Eastern Michigan Athletics
Three EMU Football Players Named Preseason All-MAC
6/2/2014 4:01:00 PM | Football, E-Gridiron Group
Tyreese Russell and Lincoln Hansen on first team while Bronson Hill is third team
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) — Phil Steele and Phil Steele's College Football Preview named three Eastern Michigan University football players to its preseason All-MAC teams, announced Monday, June 2. Senior tight end Tyreese Russell (Chicago, Ill.-Walther Lutheran) and senior offensive lineman Lincoln Hansen (Omaha, Neb.-Millard North) earned first-team honors, while senior running back Bronson Hill (Grand Rapids, Mich.-Catholic Central) was named to the third team.
The trio also earned all-league accolades from the Mid-American Conference office in 2013.
Russell started in all 12 games in 2013, leading the team in catches with 44 receptions for 594 yards and three touchdowns. His three touchdowns ranked second-most among the All-MAC tight end nominees. Named 2013 Mid-Season All-MAC by Phil Steele, Russell finished with an average of 13.5 yards per catch. Russell was also named to the Midseason Watch List for the 2013 John Mackey Award.
The Chicago, Ill. native had his best performance when he caught nine passes for 84 yards at Rutgers, Sept. 14. He also hauled in eight catches for 73 yards at Penn State, Sept. 7, and a career-best 90 yards on four receptions at nationally-ranked Northern Illinois, Oct. 26.
Hansen started all 12 games for EMU at right tackle this season. He helped EMU rack up 1,896 yards on the ground and 2,137 yards though the air, with each total ranking 12th-most in EMU history.
Hill started seven-of-11 games for the Eagles in 2013 and 14 in his two-year career at EMU. The Grand Rapids, Mich. native ranked 31st nationally in rushing, surpassing the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career. He became the first EMU running back to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season since Anthony Sherrell accomplished the feat during the 2003 season. Hill also passed the 2,000-yard plateau in his EMU career to become the 11th player to reach the mark in program history.
On the year, Hill carried the rock 196 times for 1,101 yards on the ground, averaging 5.6 yards per carry. In total, he surpassed 100-yards rushing in six games in 2013 and now has nine career 100-yard contests. The junior running back led the EMU offense with 23 carries, averaging 11.2 yards per rush in the Eagles' setback to Ohio, Oct. 19. In the loss to the Bobcats, Hill broke free for a season-long 70-yard run, tying his 70-yard scamper against Toledo, Oct. 13, 2012, for the fourth longest run by an Eagle in Rynearson Stadium history.
With the season just around the corner, season tickets are available for Head Coach Chris Creighton's first year at the helm of Eastern Michigan's football program. The Eagles will host four Mid-American Conference rivals at Rynearson Stadium, while opening the season with a non-conference contest versus Morgan State, Aug. 30.
Fans can now order reserved non-chairback season tickets (sections 104-106 below the press box) for just $75. EMU faculty and staff, along with youth, can secure non-chairback season tickets for $50. Reserved chairback seats can be purchased for $100 along with a $200 donation to EMU Football or to Eagles Pride (formerly known as the EMU Athletic Club). Additionally, a limited amount of seats are available in the Eagles Pride Suite located on the second floor of the press box. Eagles Pride Suite tickets are $150 along with a $1,500 donation to EMU Football or to Eagles Pride. Suite holders enjoy VIP parking, complimentary food and refreshments, along with the best seat in the house to watch the 2014 Eagles.
The trio also earned all-league accolades from the Mid-American Conference office in 2013.
Russell started in all 12 games in 2013, leading the team in catches with 44 receptions for 594 yards and three touchdowns. His three touchdowns ranked second-most among the All-MAC tight end nominees. Named 2013 Mid-Season All-MAC by Phil Steele, Russell finished with an average of 13.5 yards per catch. Russell was also named to the Midseason Watch List for the 2013 John Mackey Award.
The Chicago, Ill. native had his best performance when he caught nine passes for 84 yards at Rutgers, Sept. 14. He also hauled in eight catches for 73 yards at Penn State, Sept. 7, and a career-best 90 yards on four receptions at nationally-ranked Northern Illinois, Oct. 26.
Hansen started all 12 games for EMU at right tackle this season. He helped EMU rack up 1,896 yards on the ground and 2,137 yards though the air, with each total ranking 12th-most in EMU history.
Hill started seven-of-11 games for the Eagles in 2013 and 14 in his two-year career at EMU. The Grand Rapids, Mich. native ranked 31st nationally in rushing, surpassing the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career. He became the first EMU running back to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season since Anthony Sherrell accomplished the feat during the 2003 season. Hill also passed the 2,000-yard plateau in his EMU career to become the 11th player to reach the mark in program history.
On the year, Hill carried the rock 196 times for 1,101 yards on the ground, averaging 5.6 yards per carry. In total, he surpassed 100-yards rushing in six games in 2013 and now has nine career 100-yard contests. The junior running back led the EMU offense with 23 carries, averaging 11.2 yards per rush in the Eagles' setback to Ohio, Oct. 19. In the loss to the Bobcats, Hill broke free for a season-long 70-yard run, tying his 70-yard scamper against Toledo, Oct. 13, 2012, for the fourth longest run by an Eagle in Rynearson Stadium history.
With the season just around the corner, season tickets are available for Head Coach Chris Creighton's first year at the helm of Eastern Michigan's football program. The Eagles will host four Mid-American Conference rivals at Rynearson Stadium, while opening the season with a non-conference contest versus Morgan State, Aug. 30.
Fans can now order reserved non-chairback season tickets (sections 104-106 below the press box) for just $75. EMU faculty and staff, along with youth, can secure non-chairback season tickets for $50. Reserved chairback seats can be purchased for $100 along with a $200 donation to EMU Football or to Eagles Pride (formerly known as the EMU Athletic Club). Additionally, a limited amount of seats are available in the Eagles Pride Suite located on the second floor of the press box. Eagles Pride Suite tickets are $150 along with a $1,500 donation to EMU Football or to Eagles Pride. Suite holders enjoy VIP parking, complimentary food and refreshments, along with the best seat in the house to watch the 2014 Eagles.
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