchinson CC transfer Benson Prosper listed in bold as starters.

Juan Salas is the listed punt returner after doing so in 2025, but several players are expected to step up and battle for reps, including Prosper, Harold Mack and freshman defensive back Fa'Rel Carter, per Ypsilanti 11.

Outlook

The last two years have been a bit of a departure from the steady, thorny Eagles teams we became accustomed to since that magical 2016 season.

It was clear the team composition was reaching a tipping point, especially with two offseasons of musical chairs in terms of the roster, and it all collapsed in 2025– even with the offense putting up eye-popping numbers.

Now, with an offseason to look at what went wrong and address the root issues, the Eagles under Chris Creighton should be looking at a bit of a rebound. EMU was able to retain more players thanks to changes to the transfer rules, and that can't be underestimated for a unit which has maintained such a strong sense of culture.

It'll be a tough road to plow, certainly. EMU opens the season with eight-straight games– including a Week 0 game against a conference foe in Sacramento State– and then draws all three of Toledo, Western Michigan and Ohio.

(Oh, and there's the matter of the neutral-site game with Central Michigan too.)

We won't really know what this team will look like defensively until about the fifth game or so, but if it can even be bog-average in the run game and get some more pressure numbers, the offense is strong enough to make a lot of noise.

This might not be a title contender program, but they'll certainly fight for a bowl game appearance at the least, especially if they can sneak in a win against that difficult triad mentioned earlier.

Schedule

All dates and times are current as of publication. An asterisk (*) denotes a conference game.