Despite departure of Michael Oliver, Chippewas set to reload at linebacker under new coach Tim Skipper
Central Michigan linebacker Troy Brown tackles Wisconsin running back Garrett Groshek Sept. 7 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison.
Everybody knows about Troy Brown and the success he had last season. What about the other guys?
Central Michigan is down two of its three opening night starters at linebacker and yet there is little drop off expected from last season's unit. Though the Chippewas lost Michael Oliver to graduation and Andrew Ward to a career-ending injury, first year linebackers coach Tim Skipper has plenty of talent to work with.
And it all starts with Brown.
Moving down from safety, Brown exceeded any and all expectations in 2019. He made 75 solo tackles, good for second in the Mid-American Conference in that category, and his 16.5 tackles for loss topped the conference charts. He was just as big a threat in the passing game, intercepting three passes.
Now, as a junior, he's seen his name all over watchlists. He was named to both the Chuck Bednarik award watchlist, which is given to the most outstanding defensive player in college football, as well as the Bronko Nagurski award watchlist, the honor given to the defensive player of the year in college football.
"(Brown)'s a playmakin' son of a gun," defensive coordinator Robb Akey said. "He's got a great football awareness to him. I think he's gained comfort knowing where to work within the package, knowing where to make some things happen."
Brown will line up as an outside linebacker, but his abilities in coverage as a converted safety will help the team in passing situations. The other outside backer is shaping up to be George Douglas, who took over after Ward's injury.
"George is another guy that has game experience for us and is going to provide a lot of that in the front," Akey said.
In the middle, the Chippewas will turn to Chuck Jones after Oliver's graduation. Jones was good at times in relief of Oliver last year, playing in all 14 games. Jones made 43 tackles, 33 being solo, in limited duty last season.
The real question is how much depth CMU has at linebacker. Outside of those three starters, a lot of the options are unproven. Corey Gildersleeve, who grayshirted in 2018 and played in three games last season to keep his redshirt, is next in line at outside linebacker. As far as the middle goes, converted running back Kuhmennu Gwilly will add depth.
There's also true freshman Jayden Cray, who comes to CMU via Sarasota, Florida as the latest addition of the Chippewas' Florida pipeline. Cray is one of seven scholarship freshmen on roster and was primarily an outside linebacker.
Ormondell Dingle is another option at outside linebacker. Dingle was a 3-star safety from Cass Technical High in Detroit as part of the 2019 class, but was called an "academic redshirt" by coach Jim McElwain and did not play last season. Logan Guthrie, another redshirt freshman, could also get time at the position.
Ke'Shon Parker and Nick Apsey are two options who also saw time last year. Apsey, who is the younger brother of former Chippewa starter Trevor Apsey, played primarily on special teams last year but could see time on defense in 2020. Parker is an outside linebacker who played in four games last year.
It's worth mentioning that junior Carlton Cleophat has returned to the program. Cleophat signed with the Chippewas as part of the 2018 class, then transferred to Bethune Cookman for a season before returning to Mount Pleasant.
"(Cleophat) will give us really some added depth at linebacker and obviously on special teams," McElwain said. "He was granted to where he didn't need to sit back on the transfer back rule."
There are plenty of names to choose from at the position, however the consistency of the starters will still be plenty important. If the trio of Brown, Douglas and Jones are able to set the tone, any added contribution is a bonus.
