Defensive Line

He’s the last player in the Central Michigan media guide, but defensive end Frank Zombo is leading the Chippewas quarterback attack.

The redshirt junior has 7.5 sacks, tying him for first in the MAC. The number also ranks Zombo No. 16 in the nation.

In total, the defensive end has 13 tackles-for-a-loss this season. The starting four for the Chippewas have combined for 23 tackles-for-a-loss, sending their opponents back 93 yards.

As a group, the CMU defensive line has been able to stop the rushing attack. The Chippewas are limiting opponents to 139.0 yards on the ground per game. This ranks as the third best rushing defense in the MAC; however, it ranks only as No. 61 rushing defense in the nation.

Grade: B

Linebackers

Central Michigan fought against Western Michigan, NIU, Kansas State and Wisconsin to recruit middle linebacker Nick Bellore.

Bellore is showing why he drew all the interest as the sophomore ranks No. 9 in the nation in tackling. With 95 tackles, the middle linebacker leads the MAC.

The Whitefish Bay, Wis., native has done more than send bodies to the ground. Bellore has also forced two fumbles this year, while breaking up two passes.

After Bellore, CMU has dropped in defensive production. Weak side linebacker Matt Berning has 50 tackles this season, while strong side linebacker Tim Brazzel has only 28. Berning has only started five games this season, as Barron Miles started the first four games for the Chippewas.

Grade: C+

Secondary

Free safety Bobby Seay decided to travel north from Pembroke Pine, Fla., to play college football.

The redshirt sophomore drove past Arkansas State, flew over Maryland and skipped by Pittsburgh, finally stopping at Mount Pleasant, Mich., to play for the Chippewas.

Seay has five broken-up passes along with an interception this season. As a group, the CMU secondary have defended 17 passes in nine games. Four of these 17 have been interceptions.

Yet, this hasn’t stopped offenses from attacking the secondary.

CMU is last in the MAC in pass defense, giving up an average of 272.1 yards per game through the air. The Chippewas pass defense ranks as the No. 115 such defense in the nation out of 119 teams.

So far this season, every opponent has surpassed 200-yards passing against CMU except Temple, which was held to 163 passing yards.

Grade: D

Special Teams

In 12 field goal tries this season, Chippewas kicker Andrew Aguila has converted 10. The junior’s longest conversion came on a 48-yard field goal.

CMU has also benefitted from a strong punt returner. Sophomore Antonio Brown is leading the nation with an average of 20.8 yards per punt return. Brown’s longest return was this year of 75 yards in which he scored a touchdown.

The sophomore hasn’t done as well returning kickoffs – ranking only No. 8 in the MAC as he’s averaging 22.4 yards per return.

The Chippewas have struggled a bit on kickoff coverage. CMU ranks No. 7 in the MAC in the statistic, and has allowed one on-side kick to be converted against it this season.

Grade: B+