Quarterback

Eastern Michigan University’s starter at the beginning of the season was junior Andy Schmitt, but he was injured during practice before the Eagles’ loss to Toledo two weeks ago.

Schmitt started 10 games last season and passed for 1,613 yards and 14 touchdowns while leading the Eagles in rushing.

Sophomore Kyle McMahon made his first start of the season against Maryland, and threw for 278 yards and two touchdowns in the Eagles’ 51-24 loss.

McMahon has seen time in each of the Eagles’ first four contests this year. On the season, McMahon has a completion percentage of 63.4 with 574 yards through the air. The sophomore also has 135 yards rushing. However, one problem for McMahon this season has been his three interceptions, including two in the team’s loss at Maryland.

McMahon is currently fifth in the MAC in pass efficiency.

Grade – B-

Running back

The main cog in the Eagles’ backfield is senior Terrence Blevins.

The senior tailback ranks fifth in the MAC in yards per game with 78 and averages 5.7 yards per carry.

However 176 of Blevins’s 312 yards came against Indiana State, so take his stats with a grain of salt.

This is Blevins’ first year as a starter for the Eagles. Blevins started one game last season and ran 19 times for 84 yards on the season. The senior carried the ball three times for 16 yards in last season’s 21-19 Eastern Michigan victory against the Huskies.

Sophomore Dwayne Priest will also see some carries. Priest has run 36 times for 202 yards on the season, an average of 5.4 yards per carry. Priest played in 11 games a year ago and ran 56 times for 180 yards.

The Eagles’ average of 211.3 rushing yards per game currently ranks them No. 19 in the nation.

Grade – B

Wide Receivers and Tight Ends

It seems like pretty much every team in college football has gone to a spread offense, and Eastern Michigan is one of them.

The Eagles’ top wideout is junior Jacory Stone. Stone has 22 catches for 239 yards on the season with a touchdown. In 2007, Stone led Eastern Michigan in receptions with 47, and receiving yards with 462 while catching three touchdown passes.

The other starting receivers listed on Eastern Michigan’s depth chart, senior Tyler Jones and junior Dontayo Gage, have combined for 16 catches and 165 yards on the season.

Junior John Bonner, the Eagles’ starting tight end, has caught seven passes for 109 yards on the season. The junior is seeing his first action since 2006, after missing all of last season due to injuries.

Grade – B-

Offensive line

The left side of EMU’s offensive line is experienced, with senior left tackle T.J.Lang and junior left guard Andy Fretz. The same can’t be said about the right side, with two sophomores in right guard Dan DeMaster and right tackle Bridger Buche. Center Eric Davis is a sophomore.

Only one starting Eagle lineman is over 300 pounds with Lang listed at 307. Compare that to the Huskies’ starting offensive line, with left guard Kevin Skatrud at 315 pounds and right tackle Jon Brost listed at 300 pounds.

The Eagles are currently tied for fifth in the MAC with six sacks allowed.

Grade – C-