4 Players That'll Define EMU at Washington
4 Players That'll Define EMU at Washington
Just how legit are these new receivers after a quick start at UMass?
EMU WR Oran Singleton
After leading the team with 10 targets and 8 catches through the air in the season opener at UMass, it’s tough to imagine a scenario where Oran Singleton’s going to get fewer looks on this offense.
Earlier this week in a Q&A session with SeaTown Sports, I told writer Kevin Cacabelos that Singleton is the guy who this offense will probably end up featuring the most:
On offense, WR Oran Singleton is going to get a lot of looks, so I’d watch for him. He’s a smaller dude, he doesn’t have a lot of production to speak on from his true freshman year at Akron, he did play well at his junior college last year. So far at EMU, he’s already gotten the #2 jersey honor (the first to receive the honor without having spent a season at EMU first), and he had 89 receiving yards on 8 catches with 1 TD at UMass.
EMU CB Joshua Scott
Joshua Scott barely played, even though he started, last week against UMass. Assuming he’s fine and healthy, this should hopefully be a welcome-back-from-injury party for the cornerback who blossomed his way into the starting lineup back in 2022 and ended up being the team’s best coverage corner.
Again, here’s what I said about Scott in the Q&A:
He broke out with the team as a junior college transfer, basically won his starting role throughout the season, and had an insane interception in EMU’s bowl win in 2022. However, last year he only played for a couple minutes in one game, and was an early exit against UMass. Assuming he came out early to give JUCO transfer Jamarian McNulty and true freshman Jordan Toney – who is pretty much taller than any receiver or tight end he’ll have to guard this year – some more game reps against UMass, I think Scott will have a true first-game-back party against Washington. I thought his cornerback ability was very obviously good in 2022, and teammates rave about how much better he makes them during practice.
UW RB Jonah Coleman
Whether or not Washington’s offensive line shows up this week, Jonah Coleman will make plays out there as the team’s stud running back, and is definitely a load to try and bring down. He’s going to make plays and he’s going to get some big first downs. EMU’s defense needs to try to keep him at bay as much as possible. And if EMU’s special teams and defense can keep UW behind its own 40 or 30 yard line for as long as possible, then that’s a step in the right direction for EMU.
Said Cacabelos in a responding Q&A for my page:
Eastern Michigan is going to see a lot of running back Jonah Coleman. The Arizona transfer looked incredible last Saturday, scoring three touchdowns and rushing for 126 yards. He has this instinctual style of running in terms of making cuts and finding holes, but he is also fearless in running through contact at the end of his runs.
UW LB Carson Bruener
As I said before, follow the rabbit.
When EMU has the ball, Bruener is that rabbit.
Bruener’s a versatile and strong linebacker that did a good job of helping coordinate the UW defense last week against Weber State. When it’s third and long, I cannot stress enough how important it is to watch and see where this guy is lined up and what he’s aiming to do after the snap. If Singleton is the straw that stirs the drink for EMU’s offense, Bruener’s definitely the guy that makes UW’s defense happen.
