The Chips look to warm up the fire down a few contributors.
Game notes
- Time and date: Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time
- Location: Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan
- Viewing options: The game will be available exclusively via ESPN+. A valid subscription is required for viewing. Danny Gutowsky (play-by-play) and Randy Buffington (color) will provide commentary.
- Radio options: Adam Jaksa (play-by-play) and Brock Gutierrez (color) will provide the CMU call for WUPS-FM 98.5.
- Gambling considerations: N/A
- All-time series: First meeting all-time
Getting to know the Blue Devils
Central Connecticut State (hereby referred to as CCSU) is in the second year of a new coaching staff after navigating a 3-8 campaign in 2023 under Adam Lechtenberg. The Blue Devils proved to be uneven last year, but that’s to be expected in a total rebuild.
CCSU is pretty familiar with the MAC, having previously scheduled Kent State (2023) and Eastern Michigan (2019), with a cancelled 2020 contest vs. Toledo.
Returning to lead the offense is former Virginia Tech running back Elijah Howard, who amassed 990 yards and five TDs in 11 games last season. Howard had a notable performance against an FBS opponent in Florida International, picking up 128 yards on 17 carries in the team’s one-possession loss. Receiver Isiah Williams (37 receptions, 487 yards, five touchdowns) will be the main target for the CCSU offense in the air as well. Like Howard, Williams also availed himself well against FIU, with two catches for 107 yards and a TD.
Brady Olsen is a notable addition to the Blue Devils offense after transferring in from future MAC member UMass. Olsen, who was tabbed the starter for this week, was one of a rotation of QBs for the Minutemen over three seasons, finishing with 1,936 yards, 10 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.
Defensively, this team revolves around first-team all-NEC defensive back Kimal Clark. Clark was 32nd in the FCS with an 8.9 tackle-per-game average, finishing with 89 total tackles and three interceptions in the 2023 campaign.
Dan Toatley is the one to watch in the middle of the field after leading CCSU with 52 tackles, 12 TFLs and six sacks en route to first-team all-NEC honors, while fellow backer Malachi Wright picked up 7.5 tackles-for-loss and 3.5 sacks in rotation last season.
Jack Barnham was solid in placekicking for CCSU, going 13-of-18 on field goals and 30-of-31 on point after attempts.
Getting to know the Chippewas
Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Chippewas know the last two seasons haven’t gone to plan, and hope a shuffle of personnel will help ignite a spark as the team seeks its first bowl game in three seasons.
They’ll have to rely on Iowa transfer Joe Labas to start at quarterback in Week 1 due to an injury to incumbent returnee Bert Emanuel Jr. late in fall camps. Labas has one game of stats to his name in three years at the FBS level, leading the Hawkeyes to a bowl win vs. Kentucky. His spring and fall camps have been reportedly impressive, so time will tell if the QB competition is over or not.
For now, the team will likely lean on a running game which has proven strong in the past, with the return of Marion Lukes and Myles Bailey. Last year’s run blocking saw a steep decline in on-field yards, but the “M&M Brothers” were still the team’s best overall players, combining for 2,206 all-purpose yards and nine total touchdowns over 12 contests. In fact, both backs were also leading receivers last season, with Lukes placing third and Bailey placing fifth.
Third-team all-MAC receiver Jesse Prewitt III (31 rec., 438 yards, four TDs) returns to lead the receiving corps— though secondary starter Tyson Davis (29 rec., 444 yards, four TDs) is out for an unknown amount of time due to a fall camp injury. There’s several battles expected to take time to resolve in this position group, so we’ll see how it looks this week.
Defensively, the team will lean on their deep linebacker corps while the other two defensive units will take time to get adjusted to a new scheme.
Justin Whiteside (53 tackles, 3.5 TFLs) returns to lead the heart of the defense as the most experienced backer, while former depth players Fernando Sanchez III, Lawai’a Brown and Jordan Kwiatkowski are all expected to contribute as starters. One of last year’s starters, Dakota Cochran, is a key reserve with starting upside.
Pro scouting eyes will be on Donte Kent, who played a hybrid back role in 2023. The all-MAC cornerback finished third on the team in total tackles (58) and led the team in solo stops (39) while seeing some safety snaps, but has also proven capable as an outside corner in prior years. The rest of the secondary will be new-look as well, with true freshman Jaion Jackson starting alongside Kent instead of Da’Raun McKinney, who is now listed as a backup strong safety. Transfers Aakeem Snell (FCS Saint Francis [PA]), Brendan Deasfernandes (Iowa) and Jahree Turner-Kinsler (D-II Albany State) will be key reserves.
Realistically, Central Michigan shouldn’t have a problem with CCSU considering the Blue Devils were trounced by Kent State last season and CMU is a better team than KSU as presently constructed.
But CMU has also been notoriously slow in recent years against FCS teams, with sweaty contests against New Hampshire in 2023, Bucknell in 2022 and UAlbany in 2019.
Thursday’s performance will go a long way towards answering some questions about Central’s confidence heading into the season.