Eastern Michigan Athletics
Football Places Nine on Phil Steele's Preseason Teams
7/13/2020 12:43:00 PM | Football
Four offensive, three special teams, and two defensive players highlight the list
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — A total of nine Eastern Michigan University football student-athletes were named Preseason All-MAC by Phil Steele's College Football Preview, the magazine announced this week.
Senior punter Jake Julien (Barrie, Ontario-North Collegiate) collected All-MAC first team accolades, while junior lineman Sidy Sow (Bromont, Quebec-J-H Leclerc-Champlain Lennoxville) grabbed second team honors. Senior linebacker Terry Myrick (Austell, Ga.-Woodward Academy), junior kicker Chad Ryland (Lebanon, Pa.-Cedar Crest), and junior kick/punt returner Dylan Drummond (Cleveland, Ohio-Cuyahoga Heights) landed spots on the All-MAC third team.
The Eagles rounded out their All-MAC honors with an additional four selections to the fourth team, including sophomore offensive lineman Brian Dooley (Bowling Green, Ohio-Toledo St. John's Jesuit), senior tight end Thomas Odukoya (Almere, Netherlands-Helen Parkhurst-Garden City C.C.), senior defensive lineman Turan Rush (Charleston West Side, W.Va.-Capital-Antelope Valley), and junior wide receiver Quian Williams (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Southmoore).
Julien, who ranks first in the EMU record books with a 43.8 season punting average, is the only punter in Eastern Michigan history to record two 70+ yard punts in his career. In 2019, he appeared in all 13 games for the Eagles with 13 punts traveling 50-or-more yards and 19 landing inside the 20-yard line. The Barrie, Ontario native belted two punts for an average of 50 yards, including a long of 53-yards against Western Michigan, Oct. 19, to collect MAC West Special Teams Player of the Week honors. Julien closed the year with three punts over 50 yards and four inside the 20 against Pittsburgh at the Quick Lane Bowl, Dec. 26.
Sow started 12 games for the Green and White last year. In 2019, Eastern's offense was electric, amassing 5,271 total yards, 49 touchdowns, and 379 total points. Overall, the EMU offense set the program record for touchdowns in a season (49), touchdown passes in a season (27), and passes completed in a season (313). Additionally, EMU's 285 first downs, 379 points, and 5,271 total yards of offense ranked second all-time in program history.
Myrick started all 13 games as a linebacker in 2019. He finished third on the team with 89 tackles (39 solo, 50 assisted) and led the team with 7.5 tackles-for-loss. The Austell, Ga. product opened the season with 11 tackles at Coastal Carolina, Aug. 31, and then forced a fumble and had seven stops at Kentucky, Sept. 7. Myrick tallied 11 tackles and one quarterback hurry against Western Michigan, Oct. 19, and picked up two TFLs against Buffalo, Nov. 2.
Ryland, who is tied for fifth in program-history in extra points made and attempted at EMU. Last year, the Lebanon, Pa. native earned Academic All-MAC honors and was named the MAC Special Teams Player of the Week Honors on Sept. 16. He drilled a 24-yard, game-winning field goal to down Illinois, Sept. 14, after connecting on a career-best 52-yard field goal earlier in the game. The 52-yarder is tied for the second-best in school history, and is the longest made EMU field goal since the 2015 season. Ryland also notched three field goals against Pittsburgh in the Quick Lane Bowl, Dec. 26, which is tied for eighth for a single-game mark.
The only Eagle to earn preseason honors at two positions, Drummond collected Third Team All-MAC honors in 2019. The Cleveland, Ohio product was selected as a MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete as well as Academic All-MAC. He saw game action in all 13 games with 10 starts for the Eagles. Drummond finished the season with 493 reception yards on a team-high 55 catches. He averaged 37.9 yards per game and scored three touchdowns.
Dooley started in all 13 games as part of the offensive line. The Bowling Green, Ohio native was a part of the strong offensive line that helped lead the offense to 283.2 passing yards a game and a league-best 27 passing touchdowns.
A 2019 Academic All-MAC honoree, Odukoya appeared in 13 games, making seven starts. He made a season-high 10-yard catch at Central Michigan (Oct. 5) after earning 2019 second team All-MAC preseason honors from Phil Steele's College Football Preview.
Last year, Rush started 12 contests and recorded the third-most tackles-for-loss on the team with 6.0. He had a two-sack day against Ball State, Oct. 12, finished with six tackles against Toledo, Oct. 26, and had four stops against Kentucky, Sept. 7, and Western Michigan, Oct. 19.
Williams appeared in all 13 games for the Eagles in 2019, making one start at Central Michigan, Oct. 5. He ranked second on the team with 661 receiving yards with six touchdowns. The Oklahoma City, Okla. native posted 115 receiving yards on eight receptions and two touchdowns against Central Connecticut, Sept. 21. He also caught a 29-yard pass for a score versus in-state rival Western Michigan (Oct. 19) and added touchdowns in back-to-back games against Kent State, Nov. 29, and Pittsburgh, Dec. 26.
Follow Us On Social
For more information on Eastern Michigan football, follow the team's official Twitter account at Twitter.com/EMUFB, by Facebook at Facebook.com/EasternMichiganFootball, or on Instagram at Instagram.com/EMUFB.
First-Team
P Jake Julien
Second-Team
OL Sidy Sow
Third-Team
LB Terry Myrick
K Chad Ryland
KR/PR Dylan Drummond
Fourth-Team
WR Quian Williams
TE Thomas Odukoya
OL Brian Dooley
DL Turan Rush
Senior punter Jake Julien (Barrie, Ontario-North Collegiate) collected All-MAC first team accolades, while junior lineman Sidy Sow (Bromont, Quebec-J-H Leclerc-Champlain Lennoxville) grabbed second team honors. Senior linebacker Terry Myrick (Austell, Ga.-Woodward Academy), junior kicker Chad Ryland (Lebanon, Pa.-Cedar Crest), and junior kick/punt returner Dylan Drummond (Cleveland, Ohio-Cuyahoga Heights) landed spots on the All-MAC third team.
The Eagles rounded out their All-MAC honors with an additional four selections to the fourth team, including sophomore offensive lineman Brian Dooley (Bowling Green, Ohio-Toledo St. John's Jesuit), senior tight end Thomas Odukoya (Almere, Netherlands-Helen Parkhurst-Garden City C.C.), senior defensive lineman Turan Rush (Charleston West Side, W.Va.-Capital-Antelope Valley), and junior wide receiver Quian Williams (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Southmoore).
Julien, who ranks first in the EMU record books with a 43.8 season punting average, is the only punter in Eastern Michigan history to record two 70+ yard punts in his career. In 2019, he appeared in all 13 games for the Eagles with 13 punts traveling 50-or-more yards and 19 landing inside the 20-yard line. The Barrie, Ontario native belted two punts for an average of 50 yards, including a long of 53-yards against Western Michigan, Oct. 19, to collect MAC West Special Teams Player of the Week honors. Julien closed the year with three punts over 50 yards and four inside the 20 against Pittsburgh at the Quick Lane Bowl, Dec. 26.
Sow started 12 games for the Green and White last year. In 2019, Eastern's offense was electric, amassing 5,271 total yards, 49 touchdowns, and 379 total points. Overall, the EMU offense set the program record for touchdowns in a season (49), touchdown passes in a season (27), and passes completed in a season (313). Additionally, EMU's 285 first downs, 379 points, and 5,271 total yards of offense ranked second all-time in program history.
Myrick started all 13 games as a linebacker in 2019. He finished third on the team with 89 tackles (39 solo, 50 assisted) and led the team with 7.5 tackles-for-loss. The Austell, Ga. product opened the season with 11 tackles at Coastal Carolina, Aug. 31, and then forced a fumble and had seven stops at Kentucky, Sept. 7. Myrick tallied 11 tackles and one quarterback hurry against Western Michigan, Oct. 19, and picked up two TFLs against Buffalo, Nov. 2.
Ryland, who is tied for fifth in program-history in extra points made and attempted at EMU. Last year, the Lebanon, Pa. native earned Academic All-MAC honors and was named the MAC Special Teams Player of the Week Honors on Sept. 16. He drilled a 24-yard, game-winning field goal to down Illinois, Sept. 14, after connecting on a career-best 52-yard field goal earlier in the game. The 52-yarder is tied for the second-best in school history, and is the longest made EMU field goal since the 2015 season. Ryland also notched three field goals against Pittsburgh in the Quick Lane Bowl, Dec. 26, which is tied for eighth for a single-game mark.
The only Eagle to earn preseason honors at two positions, Drummond collected Third Team All-MAC honors in 2019. The Cleveland, Ohio product was selected as a MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete as well as Academic All-MAC. He saw game action in all 13 games with 10 starts for the Eagles. Drummond finished the season with 493 reception yards on a team-high 55 catches. He averaged 37.9 yards per game and scored three touchdowns.
Dooley started in all 13 games as part of the offensive line. The Bowling Green, Ohio native was a part of the strong offensive line that helped lead the offense to 283.2 passing yards a game and a league-best 27 passing touchdowns.
A 2019 Academic All-MAC honoree, Odukoya appeared in 13 games, making seven starts. He made a season-high 10-yard catch at Central Michigan (Oct. 5) after earning 2019 second team All-MAC preseason honors from Phil Steele's College Football Preview.
Last year, Rush started 12 contests and recorded the third-most tackles-for-loss on the team with 6.0. He had a two-sack day against Ball State, Oct. 12, finished with six tackles against Toledo, Oct. 26, and had four stops against Kentucky, Sept. 7, and Western Michigan, Oct. 19.
Williams appeared in all 13 games for the Eagles in 2019, making one start at Central Michigan, Oct. 5. He ranked second on the team with 661 receiving yards with six touchdowns. The Oklahoma City, Okla. native posted 115 receiving yards on eight receptions and two touchdowns against Central Connecticut, Sept. 21. He also caught a 29-yard pass for a score versus in-state rival Western Michigan (Oct. 19) and added touchdowns in back-to-back games against Kent State, Nov. 29, and Pittsburgh, Dec. 26.
Follow Us On Social
For more information on Eastern Michigan football, follow the team's official Twitter account at Twitter.com/EMUFB, by Facebook at Facebook.com/EasternMichiganFootball, or on Instagram at Instagram.com/EMUFB.
First-Team
P Jake Julien
Second-Team
OL Sidy Sow
Third-Team
LB Terry Myrick
K Chad Ryland
KR/PR Dylan Drummond
Fourth-Team
WR Quian Williams
TE Thomas Odukoya
OL Brian Dooley
DL Turan Rush
Players Mentioned
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