4 Players That'll Define Eastern Michigan vs. Central Michigan
EMU will have to stop the MAC's leader in average all-purpose yards in its rivalry matchup against CMU.
EMU OL Blake Bustard
Not only is Blake Bustard having a first-year transfer season where he’s an immediate starter for Eastern Michigan’s offensive line, he’s put in his time at the left and right tackle spots. Bustard, a Muskegon native, made the jump-up in competition when he left Wayne State (19 starts made) to be a Division 2-to-FBS transfer. Whenever he’s on the left side, he has Cole Snyder’s blindside protection responsibilities right next to Mickey Rewolinski, the most experienced lineman (as an Eagle) on the roster. On the right side, it depends. At the beginning of the year, he was next to Carson Lee, but lately, Jez Janvier, a re-converted guard after playing D-line last year, has been in at right guard. (Brock Roman’s injury at center pivoted Lee from guard to center, and Janvier has been the starting RG since.)
Said Chris Creighton on Bustard Monday: “One of the things that's fun about him, he's been here since January, but he still is, just, continually being grateful for being here. Just loves, loves being here. And you know, as a player, he's, he's a really good player. And you know, you talk about him playing on both sides, it's difficult to do, especially coming into a program, being new to the offense, and all of those things. But he's got a high football IQ he's confident and he keeps getting better and better, and the more familiar and the more experience he has with these guys and in our offense, the better and better he's getting.”
Offensive line success, of course, is a group effort. But this is the time where Bustard can be a leader for either side of the line, and he’s going to have his hands full against one of the top MAC defenses in creating pressures (18.3% havoc).
EMU DL Justin Jefferson
As EMU’s defense would define the type of season Justin Jefferson is having so far: he’s gotten some ‘Atta boys’, but what’s missing are the ‘game-changers’. Atta boys as in 16 stops, 3 tackles for loss (all sacks), 5 quarterback hurries, and 1 fumble recovery. Missing game-changers as in, well, no turnovers.
Jefferson wasn’t supposed to be a second-year starting defensive end, but that’s the role he’s found himself as. The 5’10” end was able to withstand the 2023 season when so many other ends fell with injuries in the preseason. Jefferson made the transition from being a linebacker to a D-end and finished the year with 7.5 tackles for loss, which was tied for the team lead. He forced 1 fumble last year, none in the first half of this 2024 season.
EMU has its issues of having an inconsistent offense and a vulnerable defense against the pass. Having its senior defensive captain step up and take the ball away from CMU, which will (probably) also have a #5 with the last name Jefferson on the field (Tyler Jefferson, backup quarterback, might have to play if Joey Labas is injured).
CMU RB Marion Lukes
Not only is Marion Lukes a pretty strong runner, but he’s an effective tool in the pass game as well. I don't know if Lukes will finally be named an All-MAC running back this season (has been an all-league kick returner each of the last two years), but I know he has what it takes to make weak tacklers look silly. CMU was down 24-0 at halftime last week against Ohio, and Lukes’ 3 TD scores helped his team rebound back to a 27-25 loss.
With 322 rushing yards, 223 kick return yards, and 101 receiving yards this year, Lukes is the MAC’s current leader in all-purpose yards per game (129.2).
CMU, again, might have to play with its backup, redshirt-freshman quarterback, and any rushing success Lukes has against EMU could end up feeding into CMU QB Jefferson’s success in the play-action game.
CMU DB Donte Kent
One of the great revelations of this year’s Eastern Michigan offense has been exactly what Creighton said before the season began. Oran ‘Man-Man’ Singleton is a matchup nightmare for some of these defensive backs he’s gone up against. Singleton is EMU’s leading receiver with 35 catches on 49 targets (per Pro Football Focus) for 334 yards and 2 touchdowns. Kent has been an All-MAC star in each of the last two seasons, and was a FWAA Freshman All-American in 2021, so I’m pretty sure the secret’s out on Central’s top cornerback. If anybody’s going to try to slow down Singleton this week, expect it to be #4 on CMU’s D.
