The Red Zone Report | 2008 MAC West Preview: Three-peat for CMU, or will there be a new champ?

NCAA Football

2008 MAC West Preview: Three-peat for CMU, or will there be a new champ?

By Eddie Griffin ⋅ May 27, 2008 ⋅ Subscribe to The Red Zone Report

The last two seasons, the rest of the MAC West has been staring up at Central Michigan, who has posted back-to-back 7-1 conference records.

The Chippewas have gone on to win the MAC championship game each time, and Butch Jones’ team is the favorite to represent the West in the title game again this year.

CMU’s offense will carry them as they not only return reigning MAC Player of the Year, Dan LeFevour (3,652 yards passing, 1,122 yards rushing, 47 TD), but many of the other major pieces of a powerful offense are back. The running back duo of Ontario Sneed and Justin Hoskins combined for 1,150 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground last season will join LeFevour to give the Chippewas a formidable rushing attack, and LeFevour has his top receivers back in the receiving duo of 2007 MAC Freshman of the Year Antonio Brown and fellow second-team all-MAC pick Bryan Anderson, who combined for 192 receptions, 2,135 yards, and 16 touchdowns last season. Brown had 2,267 all-purpose yards last season, and was one of the league’s best kick returners.

However, the defense must step up after having issues stopping teams in 2007. They’ll have to do it without linebackers Red Keith (148 tackles) and Ike Brown (106 tackles), who were first-team All-MAC selections as seniors. But, there are some solid pieces, in linebacker Nick Bellore (102 tackles, 7 tackles for loss), defensive tackle Casey Droscha (52 tackles, 11 TFL, two sacks), ends Frank Zombo (10.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks) and Larry Knight (7.5 TFL, five sacks), and DBs Chaz West, Josh Gordy, and Eric Fraser.

Who will challenge the Chippewas in the West?

The division came down to CMU and Ball State last year, and that may be the case again, as the Cardinals are stocked with talent on both sides of the ball.

Leading the way is second-team all-MAC QB Nate Davis and his two leading receivers, first-team all-MAC picks WR Dante Love (100 catches, 1,398 yards, 10 TD) and TE Darius Hill (65-926-11). MiQuale Lewis ran for 447 yards in the first four games last season, but was injured in the 4th quarter of a heartbreaking loss to Nebraska, but he should be ready to go by the start of the season, which would really help balance the Cardinals’ offense. Frank Edmonds should also see regular carries after running for a team-leading 531 yards and six scores last season.

Defense is what could really propel their title charge. Besides allowing 58 points in a loss to CMU, BSU’s defense was solid in conference play, as teams scored only 13, 16, 14, 23, 20, and 21 points against the Cardinals in their other six conference games.

Defensive end Brandon Crawford (60 tackles, 17 for loss, 8 sacks, four forced fumbles) was a third-team all-MAC pick, and so was defensive back Alex Knipp (82 tackles, 4 INT), while linebacker Bryant Haines (125 tackles, 9 for loss) and defensive back B.J. Hill (77 tackles, 5 INT) were second-team selections.

Who else could challenge in the division?

Western Michigan went 5-7 last year, but the Broncos could make a run with their entire starting defensive unit back, including four all-conference selections. Cornerback Londen Fryar (16 pass breakups) was a first-team selection, while linebacker Boston McCornell (99 tackles), free safety Louis Delmas (64 tackles), and defensive end Zach Davidson were second team choices. Davidson (12.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks) and Greg Marshall (11 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, four forced fumbles) are going to give a lot of offensive linemen fits this season.

Offensively, WMU should rack up the points, but it all depends on how consistent junior QB Tim Hiller is. Hiller threw 20 touchdowns and only three picks as a freshman, and while he followed that up with another 20-touchdown season, threw 15 interceptions as a sophomore. Hiller has some talented targets returning in first-team all-MAC receiver Jamarko Simmons (84 catches, 980 yards, 6 TD) and third-team all-MAC tight end Branden Ledbetter (38-550-6), while second-team All-MAC RB Brandon West (848 rushing yards, 4 TD, 365 receiving yards, 2 TD, 25.9 yards per kick return, TD), who had a school-record 2,119 all-purpose yards last season, is a triple threat.

Toledo could be a factor as well. RB Jalen Parmele will be missed, but QB Aaron Opelt (1,756 yards, 12 TD, 7 INT, 4 rushing TD) is primed for a big season, with receivers Nick Moore (60 catches, 731 yards, 8 TD) and Stephen Williams back (73-1,169-7). If RB DaJuane Collins (639 yards, 7 TD last season) takes advantage of a full-time role, the Rockets could really do big things offensively.

The key will be defensive improvement, as Toledo gave up 39.2 points and 444.1 yards per game last season. However, a great deal of experience is back, as eight starters from last year return along with a few starters who missed most or all of 2007, so the players are definitely there. There’s one star in strong safety Barry Church (92 tackles, 6 for loss, 3 INT), and if the rest of the defense can step up, the Rockets could be a force in the MAC again.

Could Northern Illinois and Eastern Michigan make a run?

Jerry Kill takes over for Joe Novak at NIU, and while the Huskies went 2-10 last season, they could be much improved in 2008, with most of last year’s starting lineup back on both sides of the ball. RB Justin Anderson had a breakout 2007 (1,245 yards, 8 TD, 45 catches, 263 yards, 3 TD), and if QB Dan Nicholson can have a solid senior year, NIU’s offense could be productive.

Defensively, there’s a future first-day draft pick in DE Larry English (67 tackles, 17 for loss, 10.5 sacks in 2007), but can the rest of the returning starters produce?

Eastern Michigan will have their work cut out for them, but they have some nice pieces on both sides of the ball, in QB Andy Schmitt (1,613 yards, 14 TD, 6 INT) and LBs Daniel Holtzclaw (125 tackles) and Andre Hatchett (98 tackles, 7.5 for loss), so anything’s certainly possible in a deep division.

Who will win the MAC West this year? Is it all about the Chippewas, or will their two-year reign stop the conference come to an end? Check out the first part of my 2008 MAC preview to see how I have the East and West shaking out, and if you’d like to see my breakdown of the East, you can find that here.

The final part of my 2008 MAC preview will be posted later, as I give my all-conference picks, go over some of this year’s key games, and give my take on who some of the impact newcomers will be.

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