Eastern Michigan Athletics
Walker and Tomasek Earns MAC Weekly Honors
9/18/2023 11:00:00 AM | Football
Walker named Defensive Player of the Week while Tomasek earned Special Teams Player of the Week
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan University junior defensive back Bennett Walker (San Diego, Calif./Patrick Henry/San Diego Mesa) and junior punter Mitchell Tomasek (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) collected Mid-American Conference Player of the Week honors, the league announced today, Sept. 18. Walker was named the West Division Defensive Player of the Week while Tomasek earned West Division Special Teams Player of the Week accolades.
Overall, it marked the first time Walker has earned the accolade, while Tomasek garnered the award for the sixth time in his career.
Walker showed out for the Eastern Michigan defense in the 19-17 win over UMass, Sept. 16, recording two interceptions as EMU forced four turnovers for the first time since 2019. Walker's first interception came when UMass was at the EMU 42 as he picked a deep pass down the right sideline just four yards outside of the endzone. Walker's second interception came in the end zone to help the Eagles retain a 13-10 lead with 7:13 to go in the fourth quarter as UMass was on the verge of tying or taking the lead.
Walker is the first Eagle to record two interceptions in a game since Brody Hoying at Northern Illinois, Nov. 19, 2019, and is the first player in the MAC this season with two interceptions in one game. Nationally, Walker is tied for the FBS lead with three picks and is averaging an NCAA-best 1.0 interceptions per game. He also is one of just six players nationally to record multiple picks in a single game so far this year.
Tomasek punted seven times with a robust 45.9 yards per punt in Eastern Michigan's win over UMass. With momentum swinging toward the Minutemen with less than five minutes remaining, EMU was clinging to a 13-10 lead and forced to punt from its own 15-yard line where Tomasek blasted a 61-yard punt to flip the field and ultimately forcing a block-in-the-back for net of 70 yards in field position. The 61-yard punt, his fifth of at least 60 yards for EMU, is the fourth-longest of his career for Tomasek, who placed three punts inside the 20 on the day. Overall, the Eagle currently ranks 13th in the nation with a 45.4 punting average.
Eastern Michigan hits the road Saturday, Sept, 23, when it travels to Jacksonville State University. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. CT (5 p.m. ET) from Burgess–Snow Field at JSU Stadium. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN+. WEMU (89.1 FM) and The Varsity Network will also carry the action as Tom Helmer and Rob Rubick will have the call.
Overall, it marked the first time Walker has earned the accolade, while Tomasek garnered the award for the sixth time in his career.
Walker showed out for the Eastern Michigan defense in the 19-17 win over UMass, Sept. 16, recording two interceptions as EMU forced four turnovers for the first time since 2019. Walker's first interception came when UMass was at the EMU 42 as he picked a deep pass down the right sideline just four yards outside of the endzone. Walker's second interception came in the end zone to help the Eagles retain a 13-10 lead with 7:13 to go in the fourth quarter as UMass was on the verge of tying or taking the lead.
Walker is the first Eagle to record two interceptions in a game since Brody Hoying at Northern Illinois, Nov. 19, 2019, and is the first player in the MAC this season with two interceptions in one game. Nationally, Walker is tied for the FBS lead with three picks and is averaging an NCAA-best 1.0 interceptions per game. He also is one of just six players nationally to record multiple picks in a single game so far this year.
Tomasek punted seven times with a robust 45.9 yards per punt in Eastern Michigan's win over UMass. With momentum swinging toward the Minutemen with less than five minutes remaining, EMU was clinging to a 13-10 lead and forced to punt from its own 15-yard line where Tomasek blasted a 61-yard punt to flip the field and ultimately forcing a block-in-the-back for net of 70 yards in field position. The 61-yard punt, his fifth of at least 60 yards for EMU, is the fourth-longest of his career for Tomasek, who placed three punts inside the 20 on the day. Overall, the Eagle currently ranks 13th in the nation with a 45.4 punting average.
Eastern Michigan hits the road Saturday, Sept, 23, when it travels to Jacksonville State University. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. CT (5 p.m. ET) from Burgess–Snow Field at JSU Stadium. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN+. WEMU (89.1 FM) and The Varsity Network will also carry the action as Tom Helmer and Rob Rubick will have the call.
Players Mentioned
P
/ Football
DB
/ FootballEMU Football Pregame Press Conference: Week 8 at Miami
Monday, October 13
Northern Illinois: Cinematic Recap
Sunday, October 12
Stout Defense Pushes EMU Past NIU, 16-10
Sunday, October 12
2025 Football Week 7 Hype vs. NIU
Friday, October 10