Eastern Michigan Athletics
Football Places 10 on Phil Steele's Preseason All-MAC Teams
6/12/2023 3:30:00 PM | Football
Three offensive, three defensive, and four special teams players highlight the list
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – A total of 10 Eastern Michigan University football student-athletes were named Preseason All-Mid-American Conference by Phil Steele's College Football Preview, the magazine announced this week.
Long snapper Steve Bird (Phoenix, Ariz.-Sandra Day O'Connor) and kick returner Jaylon Jackson (Burleson, Texas-Centennial-Lamar) garnered the Eagles' first team selections, while offensive lineman Brian Dooley (Bowling Green, Ohio-Toledo St. John's Jesuit), running back Samson Evans (Crystal Lake, Ill.-Prairie Ridge-Iowa), defensive back Kempton Shine (Chicago, Ill.-St. Rita), and punter Mitchell Tomasek (Columbus, Ohio-Worthington Kilbourne) added second team accolades. Kicker Jesús Gómez (Puebla, Mexico-Prepa Tec Puebla), linebacker Chase Kline (Chardon, Ohio-Chardon-Michigan State), wide receiver Tanner Knue (Mason, Ohio-Mason), and linebacker Joe Sparacio (Naples, Fla.-First Baptist Academy-Boston College) collected third team accolades.
Bird directs one of the top special team groups in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) as the team's starting long snapper since the 2020 campaign. During his tenure, EMU has collected all-conference honors in each season for both punters and kickers. Furthermore, EMU has ranked first or second in the MAC in nearly every statical category for special teams throughout Bird's career.
Jackson grabbed First Team All-MAC accolades in 2022 after joining the program from Lamar University. The Burleson, Texas, product was one of just four MAC players to record a kick return for a touchdown this season and one of just 29 nationwide to do so. Jackson ranked 18th nationally with an average of 24.8 yards per kick return.
Dooley finds himself on the all-conference honor roll for the third consecutive season after grabbing second team honors in 2022. A leader and team captain, the Bowling Green, Ohio, product played 924 snaps for the Eagles last season, allowing just five quarterback hits all season. He helped EMU's offense tally 29.8 points per game, a number that ranks second-best in program history. EMU ranked third in the league and 34th nationally with a time of possession of 31:17, including winning the battle of the clock in its final six contests.
Evans earned his first all-conference honors in 2022 after a historic season in the backfield for EMU. The Crystal Lake, Ill., native scored his 27th career rushing touchdown against Central Michigan, Nov. 25, to move into first place in Eastern Michigan program history in the category during a 2022 season which saw him rush for 100+ yards in four contests, a career-best mark. His 29 scores put him in second on EMU's all-time touchdowns list (rushing and receiving). With 1,166 yards on the ground last season, Evans is the 14th EMU player to rush for a total of 1,000 yards or more in a single season. The senior's total was good for eighth all-time in single-season laurels at EMU. His 15 touchdowns in 2022 ranked first in the MAC and 15th nationally.
Shine started all 12 games that he appeared in last season, recording 30 tackles, 13 passes defended, and one interception. Shine's 13 knock-a-ways are tied for the second-most in a single season during the modern statistical era. His best game occurred against Buffalo, Sept. 24, when he notched seven stops and three breakups. For his career, the Chicago native has 18 pass breakups, and is just 10 away from tying the all-time record of 28 held by DaQuan Pace (2013-16).
Tomasek was outstanding all season long in his first year as the team's primary punter. The Columbus, Ohio, native took home five MAC West Special Teams Player of the Week honors, the most weekly award wins for an Eagle since Jake Julien hit that mark in 2018. Tomasek punted 49 times for an average of 44.1 yards per attempt in 2022. That figure led the MAC, and ranked 23rd in the nation. Moreover, his 44.1 yards per punt was the third-best single-season total in EMU program history. Tomasek was recognized nationally on two occasions this season by the Ray Guy Award as a "Ray's 8" selection, given to the eight best college punters in each respective week of the regular season.
Gomez wasted no time entering the EMU record books in his first season as the team's primary place kicker. Second on the team in total points (89), Gomez knocked in 14-of-17 field goal attempts (82%), a percentage which ranked seconded in the MAC. Additionally, he was a perfect 47-of-47 on extra point attempts during the 2022 regular season. Gomez's signature kick came against Ball State University, Oct. 22, when he drilled a program-record-tying 55-yard field goal attempt as time expired in the first half.
Kline led Eastern Michigan in tackles with 91 in his first season in Ypsilanti. He ranked 16th in the MAC and 95th nationally with 7.6 stops per game. His best day came at Akron, Nov. 8, when he notched 14 tackles and a sack in his return to northeast Ohio.
Earning all-conference honors for the first time in 2022, Knue led the Eagles with 632 yards receiving, nine touchdowns, and just one dropped pass. Ranked seventh in the MAC in total touchdowns, the Mason, Ohio, native's nine TDs are tied for third-best in a single season at EMU. Furthermore, the former walk-on is ranked third in the league and 14th nationally in receiving touchdowns. Knue caught at least three passes in all but one game in 2022, while he went for a season-high 106 yards against Buffalo, Sept. 24.
A first-year linebacker with the Green and White in 2022, Sparacio made an immediate impact on the EMU defense. The Naples, Fla., native was second on the team with 89 total tackles, including 42 solo and 47 assisted. He added 6.0 TFLs, good for second on the team behind only All-American Jose Ramirez. Additionally, he recorded the first interception by a linebacker at EMU since the 2018 campaign, and also notched a fumble recovery.
Eastern Michigan is flying high after winning the 2022 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, 41-27, over San Jose State, Dec. 20, in Boise, Idaho. It was the second postseason bowl game win for the program and its first since it defeated the same SJSU team in the 1987 California Bowl in Fresno, Calif. The Eagles finished the season with nine wins, the second-most in program history, and in addition to the Potato Bowl championship, also earned a co-MAC West Division title, and won the Michigan MAC trophy for the first time since 2012.
Eastern Michigan football season tickets are currently on sale. EMU continues to offer the Ultimate Fan Season Ticket Plan for just $150. This package includes a wide chairback with armrests on the 50-yard line along with VIP season parking. Chairback Season Tickets are $120 and include a chairback in Reserved Sections 104-109. Reserved season tickets are just $108 (Reserved Sections 104-109), while General Admission season tickets are $84 (Sections 110-114 and the visiting side). Call 734.487.ENOW (3669) or visit EMUEagles.com/tickets.
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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.
Long snapper Steve Bird (Phoenix, Ariz.-Sandra Day O'Connor) and kick returner Jaylon Jackson (Burleson, Texas-Centennial-Lamar) garnered the Eagles' first team selections, while offensive lineman Brian Dooley (Bowling Green, Ohio-Toledo St. John's Jesuit), running back Samson Evans (Crystal Lake, Ill.-Prairie Ridge-Iowa), defensive back Kempton Shine (Chicago, Ill.-St. Rita), and punter Mitchell Tomasek (Columbus, Ohio-Worthington Kilbourne) added second team accolades. Kicker Jesús Gómez (Puebla, Mexico-Prepa Tec Puebla), linebacker Chase Kline (Chardon, Ohio-Chardon-Michigan State), wide receiver Tanner Knue (Mason, Ohio-Mason), and linebacker Joe Sparacio (Naples, Fla.-First Baptist Academy-Boston College) collected third team accolades.
Bird directs one of the top special team groups in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) as the team's starting long snapper since the 2020 campaign. During his tenure, EMU has collected all-conference honors in each season for both punters and kickers. Furthermore, EMU has ranked first or second in the MAC in nearly every statical category for special teams throughout Bird's career.
Jackson grabbed First Team All-MAC accolades in 2022 after joining the program from Lamar University. The Burleson, Texas, product was one of just four MAC players to record a kick return for a touchdown this season and one of just 29 nationwide to do so. Jackson ranked 18th nationally with an average of 24.8 yards per kick return.
Dooley finds himself on the all-conference honor roll for the third consecutive season after grabbing second team honors in 2022. A leader and team captain, the Bowling Green, Ohio, product played 924 snaps for the Eagles last season, allowing just five quarterback hits all season. He helped EMU's offense tally 29.8 points per game, a number that ranks second-best in program history. EMU ranked third in the league and 34th nationally with a time of possession of 31:17, including winning the battle of the clock in its final six contests.
Evans earned his first all-conference honors in 2022 after a historic season in the backfield for EMU. The Crystal Lake, Ill., native scored his 27th career rushing touchdown against Central Michigan, Nov. 25, to move into first place in Eastern Michigan program history in the category during a 2022 season which saw him rush for 100+ yards in four contests, a career-best mark. His 29 scores put him in second on EMU's all-time touchdowns list (rushing and receiving). With 1,166 yards on the ground last season, Evans is the 14th EMU player to rush for a total of 1,000 yards or more in a single season. The senior's total was good for eighth all-time in single-season laurels at EMU. His 15 touchdowns in 2022 ranked first in the MAC and 15th nationally.
Shine started all 12 games that he appeared in last season, recording 30 tackles, 13 passes defended, and one interception. Shine's 13 knock-a-ways are tied for the second-most in a single season during the modern statistical era. His best game occurred against Buffalo, Sept. 24, when he notched seven stops and three breakups. For his career, the Chicago native has 18 pass breakups, and is just 10 away from tying the all-time record of 28 held by DaQuan Pace (2013-16).
Tomasek was outstanding all season long in his first year as the team's primary punter. The Columbus, Ohio, native took home five MAC West Special Teams Player of the Week honors, the most weekly award wins for an Eagle since Jake Julien hit that mark in 2018. Tomasek punted 49 times for an average of 44.1 yards per attempt in 2022. That figure led the MAC, and ranked 23rd in the nation. Moreover, his 44.1 yards per punt was the third-best single-season total in EMU program history. Tomasek was recognized nationally on two occasions this season by the Ray Guy Award as a "Ray's 8" selection, given to the eight best college punters in each respective week of the regular season.
Gomez wasted no time entering the EMU record books in his first season as the team's primary place kicker. Second on the team in total points (89), Gomez knocked in 14-of-17 field goal attempts (82%), a percentage which ranked seconded in the MAC. Additionally, he was a perfect 47-of-47 on extra point attempts during the 2022 regular season. Gomez's signature kick came against Ball State University, Oct. 22, when he drilled a program-record-tying 55-yard field goal attempt as time expired in the first half.
Kline led Eastern Michigan in tackles with 91 in his first season in Ypsilanti. He ranked 16th in the MAC and 95th nationally with 7.6 stops per game. His best day came at Akron, Nov. 8, when he notched 14 tackles and a sack in his return to northeast Ohio.
Earning all-conference honors for the first time in 2022, Knue led the Eagles with 632 yards receiving, nine touchdowns, and just one dropped pass. Ranked seventh in the MAC in total touchdowns, the Mason, Ohio, native's nine TDs are tied for third-best in a single season at EMU. Furthermore, the former walk-on is ranked third in the league and 14th nationally in receiving touchdowns. Knue caught at least three passes in all but one game in 2022, while he went for a season-high 106 yards against Buffalo, Sept. 24.
A first-year linebacker with the Green and White in 2022, Sparacio made an immediate impact on the EMU defense. The Naples, Fla., native was second on the team with 89 total tackles, including 42 solo and 47 assisted. He added 6.0 TFLs, good for second on the team behind only All-American Jose Ramirez. Additionally, he recorded the first interception by a linebacker at EMU since the 2018 campaign, and also notched a fumble recovery.
Eastern Michigan is flying high after winning the 2022 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, 41-27, over San Jose State, Dec. 20, in Boise, Idaho. It was the second postseason bowl game win for the program and its first since it defeated the same SJSU team in the 1987 California Bowl in Fresno, Calif. The Eagles finished the season with nine wins, the second-most in program history, and in addition to the Potato Bowl championship, also earned a co-MAC West Division title, and won the Michigan MAC trophy for the first time since 2012.
Eastern Michigan football season tickets are currently on sale. EMU continues to offer the Ultimate Fan Season Ticket Plan for just $150. This package includes a wide chairback with armrests on the 50-yard line along with VIP season parking. Chairback Season Tickets are $120 and include a chairback in Reserved Sections 104-109. Reserved season tickets are just $108 (Reserved Sections 104-109), while General Admission season tickets are $84 (Sections 110-114 and the visiting side). Call 734.487.ENOW (3669) or visit EMUEagles.com/tickets.
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.
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