Chad Ryland – Noteworthy
SEPT 10 MAC WEST DIVISION SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Eastern Michigan K Chad Ryland…Eastern Michigan freshman kicker Chad Ryland (Lebanon, Pa.) drilled a 24-yard field goal as time expired for a 20-19 win at Purdue on Sept. 8. For the game, Ryland added two field goals and pair of PATs to his collegiate resume. The win was Eastern Michigan’s second-ever victory over an ‘Autonomous Conference’ opponent. With the victory at Purdue, Eastern Michigan has beaten a Big Ten Conference opponent in back-to-back seasons as last year’s win came in a 16-13 victory at Rutgers. – MAC Football
Jake Julien – Noteworthy
SEPT 17 MAC WEST DIVISION SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Eastern Michigan P Jake Julien…Eastern Michigan sophomore punter Jake Julien (Barrie, Ontario, Canada) had five punts for 245 yards and a 49.0 average in a 35-28 loss at Buffalo. Two of his punts registering for over 50 yards, including a long of 68-yards that pinned Buffalo at their own eight-yard line. His 68-yard punt was the longest from by an Eastern Michigan player since Brogan Roback’s 66-yard effort against Kentucky last season. Overall, Julien ranks eighth nationally in punting average at 46.3 yards per boot. – MAC Football
Maxx Crosby – Noteworthy
SEPT 24 MAC WEST DIVISION Defensive Player of the Week: Eastern Michigan DE Maxx Crosby…Eastern Michigan junior defensive end Maxx Crosby (Colleyville, Texas) tallied a career-high eight tackles, 2.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss in a 23-20 OT loss at San Diego State. It marked the fourth multi-sack game of his career. He was part of an Eastern Michigan’s defense allowed San Diego State just 100 yards and a field goal in the second half. It marked the third-straight game this season that the Eagles had limited an opponent to less than 175 yards in the final 30 minutes. For the season, Crosby ranks second in the MAC and seventh nationally with 3.5 sacks. Crosby’s 16.0 career sacks are slotted fourth in the Eastern Michigan record books and he trails Kevin Howe’s third-ranked mark by 1.5, while he is 9.0 off Avery Brown’s program record. – MAC Football
Tyler Wiegers – Noteworthy
SEPT 10 MAC WEST DIVISION OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Eastern Michigan QB Tyler Wiegers…Eastern Michigan graduate transfer Tyler Wiegers (Lake Orion, Mich.) was 20-28 passing for 312 yards and one touchdown in leading the Eagles to a 20-19 win at Purdue on Sept. 8. His 312-yard performance at Purdue was the most for any Eastern Michigan quarterback since Brogan Roback’s 328-yard performance in the Bahamas Bowl, Dec. 23, 2016. Wiegers’ 75-yard touchdown pass to Mathew Sexton was the longest toss since the 2016 campaign, and it was only the third reception of 75-or-more yards since 2010 for Eastern Michigan. With the victory at Purdue, the Eagles have beat a Big Ten Conference opponent in back-to-back seasons, including last year’s 16-13 victory at Rutgers. – MAC Football