The MAC is always a wide-open conference and usually lacks a “top team” of sorts. However, the Miami (OH) Redhawks went 11-3 in 2023, winning the MAC Football Championship Game, and they’ll bring back several top players. With some of the best depth in the MAC, who are the RedHawks’ top 10 returning players?
Miami (OH) RedHawks Top 10 Returners in 2024
Analyzing the returning players at every school is a difficult task in the transfer portal era. As such, we’ve included transfer-portal athletes that were included on each team’s roster page to open fall camp in addition to the rostered players from last year.
10) Javon Tracy, WR
The RedHawks lost their top two receivers from last year’s team, but do return their primary slot receiver in Javon Tracy. Tracy caught 22 passes last season and likes to operate further down the field than the average slot receiver, with solid speed and big play ability.
9) Eli Blakey, S
The RedHawks’ secondary as a whole might be considered a question mark in 2024, but Eli Blakey was excellent last season. He returns to his strong safety position. His numbers weren’t amazing, but he made a few mistakes and was solid both against the run and in coverage.
8) Brett Gabbert, QB
If it feels like Brett Gabbert has been around forever, it’s probably because he has. Gabbert has started at least two games for the RedHawks in every season since 2019. Last season, he had a strong start to the year, throwing for over 1,600 yards and having a career-best year as a rusher before suffering a season-ending injury in Week 8.
7) Will Jados, OT
The offensive line is relatively stable, and part of that is that Will Jados returns to start again at left tackle. Jados has started every game at left tackle for the RedHawks since taking over in the middle of Week 1 in 2022 and brings plenty of leadership that that group.
6) Cade McDonald, WR
Like Tracy, Cade McDonald operated primarily out of the slot last season for the RedHawks, catching 28 passes for 349 yards along the way. Unlike Tracy, McDonald did most of his damage after the catch, averaging over six yards after the catch per reception.
5) Raion Strader, CB
The other primary returner in the secondary, Raion Strader had a good year in 2023, especially down the stretch. He was targeted a lot but got better in coverage as the year wore on, racking up a team-leading 10 pass breakups while only giving up one reception of 20+ yards all season.
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4) Brian Ugwu, Edge
The defensive line is fairly deep but lacks elite production, outside of Brian Ugwu. Ugwu had 53 pressures last season, including 22 in his final five games. He was also second on the team in sacks and had 34 run stops and a forced fumble for the RedHawks.
3) Reid Holskey, OT
It’s always nice when a reigning conference champion returns both of its starting tackles, and that’s exactly what the RedHawks do in 2024. Reid Holskey is a three-year starter for Miami, playing over 2,200 snaps while allowing just six sacks.
2) Matt Salopek, LB
Miami might have the best linebacker duo in the Group of Five, so much so that Matt Salopek and his three-straight 100+ tackle seasons isn’t even the top-ranked linebacker on his own team in this list. He’s a tackling machine and has flashed as a blitzer and in pass coverage over the last season and a half.
1) Ty Wise, LB
Ty Wise might play middle linebacker, but he’s also an elite pass-rusher, leading the team with nine sacks last season. The former Indiana transfer also took his tackling game to the next level last season, finishing second behind Salopek with 110 tackles. This linebacker duo is feared across the league and should be great yet again in 2024.
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