4 Players That'll Define Eastern Michigan vs. Miami OH
Miami might not know who's starting at offensive tackle for EMU, but Eastern knows well and good they'll have to stop a tough edge defender in Brian Ugwu.
EMU WR Terry Lockett Jr.
Eastern Michigan re-tooled in a lot of areas on offense this year with immediate-impact transfers across each position unit, but Terry Lockett Jr. is a second-year fix. Formerly a Michigan State Spartan, Lockett came to EMU last season and received minimal playing time. He made three catches over seven game appearances and made his first career start in the 68 Ventures Bowl against South Alabama. This year, Lockett’s hardly ever off the field, tied for the third-most amount of snaps played on this offense (311), and is the team’s second-leading receiver at 22 catches (28 targets) for 230 yards. Against Kent State, he caught 8 balls for 75 yards, and two weeks ago against Jacksonville State he had 9 grabs for 61 yards.
What’s missing from Lockett’s stat line? That’s right, six points.
The last time Eastern and Miami played against each other, only one touchdown was scored, a 16-yard catch by EMU tight end Bryson Cannon. Miami’s defense is always a tough one to crack, but EMU’s offense is going to want to prove that it has turned a corner. It’s not a one-man show by any means, but Lockett’s proved to be a reliable set of hands (0 drops, per Pro Football Focus) and has made plays in tight situations (6 of 8 on contested catch attempts, 11 first downs).
EMU LB Luke Murphy
In EMU’s previous game against Kent State, Luke Murphy was the leading tackler (8 total, 1 TFL) with some loud turnovers against his former team. First, he caught a second-quarter interception that the offense capitalized on without hesitation (27-yard run by Delbert Mimms). Then late in the third, he recovered Kent’s third fumble of the game, which turned into six more points for his new team (3 plays, 24 yards). Pretty good day for his second start.
Said Chris Creighton Monday when asked about Murphy’s emergence with the team: “When our strength staff gives us our readouts from practice and whatnot, (Murphy is) always at the top in terms of his expending his energy, putting his feet in the ground and change the direction. He's just kind of wired in that way… He's full-go.”
Murphy is currently third on the team with 22 tackles made this season (11 solo, 1.5 for loss) with his two turnovers made at Kent State. Murphy’s growth has been on notice, and his versatility ought to be tested by Miami. For whatever it’s worth, I’m sure Miami really wants to redeem itself through the air as much as possible after the way it lost last week at Toledo. If the RedHawks are going to try and pass it two-thirds of the time against EMU’s defense (8.5 yards per attempt allowed),
Miami WR Reggie Virgil
Deep shots, medium shots, stuff that should right at his target’s chest, Brett Gabbert isn’t throwing strikes like he did in previous seasons. Against Toledo, he was just 50% throwing, and some of the misses he had, even to the 6’4” Reggie Virgil, were out of wheelhouse. For the defending champs that needs to re-create consistency with its deep passing game, that’s an obvious connection that they’ll want to fix coming into this game.
EMU’s pass defense, as Kent State showed with three passing scores from 43, 65, and 68 yards out, is vulnerable through the air. Virgil’s his team’s third-leading receiver at 207 yards on 12 grabs, and is the kind of big-bodied receiver that this team would like to use more often to see some unlocked potential in this year’s offense.
Miami DE Brian Ugwu
Back to help lead Miami’s trench gang is Brian Ugwu, who was a Second Team All-MAC pick last season. Ugwu, in his third year at Miami after transferring from Rutgers, is off to a good start with 28 tackles made (7 for loss, 1 sack) and one fumble recovery.
EMU’s offensive line has been tested the last three games with Broderick Roman and Chris Mayo both almost entirely on the sidelines the whole time, and others picked up some much-needed game experience. Now that EMU’s has a 1-0 start on the MAC schedule and had the bye week to help rest-up for this Miami battle, it’s time to show that it’s O-line can handle Miami’s D-line. Miami might not exactly know which tackle Ugwu will be battling against (Blake Bustard? Joshua Anderson? Mayo?) but EMU knows it’ll have its hands full against the guy who finished the 2023 season sixth in the MAC in TFLs (12) and fourth in sacks (8).
