The 2024 college football season will mark 15 years since Central Michigan won its third MAC championship in a four-year span (2006-09).
Those teams rostered a few players that would go on to successful careers on Sunday in six-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle Joe Staley and four-time All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown, in addition to quarterback Dan LeFevour, who is one of only five players in FBS history to account for at least 3,000 yards in four different seasons.
But head coach Jim McElwain knows the program is in need of a fresh start after a record of 9-15 over the past two seasons. It is the first time in his FBS coaching career he has been at the helm of consecutive losing seasons.
Here are Central Michigan’s top returning players who have high hopes and plenty to prove in 2024.
Central Michigan Chippewas Top 10 Returning Players in 2024
10) Myles Bailey, RB
Part of a one-two punch in the backfield with Marion Lukes, Myles Bailey averaged 4.7 yards per carry as a junior last season while splashing in some versatility to his game with 112 yards on 14 receptions.
After his sophomore season was cut short because of injury, Bailey might be in store for an even bigger increase to his workload, considering the Chippewas’ question marks at quarterback.
9) Jesse Prewitt III, WR
Jesse Prewitt earned second-team All-MAC honors last season after leading the Chippewas in total receptions. The highlight of the season came against South Alabama (Sept. 23) when he set career highs with 10 receptions and 142 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown grab in the fourth quarter.
A former walk-on from Columbus, Ohio, Prewitt battled his way up the depth chart in two years after transferring to CMU from Wayne State.
8) Jason Williams, DL
Appearing in all 12 games last season and 37 games in his collegiate career at Mount Pleasant, Jason Williams was credited with a career-high 36 tackles in 2023.
A run stuffer on the interior of the defensive line, Williams provides not only experience, but size (6’2″ and 290 pounds) as well.
7) Brayden Swartout, OT
Brayden Swartout earned second-team All-MAC honors after starting all 12 games at right tackle in 2023. He enters this season with an active streak of 25 consecutive starts on a Chippewas offensive line that returns three of five starters from last season (Davis Heinzen, Dominic Serapiglia III).
6) Nolan Ziegler, LB
Nolan Ziegler should make an immediate impact for the Chippewas this fall after transferring to Mount Pleasant by way of Notre Dame.
Though he has not seen much of the field after dealing with injuries over his two seasons in South Bend, Ziegler is a former four-star recruit who played both linebacker and wide receiver in high school and an athlete that McElwain referred to as “one of our best players” during spring practice.
5) Michael Heldman, DL
Michael Heldman is the Chippewas’ most dangerous defender when it comes to generating pressure on the opponent’s quarterback.
Heldman registered 10 quarterback hurries last season in addition to his 2.5 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss. He also provides stability in form availability after appearing in 27 games, including 17 starts, over the past three seasons.
4) Tyson Davis, WR
Tyseon Davis is a deep play threat who returns after a team-leading 453 receiving yards last season. What he lacks in size (5’10” and 175 pounds), he more than makes up for in speed and shiftiness that make him capable of generating yards after the catch.
Three of Davis’ four touchdown catches in 2023 were at least 30-yard plays.
3) Da’Raun McKinney, DB
Da’Raun McKinney will begin his second season at Central Michigan after transferring in from South Dakota and Iowa. His role expanded with each game last season as he ultimately played in eight contests and made six starts at cornerback.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
Combining his four-year, 28-game career at three schools, McKinney has made 134 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and 15 pass breakups.
2) Marion Lukes, RB
Marion Lukes was named to the Watch List for the 2024 Doak Walker Award after surpassing the 1,000-yard mark from scrimmage a season ago.
Named CFN’s Preseason MAC Running Back of the Year, Lukes was one of three players from the conference to record at least 300 yards rushing and receiving in 2023 (Akron’s Lorenzo Lingard, Bowling Green’s Taron Keith).
Combining blazing speed with sure hands, Lukes also excels as a kick returner where he ranked second in the conference with 581 kick return yards.
1) Donte Kent, DB
Donte Kent enters the season as a Jim Thorpe Award candidate after taking snaps at both cornerback and safety last season. He led the team with seven pass breakups and ranked third in tackles with 58 in 2023.
Kent has played a crucial role on the CMU defense for the past three seasons, particularly in nickel coverage, where his versatility to cover the opponents’ top receiver makes him a chess piece that coordinator Robb Akey can move all over the field.
College Football Network has you covered with the latest news and analysis, rankings, transfer portal information, top 10 returning players, the 2024 college football season schedule, and much more!