Eastern Michigan University opens their 2019 college football slate on August 31 against Coastal Carolina. Head coach Chris Creighton has named senior quarterback Mike Glass III the starting quarterback heading into the season, but Glass is far from the only QB on the depth chart. The Eagles have seven passers in total listed on the roster: Glass, Jairus Grissom, Preston Hutchinson, Aaron Jackson, Christopher Kaminski, Jayden Machado and Isaac Stiebling.
Glass is the clear leader of the group as he started the bowl game last season and entered this year as a captain and starter. He had 1,024 yards, nine touchdowns and one interception on 61.5% passing in eight games last year. Glass threw for 204 yards and three touchdowns in the 23-21 versus Georgia Southern last season, while also running for 21 yards on six attempts.
Glass discussed his hopes and expectations for the upcoming campaign: “I really just want to solidify myself and show everybody what I can do. I want to be first team All-MAC. I just want to show everyone what I can do and prove my family right.”
The QB room will include two freshman, two sophomores, two juniors, and one senior. The freshman are Kaminski and Jackson. Jackson attended Cass Tech in Detroit. He also had offers from Morgan State and Central Michigan, before committing to Eastern Michigan on April 8, 2017. He enrolled at EMU on August 8, 2018. Meanwhile Kaminski comes from South Lyon, Michigan.
Kaminski touched on why he chose Eastern Michigan: “The biggest thing that separated Eastern Michigan from other schools was the coaching staff. Each coach was a stand-up guy that built a relationship with me from the start, and I trust that they’ll make me a better person and player.”
The two sophomore signal callers are Jairus Grissom, who made two appearances last season, and Hutchinson. Grissom compiled 19 yards on three rushing attempts last season, including a touchdown against Monmouth on August 31, 2018. The Eagles won that game 51-17. Hutchinson came in for only play versus Ball State on October 20, 2018, and it resulted in a one-yard rush.
Machado, a junior from California, is transferring in from Sacramento City College. He threw for 5,366 yards and 48 touchdowns in 21 career games. Machado is a potential starter in 2020 after Glass graduates. Stiebling is the other junior signal caller. He appeared in two games last year, completing two passes and rushing for 39 yards. Stiebling also scored a touchdown against Ball State.
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