Eastern Michigan Athletics
Inside EMU Spring Football: Direct Voices, Clear Direction
4/1/2026 3:35:00 PM | Football
Eastern completed its eighth practice of the spring Wednesday
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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Spring football at Eastern Michigan University has a different feel this year. The roster is set. The uncertainty that shaped past springs is gone. Head Coach Chris Creighton pointed to one clear shift. "The thing that's different, and that I absolutely love, is that there's not a transfer portal in the spring," he said. "There are no eggshells or wondering. I mean, we know our team." That clarity has reshaped the approach. "We have our team here," Creighton said. "We still have some freshmen coming in. But this is our team. So, it's just we must keep learning from each other, growing, bonding, binding together, and then day by day, getting better at football."
In previous years, spring carried tension tied to potential departures. Creighton said that the layer no longer exists. "Just unsettling for them and for everybody. But that's gone now," he said. The result is a direct focus on development. "We're not where we need to be," Creighton said. "But where we need to be is a long way away." The roster reflects that process. "We have a pretty good-sized senior class, but we also have a young team with the 19 early enrollees, and it's also a high school freshman class of 28." Those early enrollees have already made an impact. "Their energy and excitement. They're just sponges and learning."
That learning curve shows most clearly on the offensive line. The group has been rebuilt with transfers, returning players, and younger pieces competing for roles. Creighton said the staff feels confident in the talent but knows cohesion takes time. "We feel really good about them," he said. "Now, do they all know what they're doing at a high level? No." The position demands unity. "The offensive line, more than any other, you're one of five. You've got to be together." Installation continues each day, which limits how fast the group can play. "It's impossible to play to the level you're capable of until you get that down," Creighton said. "When you're learning a new foreign language and sign language and out here with new people, no matter how talented you are, you're still not as good as you're going to be."
Senior center Nicholas Gallegos (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley) sees that process from inside the room. "The vibe in the room is a bunch of hungry guys that want to get better," he said. The group holds itself accountable regardless of experience level. "We didn't have a great day today, but we're about to go in that room and attack the film," Gallegos said. "We have everybody in there attacking the film every day." Leadership is shared. "If it's Cole Dellinger (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston/Michigan State) saying something. If it's Dennis Strey Jr. (Paw Paw, Mich./Paw Paw) and me saying something. If it's Tyler Brumfield (Salem, Utah/Salem Hills/Snow College/Oklahoma State) coming in, we all respect each other." The message stays consistent. "We've got to get better for each other," he said.
That standard reflects the expectations of offensive line coach Chris Wiesehan. "We got five players on the line, 11 guys on offense. We're half the offense," Gallegos said. "We've got to know our stuff. We've got to be disciplined. We must know the coverage to help other people out." Creighton echoed that confidence in the group's potential. "We hit on all those guys," he said. "Now we just got to learn it."
The offense also benefits from stability at quarterback. Noah Kim (Centreville, Va./Westfield/Michigan State/Coastal Carolina) returns, giving the unit continuity it has not had in years. "This is the first year since 2016-17 that we've had a back-to-back starter," Creighton said. Gallegos said that consistency matters in execution and communication. "Having Noah back is great," he said. "To have a quarterback back-to-back is huge. I think that really helps our offense. We have a good relationship with him."
On defense, the biggest change comes in leadership. Tate Omli and Kasey Teegardin now share coordinator duties, and Creighton said the partnership formed quickly. "I challenged them in December," he said. "Their first time together, there was harmony." That connection shows up daily. "I sit in the defensive meetings, and they're tag-teaming it," Creighton said. "Guys finishing the other guy's sentence." Their styles differ, but the message stays aligned. "Kasey can't finish a sentence without yelling," Creighton said. "Then Tate, his words are always spot on. The way he sees football, he can make it simple and easy." The result has been a smooth transition. "It's just been really seamless."
The impact is visible on the field. "They were flying around, and we went live, and the pads were popping," Creighton said. "It was like, whoa." Senior defensive end Jefferson Adams (Ypsilanti, Mich./Washtenaw International/Hocking College/Iowa State) said the clarity has carried into execution. "If I ask Coach T a question and then ask Coach Omli the same question, it's like we're on a walkie-talkie," Adams said. "They're that much on the same page." Early concerns about mixed messaging never surfaced. "It's basically two people, one person in two people," he said.
The system has also simplified the approach for players. "I really love the defense that we have now," Adams said. "It feels a lot less complicated. You just line up and play." That clarity has allowed the unit to play faster and with more confidence. "It doesn't feel like two D-coordinators," Adams said. "It feels like one."
For Adams, the spring also carries personal significance. Returning from a season-ending injury, he approaches each practice differently. "Every day feels like game day," he said. "There's a different sense of gratitude." He said the integration of new players and coaches has been smooth because of the program's foundation. "It's been smooth sailing," Adams said. "The new guys have been integrated very well." Creighton's standards drive that process. "Coach Creighton is so set on his standards," Adams said. "We all feed off of that." The result is a quick fit across the roster. "It feels like they've been here for a long time," Adams said. "We joke and laugh, and we get to work. They care on a personal level. Coach us hard, that's what we need."
Creighton said that consistency defines the program, even with new faces throughout the roster and staff. "Our program, that's been the anchor through all of this," he said. "We know who we are." Spring practice continues to build toward the fall with a clear structure in place. The offensive line is developing cohesion. The defense is establishing identity. The younger players are learning quickly. The roster is set, and the focus remains steady. "We've got to keep learning from each other," Creighton said. "And day by day, getting better at football."
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Spring football at Eastern Michigan University has a different feel this year. The roster is set. The uncertainty that shaped past springs is gone. Head Coach Chris Creighton pointed to one clear shift. "The thing that's different, and that I absolutely love, is that there's not a transfer portal in the spring," he said. "There are no eggshells or wondering. I mean, we know our team." That clarity has reshaped the approach. "We have our team here," Creighton said. "We still have some freshmen coming in. But this is our team. So, it's just we must keep learning from each other, growing, bonding, binding together, and then day by day, getting better at football."
In previous years, spring carried tension tied to potential departures. Creighton said that the layer no longer exists. "Just unsettling for them and for everybody. But that's gone now," he said. The result is a direct focus on development. "We're not where we need to be," Creighton said. "But where we need to be is a long way away." The roster reflects that process. "We have a pretty good-sized senior class, but we also have a young team with the 19 early enrollees, and it's also a high school freshman class of 28." Those early enrollees have already made an impact. "Their energy and excitement. They're just sponges and learning."
That learning curve shows most clearly on the offensive line. The group has been rebuilt with transfers, returning players, and younger pieces competing for roles. Creighton said the staff feels confident in the talent but knows cohesion takes time. "We feel really good about them," he said. "Now, do they all know what they're doing at a high level? No." The position demands unity. "The offensive line, more than any other, you're one of five. You've got to be together." Installation continues each day, which limits how fast the group can play. "It's impossible to play to the level you're capable of until you get that down," Creighton said. "When you're learning a new foreign language and sign language and out here with new people, no matter how talented you are, you're still not as good as you're going to be."
Senior center Nicholas Gallegos (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley) sees that process from inside the room. "The vibe in the room is a bunch of hungry guys that want to get better," he said. The group holds itself accountable regardless of experience level. "We didn't have a great day today, but we're about to go in that room and attack the film," Gallegos said. "We have everybody in there attacking the film every day." Leadership is shared. "If it's Cole Dellinger (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston/Michigan State) saying something. If it's Dennis Strey Jr. (Paw Paw, Mich./Paw Paw) and me saying something. If it's Tyler Brumfield (Salem, Utah/Salem Hills/Snow College/Oklahoma State) coming in, we all respect each other." The message stays consistent. "We've got to get better for each other," he said.
That standard reflects the expectations of offensive line coach Chris Wiesehan. "We got five players on the line, 11 guys on offense. We're half the offense," Gallegos said. "We've got to know our stuff. We've got to be disciplined. We must know the coverage to help other people out." Creighton echoed that confidence in the group's potential. "We hit on all those guys," he said. "Now we just got to learn it."
The offense also benefits from stability at quarterback. Noah Kim (Centreville, Va./Westfield/Michigan State/Coastal Carolina) returns, giving the unit continuity it has not had in years. "This is the first year since 2016-17 that we've had a back-to-back starter," Creighton said. Gallegos said that consistency matters in execution and communication. "Having Noah back is great," he said. "To have a quarterback back-to-back is huge. I think that really helps our offense. We have a good relationship with him."
On defense, the biggest change comes in leadership. Tate Omli and Kasey Teegardin now share coordinator duties, and Creighton said the partnership formed quickly. "I challenged them in December," he said. "Their first time together, there was harmony." That connection shows up daily. "I sit in the defensive meetings, and they're tag-teaming it," Creighton said. "Guys finishing the other guy's sentence." Their styles differ, but the message stays aligned. "Kasey can't finish a sentence without yelling," Creighton said. "Then Tate, his words are always spot on. The way he sees football, he can make it simple and easy." The result has been a smooth transition. "It's just been really seamless."
The impact is visible on the field. "They were flying around, and we went live, and the pads were popping," Creighton said. "It was like, whoa." Senior defensive end Jefferson Adams (Ypsilanti, Mich./Washtenaw International/Hocking College/Iowa State) said the clarity has carried into execution. "If I ask Coach T a question and then ask Coach Omli the same question, it's like we're on a walkie-talkie," Adams said. "They're that much on the same page." Early concerns about mixed messaging never surfaced. "It's basically two people, one person in two people," he said.
The system has also simplified the approach for players. "I really love the defense that we have now," Adams said. "It feels a lot less complicated. You just line up and play." That clarity has allowed the unit to play faster and with more confidence. "It doesn't feel like two D-coordinators," Adams said. "It feels like one."
For Adams, the spring also carries personal significance. Returning from a season-ending injury, he approaches each practice differently. "Every day feels like game day," he said. "There's a different sense of gratitude." He said the integration of new players and coaches has been smooth because of the program's foundation. "It's been smooth sailing," Adams said. "The new guys have been integrated very well." Creighton's standards drive that process. "Coach Creighton is so set on his standards," Adams said. "We all feed off of that." The result is a quick fit across the roster. "It feels like they've been here for a long time," Adams said. "We joke and laugh, and we get to work. They care on a personal level. Coach us hard, that's what we need."
Creighton said that consistency defines the program, even with new faces throughout the roster and staff. "Our program, that's been the anchor through all of this," he said. "We know who we are." Spring practice continues to build toward the fall with a clear structure in place. The offensive line is developing cohesion. The defense is establishing identity. The younger players are learning quickly. The roster is set, and the focus remains steady. "We've got to keep learning from each other," Creighton said. "And day by day, getting better at football."
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