Central Michigan Football: Road slate pivotal for Chippewas’ 2018 success
By Zach Bigalke
Offense
Central Michigan enters the 2018 season with the least-experienced offense in the FBS. Big question marks remain at tight end, receiver, and center. The inexperience at the skill positions will make it tougher for a new quarterback to acclimate to starting for the Chippewas.
Redshirt sophomore Tony Poljan is leading the competition to take over the position under center. Poljan was the backup to Michigan graduate transfer Shane Morris last season, and he also caught five passes for 97 yards as a part-time receiver. He took the first-team reps ahead of senior Tommy Lazzaro, who has yet to see game time in his first three years at Central Michigan.
Poljan will benefit from the return of running back Jonathan Ward, who broke the 1000-yard mark as a sophomore. Ward also caught 48 passes for 470 yards, showcasing strong skills out of the backfield. The offensive line lost left tackle Joethat could feature three redshirt seniors, the ground game should be fine.
Focusing on the receiver situation
The receiving situation beyond Ward’s good hands out of the backfield is another question. Poljan is working with a relatively untested crop of receivers in 2018. Ward is the only returning pass catcher among the top five receivers from 2017. Gone are all of the top three receivers, Mark Chapman, Corey Willis, and Eric Cooper.
Among the favorites to take over key reps at receiver are redshirt juniors Cameron Cole and Damon Terry. Both played minor roles last season for the Chippewas, and they will both need to step up and produce as starters this year. Julian Hicks, a freshman getting his first taste of the college experience, also looked ready to contribute as a freshman in 2018.
Tight end Tyler Conklin, a fifth-round draft pick of the Minnesota Vikings, is also gone from Mount Pleasant. That leaves another gaping hole, as Conklin caught 77 passes for 1064 yards and 11 touchdowns in 20 games as a starter in 2016 and 2017. Logan Hessbrook will likely get the bulk of the snaps at tight end. 6-foot-7 freshman Bernhard Raimann, who was recruited as an exchange student from Austria, offers intriguing potential at the position as well.