It’s week 2 and it’ll be another home game for the Dawgs as they host the Eagles of Eastern Michigan (affectionately referred to by our own Andrew Berg as “The Boys from Ypsilanti”). James Jimenez of SB Nation’s MAC blog Hustle Belt joined me this week to answer a few questions I had about the Eagles.

MS: This is currently year 11 for Eagles Head Coach Chris Creighton. In those 11 seasons, he has led EMU to six bowl games, something that many considered impossible when he was hired. What do you think of Creighton’s tenure in Ypsilanti?

JJ: I’ve been around at HB since Creighton was hired and do remember the roller-coaster that was the Ron English era prior to his arrival. (He was fired mid-season for offensive remarks after going 11-46 over five seasons, but has since cleaned up his act and had a nice coaching career for himself as an assistant.) Creighton was brought in at a time where faith in EMU football was at an all-time low; there were discussions of dropping the program for several years even after his arrival on campus. He had a lot to prove, starting from a cultural standpoint and working his way into the on-field aspects. The famous grey field, the wall of bricks in their pre-game entry, the sledgehammer on the sidelines and the #2 memorial jersey were all his idea, and they’ve all come to be embraced by EMU as unique parts of their history.

He could well have left for better waters once he proved he could turn EMU around in those first couple bowl appearances, but he stayed true to EMU instead. Ypsilanti has come to embrace Creighton and his calm, earnest form of coaching ever since. He’s a very nice guy who is active in the community and also happens to be one of the best coaches in the conference. He has singlehandedly made EMU— the butt of decades of jokes— relevant in the college football atmosphere, which really isn’t easy to do when you’re a short drive away from Ann Arbor. He’ll have a statue in front of the program’s brand new performance center when he chooses to retire, for sure.

MS: The offense is coordinated by Mike Piatkowski and quarterbacked by Cole Snyder. The offense also features Delbert Mims, who had 8 touchdowns last year, and Oran Singleton, who had a touchdown last week in the win against UMass. What is the identity of this team on offense and who are the other playmakers?

JJ: This is a team that has extremely old-school philosophies on both sides of the ball. On offense, it’s all about ball control and finding chunk plays in the appropriate moments, with the idea of sitting on the ball as much as possible Cole Snyder will bring two years of starting experience with him from Buffalo, where he was a solid dual-threat QB. He didn’t show off the legs a lot last week vs. UMass, but he’s capable of escaping the pocket and extending drives when necessary. Oran Singleton presents a unique receiver EMU hasn’t had in a while, a super small but quick route runner who should give them some flexibility at receiver. Delbert Mimms showed some power running chops last week as well, and I think EMU will lean upon him a lot vs. Washington given his experience at an Autonomous program. Other guys to look out for on offense are JB Mitchell, who is the team’s main deep threat, and Jere Getzinger, a balanced tight end who’s good for chain-moving plays.

MS: On defense, the Eagles are coordinated by second year man Ben Needham. What is the identity of this defense, and who does the Husky offense need to look out for?

JJ: As I said earlier, this is a very old-school team. The defense is looking to stop the run first and find the ball second, with stout run-stopping linebackers, staunch DTs up front and ballhawking secondary players who can also tackle. This unit is in a bit of a transitory state due to a slew of graduations, but there were a few names that stood out last week.

James Djonkham, a former Arizona State linebacker, had an electric debut for EMU with 13 tackles, 1.5 TFLs and a sack, while Coastal Carolina transfer JT Killen (great LB name, right?) collected nine tackles. Justin Jefferson (no relation to the Vikings receiver) is the highlight man on the defensive line after leading the team in TFLs last season (7.5.) Quentavius Scandrett is the man to watch for in the secondary after collecting 59 tackles and two interceptions in 2023.

EMU was one of the MAC’s worst total defenses last year, but were about average in scoring defense, which is intriguing in its own right. We’ll see if a second year under a new coordinator helps.

MS: In your opinion, what does the rest of the year look like for the Eagles?

JJ: I think this is a solid 6-8 win team if they hit their best potential. Having steady leadership at QB with Cole Snyder should absolutely be a boon after the nightmare rotation they had last season which lost them many more games than they should have done, in my opinion. The key with the Eagles will be if their defense can move from the dredges and into the middle of the table. It would be especially helpful if someone on the defensive line opposite Jefferson could step up to provide more of a pass rush. If they can do that, it’ll go a long way towards helping them find on-field success.

MS: It’s time for a score prediction! What do you think the score is going to be in this MAC/Big Ten game?

JJ: I really don’t like doing score predictions because football is such a random game of chance no matter how much we try to deny such a fact. Alas, gambling considerations tend to be a good reference for this type of prognostication— as much as I hate to admit such a fact. (Don’t gamble, kids.) EMU has been known to jump up and bite some noses of opponents who aren’t careful, and I think a program under a first-year head coach with a lot of departing talent might be in a hangover situation, making them ripe for the taking.

That said, I just don’t see it happening right now. Washington should be able to take care of business, though I don’t think it’ll be the 24-or-more point kind of taking care of business.

Thank you James, and good luck to the Eagles (and indeed the whole of the Mid-Atlantic Conference) the rest of the way! And if you want to follow the MAC-Tion throughout the year (and who wouldn’t?), be sure to follow Hustle Belt on Twitter and check out the site!

In Michigan State’s recent matchup against Florida Atlantic, tight end Jack Velling recorded just one reception for 15 yards.

These statistics underscore a critical area for improvement if the Spartans aim to excel this season. Velling, a standout talent with a versatile skill set, has the potential to be a game-changer for the Spartans, and utilizing him more effectively could be the key to elevating Michigan State’s offensive performance.

Velling’s lone reception against FAU did highlight his potential but also the current underutilization of his skills. Due to his size, athleticism, and route-running prowess, his ability to create mismatches with defenders is a significant asset that Michigan State’s offense must fully leverage. Tight ends often serve as crucial components in an offense, providing a reliable target for the quarterback and valuable assets in both the passing game and blocking schemes.

For Michigan State to be competitive on a higher level, it must explore ways to integrate Velling into its offensive strategies more frequently. This can be achieved through various methods, such as designing plays specifically for him, ensuring he is involved in both short-yardage and red-zone situations and creating opportunities for him to exploit mismatches against defenders.

Velling’s ability to stretch the field and create separation can open up opportunities for other offensive players, making the entire unit more dynamic and unpredictable.

Moreover, incorporating Velling more into the game plan can also alleviate pressure on the wide receivers and provide a more balanced offensive attack. When tight ends are effectively utilized, they can pull defenders out of their comfort zones, creating space for wideouts and improving overall offensive efficiency. This balanced approach not only enhances the passing game but also contributes to a more effective ground game, as defenses are forced to account for more offensive threats.

Velling’s potential impact on Michigan State’s offense cannot be overstated. By prioritizing his involvement in the game plan, the Spartans can significantly improve their offensive output and become a more formidable team. Effective utilization of Velling could very well be the difference between a good season and a great one, making it imperative for the Michigan State coaching staff to adjust its strategies to maximize his contributions.

Don’t forget to follow the official Spartan Nation Page on Facebook Spartan Nation WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE, and be a part of our vibrant community group Go Green Go White as well WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.

The finalists for the 2024 Michigan Miss Volleyball Award have been named.

The high school seniors were nominated by the Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association. The award was first sponsored by the Free Press in 2003.

Here are this year’s 10 nominees, in alphabetical order:

Isabelle Busignani

School: Birmingham Marian.

Position: Outside hitter.

Height: 6 feet 1.

Career stats: 1,270 kills, 761 digs, 125 aces, .307 hitting percentage

The buzz: Busignani was a first-team all-state, first-team all-region, and first-team all-Catholic League player as a sophomore and junior. She’s also No. 26 in the country on PrepVolleyball’s class of 2025 rankings and helped Marian win Division 1 championships in 2021 and 2022.

College plans: Busignani will be attending Cincinnati.

YOU MAKE THE CALL: Vote for this week’s Free Press Prep Athlete of the Week

Jessica Costlow

School: Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central.

Position: Outside hitter.

Height: 5-10.

Career stats: 1,469 kills, 1,247 digs, 139 aces, 90 blocks, .352 hitting percentage.

The Buzz: Costlow received first-team all-state honors in 2022 and 2023, after getting a second-team all-state nod as a freshman in 2021. Her squad won district championships from 2021-2023 and was the runner-up in the 2021 state title game.

College plans: Costlow will attend Toledo, where she will continue to play volleyball and study biomedical engineering.

Ella Craggs

School: Northville.

Position: Setter.

Height: 5-10.

Career stats: 2,549 Assists, 457 kills, 865 digs.

The buzz: Craggs is a two-time all-conference player in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association and made the MHSAA All-Region team in 2022 and 2023. Northville won district and regional championships in 2022 and 2023, and were the Division 1 state runners-up in 2022.

College plans: Craggs will attend Illinois State.

Campbell Flynn

School: Farmington Hills Mercy.

Position: Setter.

Height: 6-3.

2023 Stats: 553 assists, 35 serving aces, 1.3 aces per set, .409 hitting percentage.

The buzz: Flynn was the 2023 Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year, a MIVCA first-team all-state player in 2022 and 2023 and a third-team all-state player in 2021. Flynn is also a member of the 2024 USA Volleyball under-21 national team. She won a state championship in 2023 and a district championship in 2022.

College plans: Flynn will attend Nebraska on a volleyball scholarship.

Navea Gauthier

School: Shelby.

Position: Outside hitter.

Height: 6-1.

Career Stats: 2,801 kills, 345 aces, 1,490 digs, 138 blocks.

The buzz: A three-time all-state, all-region and all-conference player, Gauthier has helped her team to three conference championships, two district championships and one regional championship. Gauthier is on pace to set the Michigan record for all-time kills, according to coach Thomas R. Weirich.

College plans: Gauthier has verbally committed to Ohio State.

Victoria Gray

School: Temperance Bedford.

Position: Middle blocker.

Height: 6-2.

2023 stats: 467 kills, 251 digs, 119 blocks.

The buzz: Gray’s numbers have increased steadily, and it shows in the team’s records. Gray joined Bedford in 2021 and posted 100 kills and 90 digs, and Bedford finished with a 49-14-4 record;. Her sophomore year, the team finished 41-12-2, and Gray tripled her kills and nearly doubled her digs. Last year, the team finished 62-4 and became district champions.

College plans: Gray will attend Indiana.

Olivia Grenadier

School: Birmingham Detroit Country Day.

Position: Middle blocker.

Height: 6-1.

Career stats: None provided.

The buzz: Grenadier helped her team to a 2021 regional championship. She has received honors throughout her career including 2022 first-team all-state and all-region selections and a 2023 all-region nod. In 2022, she recorded the school’s single season kills record (367 kills).

College plans: Grenadier will Colorado on a volleyball scholarship.

Shelby Ignash

School: Cass City.

Position: Middle blocker.

Height: 6-1.

Career stats: 1,388 kills, 180 blocks*, 643 digs* (*sophomore and junior year stats).

The buzz: In 2022, Ignash helped Cass City win its first regional championship since 1977. Ignash is a multiple first-team all-state and all-region player and made the 2023 MHSAA Division 3 All-Tournament Dream Team.

College plans: Ignash has committed to Texas Tech, where she plans on majoring in social work.

McKenna Payne

School: Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central.

Position: Libero/outside hitter/setter.

Height: 5-7.

Career stats: 809 kills, 1,254 digs, 174 aces, 1,089 assists.

The buzz: Payne has multiple MIVCA all-state honors spanning across her various positions. Last year, she, along with Costlow, lead their team to a 33-9-1 record and a Huron League championship.

College plans: Payne will attend Utah on a volleyball scholarship.

Cassidy Pratley

School: Harper Creek.

Position: Middle blocker.

Height: 6-1.

2023 stats: 707 kills, 105 blocks.

The Buzz: Pratley was the team captain and MVP last season as she earned all-state, all-region and all-conference honors.

College plans: Pratley will attend Western Michigan to continue playing volleyball.