Eastern Michigan Football Signing Class of 2022: Signees, transfers, and walk-ons
Take a look at Eastern Michigan football's incoming class of 2022.
Welcome to The Ypsilanti Eleven! Early signing period kicked off yesterday, and Eastern Michigan began things with seven additions: five prep signees, and two linebackers that transferred in from FBS-level schools.
Below is a list of every EMU football signee, incoming transfer, and preferred walk-on commit. I’ve spoken to a number of players that are signed with or committed to EMU’s incoming class of 2022, and shared some (will share more) of their quotes below. Quotes may be edited for clarity.
This post was last updated on Jan. 15, 2022.
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Eastern Michigan’s signing class of 2022
OL, Joshua Anderson — Florissant, Mo. / Westminister Christian Academy
DE, Maliek Bogard — Beggs, Okla. / Beggs
OT, Mack Indestad — Lemont, Ill. / Lemont
RB, Elijah Jackson-Anderson — Grand Blanc, Mich. / Grand Blanc Community
LB, Chase Kline — Chardon, Ohio / Michigan State, Chardon HS
TE, Max Reese — Oak Park, Ill. / Fenwick
LB, Joe Sparacio — Naples, Fla. / Boston College, First Baptist Academy
Committed, unsigned
QB, Cam’Ron McCoy — St. Louis, Mo. / St. Mary’s HS
High school signees
OL, Joshua Anderson — Florissant, Mo. / Westminister Christian Academy
Joshua Anderson is an offensive lineman (6’5”, 300) who is setting new heights for his high school. A 3-star prospect, the Westminister Christian Academy standout was the highest-rated recruit in his school’s history, and became the first in his program’s history to sign with an FBS program (credit: @BennieAjr66 on Twitter). Anderson also held offers from Alabama State, Southern Illinois and Tennessee State.
On signing with EMU: “It’s always been a dream of mine to play FBS-level football and get to the highest level of playing football. Being able to do that in college, not only at any school but Eastern Michigan specifically, is a dream come true. Can’t ask for a better place.”
Why “Eastern Michigan specifically”?: “They’ve got the football and the culture part down. They’re a winning football program and they’ve got a winning culture which is really awesome… I saw a practice one day, and after the practice you’d see a lot of guys who are staying after doing extra work, you’d hear stories of guys doing extra work when they’re not required to. It’s not like they’re looking for attention or anything, they’re just what it takes to get better and be a better team. So that’s the kind of program who you want to be a part of: guys who are winners.”
How do you see this program moving forward?: “When I get up there, I just want to whatever it takes to win, and continue to improve. I mean, the ultimate goal would be to win a national championship, and I don’t see why you can’t do that at Eastern Michigan. I don’t think there’s any reason why, in my 4-5 years there, we can’t do what Cincinnati’s doing this year or even better.”
DE, Maliek Bogard — Beggs, Okla. / Beggs
Maliek Bogard (6’6”, 230 lbs.) joins as a 3-star edge defender from Beggs, Oklahoma. Bogard also held offers from SMU, Indiana, Iowa State, Kansas, North Texas, Arkansas State, and New Mexico State (via 247sports). By 247sports’ composite scores, Bogard is EMU’s highest-ranked recruit of the early signing class.
OT, Mack Indestad — Lemont, Ill. / Lemont
Mack Indestad’s a developing offensive lineman (6’7”, 265 lbs.) who ended up joining football later on in time at Lemont High School but benefits from his father’s athletic background.
Indestad on his athletic profile: “In 8th grade I definitely thought I was going to be a basketball player because my dad played center at Moorehead State… During [the pandemic], I ended up choosing football over basketball because I just feel more passion in football. I was able to put on 60 pounds in the next four months and it went from there… Because of my great genetics, I have 34 1/2” arms, and I tend to use them well. I’m growing into my body still.
Indestad on his relationship with EMU coaches: “I felt like I knew [OL coach Sean Coughlin] a long time but didn’t know him in a sort of way. My cousin played played at Missouri State and Coughlin coached him. Him having that relationship with me was much greater once he found out I performed well at the camp. Ever since, I’ve probably been talking to him about four times a week… Creighton too, I could tell he’s an energetic guy, just brings the team up. It’s going to be great.”
Indestad on athletic goals: “Obviously the goal for everyone is to get to the NFL, but right now I want to be an All-MAC tackle and win a MAC ring. I want that MAC title. I don’t set a main goal though, I just have little goals for right now. I’m currently focusing on getting my weight up to 280, then staying in shape while putting on weight.”
RB, Elijah Jackson-Anderson — Grand Blanc, Mich. / Grand Blanc Community
Elijah Jackson-Anderson is the only in-state signee of seven for EMU on the first day fo the early signing period. Jackson-Anderson (5’11”, 188 lbs.) was offered by other MAC schools, plus Cincinnati and Iowa State.
Jackson-Anderson on possible early playing time: “You just got to go in there and work hard regardless, no matter what. And no spot is given to you, so you’ve go to earn every spot.”
Jackson-Anderson on EMU’s playing style: “They’re a balanced team, so they can run, they can pass. There’s different things that come with it, they don’t just stick to this or stick to that. They can switch things around, and that’s how I like it… Of course it’s going to be a lot for me to learn, but that’s what I’m so excited about. I think being in open spaces is amazing, I love open spaces. But I like to hit, I like to be aggressive, I like to do it all.”
TE, Max Reese — Oak Park, Ill. / Fenwick
Max Reese played on a loaded offense at Fenwick High School (over 5,000 yards of offense), and very recently helped his team win its first-ever 5A state championship. As a senior, Reese broke single-season school records for receptions (79), yards (1,473), and TD (18). Reese is a big option (6’3”, 226 lbs.) that’s brings wide receiver skills to the tight end position. Reese also offered by a number of MAC schools, Arizona State, Kansas, Liberty, Alcorn State, Grambling State, and UNLV.
Reese on why he chose EMU: “I chose to commit and sign with Eastern Michigan just for the opportunities and the relationships and family bond that they’ve shown me over the time they’ve been recruiting me, especially coach Creighton. Just the family aspect that they've shown and built as a team and just a community with Ypsilanti is just second-to-none and something I want to be a part of. I’m very family-oriented, and Eastern fit me and that family aspect the most.”
Reese on his dad’s relationship to Creighton: “I’m from Seattle, and coach Creighton is from Seattle as well. Him and my dad, they didn’t know each other before, but after doing a lot of talking they figured out that they actually had a lot of mutual friends and played against each other in high school. My dad actually picked off coach Creighton, which is actually a pretty funny story. The relationship coach Creighton’s had with me and my family has just been great, and gave me and my family the comfort to make my decision to go to Eastern.”
Reese on winning Illinois 5A state championship as senior: “That was our first state title in football, we’re actually a heavy basketball school (sent players to Duke, Kentucky). There’s a lot of alumni who have built the foundation for us to be in the foundation that we’re in, such as Johnny Lattner (Heisman trophy winner, 1953), and so many other players ahead of us that haven’t had the opportunity to get to the point we got, so it was definitely huge for the community and our school.”
Transfer Portal additions
LB, Chase Kline — Chardon, Ohio / Michigan State, Chardon HS
Chase Kline (6’4”, 234 lbs.) comes in as a transfer from Michigan State with two years of eligibility remaining. Kline played in 19 games over three seasons for Michigan State (4 in 2021) and recorded 52 total tackles (2 for loss, 1.5 sacks) with 2 forced fumbles.
LB, Joe Sparacio — Naples, Fla. / Boston College, First Baptist Academy
Joe Sparacio is a versatile linebacker for the EMU defense. Sparacio (5’11”, 225 lbs.) is a transfer with two years of eligibility remaining. Sparacio played in 21 games over four seasons at Boston College, and recorded 62 total tackles (8.5 for loss, 2.5 sacks) and 1 interception.
Committed Walk-Ons
LB, Cole McElvany — Milan, Mich. / Milan
Cole McElvany grew up playing both sides of the ball for local Milan HS, but ultimately focused on linebacker over quarterback to join the team as a preferred walk-on. McElvany is the third player from Milan to join EMU, after DB Tristan Hines and WR Evan Furtney, over the last three years.
McElvany on focusing on LB instead of QB in college: “There were a few schools that gave me looks at quarterback, but I eventually realized that focusing on linebacker would give me my best chance to reach my true potential on the field.”
McElvany on EMU’s walk-on system: “Yeah, two of the starting receivers started out as walk-ons, now they’re on scholarship. One of the linebackers joined as a walk-on, now they’re on scholarship. One of my friends from Milan joined as a walk-on too, but I plan on working hard and getting on scholarship, that’s one of my main goals.”
