YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University football program continued to add to the roster for the upcoming 2023 campaign, as the Eagles welcomed nine student-athletes to the football program Wednesday, Feb. 1, on National Signing Day. In total, EMU has added 27 fresh faces to the roster for the upcoming season after 18 players committed during the Early Signing Period in December.
The newest additions include three offensive linemen, two wide receivers, two tight end, a running back, and a defensive back. Six of the nine signees are already on campus and will be part of spring practice.
“We have started this semester with a bang – five transfers, four early enrollee freshmen, and four junior college players,” said Head Coach Chris Creighton, who is set to enter his 10th season at the school. “They are all on campus and working hard with our strength staff. Gabe Hoffmann, Chase Arrington, and Joey Mattord signed today and will join us with the rest of the incoming freshmen in June. It is a great group. We are very excited.”
Overall, the highly anticipated class is ranked second in the Mid-American Conference and 85th in the FBS by 247Sports. However, Eastern jumps to first when looking at the average points per signee at 82.78.
EMU’s average is the best since the service began tracking recruiting classes in 2011. The Green and White’s previous best recruiting class according to 247Sports came in 2018 and again in 2020 when it tied for sixth-best in the MAC.
Eastern Michigan returns to the gray turf for its first spring practice in mid-March. The session kicks off a string of 15 practice dates during a four-week period that culminates with the program’s annual spring football game in April.
Eastern Michigan is flying high after winning the 2022 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, 41-27, over San Jose State University, Dec. 20, in Boise, Idaho. It was the second postseason bowl game win for the program, and its first since it defeated the same SJSU team in the 1987 California Bowl in Fresno, Calif. The Eagles finished the season with nine wins, the second-most in program history, and in addition to the Potato Bowl championship, also earned a co-Mid-American Conference West Division title, and won the Michigan MAC trophy (three-way rivalry between EMU, CMU, and WMU) for the first time since 2012.
In the midst of one of the most successful runs in program history, Eastern Michigan has made a bowl game appearance five times since 2016, a number that ties for the most by any team in the Mid-American Conference. Additionally, the team has now played in bowl games in four consecutive seasons (excluding COVID-shortened 2020 campaign) for the first time in school history, while 13 EMU student-athletes, as of yesterday, became the first in program history to be part of four postseason bowl games in their respective careers.
The following is a roster and biographical sketches for each of EMU’s newest additions.
Chase Arrington DB 5-10 180 Fr. Pittsburgh, Pa.-North Catholic
EMU: 2023: Joins the program as an incoming recruit…HIGH SCHOOL: Played at North Catholic High school under Head Coach Patrick O’Shea…As a senior, recorded 30 tackles, three tackles-for-loss, and a sack…In 233 coverage snaps, had four pass breakups and just six catches allowed for 54 yards…In six of 10 games, did not allow a reception…Selected second team All-WPIAL at defensive back in both 2021 and 2022…In 2019, was part of the team that won the 5A WPIAL championship while the 2021 team was the runner-up…Also a member of the track team…Finished third in the 4×100 at the 2022 WPIAL Championship…PERSONAL: Full name: Chase Nasir Arrington…Son of Russ and Deonne Arrington…Has two brothers, Corey and James, and two sisters, Nia and Amara…Undecided major.
Gabe Hoffmann TE 6-6 245 Fr. Sammamish, Wash.-Eastside Catholic
EMU: 2023: Joins the program as an incoming recruit…HIGH SCHOOL: Played at Eastside Catholic High School under Head Coach Dominic Daste…Rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports…Earned first team All-3A Metro Mountain Division accolades as a senior…Had 32 catches for 540 yards and six TDs…Reeled in seven receptions for over 100 yards in an upset of powerhouse Kennedy Catholic…Overall was named to the all-metro league on three occasions in his career…Also participated in basketball and track and field…PERSONAL: Full name: Gabriel Lawrence Hoffmann…Son of Steve and Heidi Hoffmann…Dad attended the University of Washington, while his mom played basketball for the Huskies…Uncles, Dave Hoffmann and Brock Huard, both played at UW and in the NFL…Has a brother, Josh, and a sister, Emily…Business major.
C.J. Horton TE 6-5 230 Jr. Fort Scott, Kan.-Fort Scott-Kansas State-Iowa Western
EMU: 2023: Transferred to EMU from Iowa Western Community College…Enrolled in classes for the winter semester…IOWA WESTERN: Played in 17 career games, recording 18 catches for 179 yards and three touchdowns…Twice earned honorable mention all-conference accolades…Won the 2022 NJCAA National Championship…2022: Played in 10 games, posting nine receptions for 93 yards and two scores…Had a season-best grab of 31 yards…Helped the program collect its second national title in a dominating performance over Hutchinson (11-1)…2021: Played in seven games, recording nine catches for 86 yards and a TD…Hauled in a 53 yard reception…KANSAS STATE: 2020: Did not see any game action…HIGH SCHOOL: Played at Fort Scott under head coaches Bob Campbell and Bo Graham…Earned honorable mention all-state honors as a senior from both the Topeka Capital-Journal and Wichita Eagle…Selected to play in the Kansas Shrine Bowl…A four-year member of the honor roll…PERSONAL: Full name: Curtis Franklin Horton…Son of Curtis and Cetra Horton…Has a sister, Carley…Engineering major.
Terry Lockett Jr. WR 6-0 180 Jr. Minneapolis, Minn.-Minnehaha Academy-Michigan State
EMU: 2023: Transferred to EMU from Michigan State University…Enrolled in classes for the winter semester…MICHIGAN STATE: Two-year letterwinner that played in 15 career games for the Spartans…Recorded four catches for 22 yards…2022: Did not see game action…2021: Earned Academic All-Big Ten accolades…Played in nine of the 13 games, snaring three catches for 17 yards in 49 total offensive snaps…Played nine snaps vs. Maryland…Logged one catch for four yards at Miami, in playing 12 snaps…Was in on season-high 15 snaps in Youngstown State game, registering two catches for 14 yards…2020: Played in six games to earn his first letter…Played in 30 offensive snaps along with special teams…Saw action on two snaps in the Northwestern game…Had the first catch of his Spartan career at Iowa, going for four yards…Played 22 snaps at Michigan…Made his debut in the season opener versus Rutgers, seeing action on special teams and one offensive snap…HIGH SCHOOL: Ranked the top wide receiver prospect in the Class of 2020 in the state of Minnesota by 247Sports…Rated one of the best overall players in the state of Minnesota by Rivals.com (No. 2), 247Sports (No. 6), and ESPN.com (No. 8)…Listed as one of the top “athletes” in the nation by Rivals.com (No. 6)…Speedy wide receiver for the St. Paul Academy/Minnehaha Academy/Blake team that finished as Class 4A runner-up…Named to the Minnesota Vikings All-State Football Team, and was presented an award at the Vikings game at US Bank Stadium…Earned Minneapolis Star Tribune All-Metro second-team offense honors…Tallied 53 receptions for 1,030 yards with 14 TDs in 10 games as a senior…Recorded 27 receptions for 423 yards and seven TDs in five postseason games, including eight catches for 178 yards and three TDs in 36-30 win over Benilde-St Margarets in the Class 4A, Section 5 final, highlighted by a leaping TD catch for the game-winner with 44 seconds left, capping SMB’s 13-point second-half comeback to get into the state tournament…A two-sport standout, also excelled in basketball, helping Minnehaha Academy to its second straight Class 2A state title as a sophomore in 2018…Started as a sophomore at Minnehaha, moved to Ohio to play basketball at the SPIRE Institute and football at Ashtabula St. John’s before returning to Minnehaha as a senior…Played junior season of football at Ashtabula St. John, while playing basketball at SPIRE Academy in Ohio, where his father, Terry Lockett Sr., was assistant coach, and was teammates with former Michigan State men’s basketball guard Rocket Watts, as the team made a run to the Elite 8 of the 2018 Prep School National Championships, averaging 11.8 points, 4.6 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game…In his first football game at Ashtabula St. John, caught a 67-yard TD catch…Had six catches for 134 yards and three TDs in the second game, while only playing the first half…PERSONAL: Full name: Terry Lamont Lockett Jr….Son of Terry Lockett Sr. and Erin Hottinger…Has a brother, Tyree, and two sisters, Aejah and Alexis…Business major.
Joey Mattord RB 6-1 180 Fr. Hartland Mich.-Hartland
EMU: 2023: Joins the program as an incoming recruit…HIGH SCHOOL: Played at Hartland High school under Head Coach Brian Savage…. Eclipsed the 2,000-yards rushing in his career…As a senior in 2022, ran for 1,311 yards and 17 touchdowns…Accounted for 78 percent of the Eagles’ rushing yards…Had a punt return, an interception, and threw a passing TD…Finished the year with 21 total scores…Named the Livingston County Offensive Player of the Year…Selected all-conference at running back and linebacker in 2022…Took part in the Legacy Senior All-Star Game…Ran 29 times for 296 yards and all four touchdowns in a 29-7 victory over Howell, breaking free for scoring runs of 73 and 55 yards…Ran 12 times for 285 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-10 victory over Salem and ran 16 times for 184 yards and five touchdowns in a 48-20 victory over Plymouth…Also took a punt return 42 yards to the house in the Plymouth game, becoming the first Livingston County player since Brighton running back Joey Clifford in 2014 to score six touchdowns in a game…As a junior was the only player to rush for 1,000 yards in Livingston County, running 174 times for 1,109 yards and 13 touchdowns…Is also a key member of a lacrosse team that won the state Division 1 championship in June 2022, scoring 14 goals and adding 15 assists…PERSONAL: Full name: Joey Mattord…Son of Joe and Erin Mattord…Has two brothers, Jake and Austin, and a sister, Kayleen…Digital media production major.
Chris Mayo OL 6-5 310 Jr. Deptford, N.J.-The Peddie School-West Virginia
EMU: 2023: Transferred to EMU from West Virginia University…Enrolled in classes for the winter semester…WEST VIRGINIA: 2022: Played in one game versus Towson…Saw 22 total snaps as a Mountaineer….Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll…2021: Redshirted…2020: Did not see game action during the COVID season…HIGH SCHOOL: Rated as a four-star recruit and the No. 19 offensive guard in the 2020 class by ESPN…Three-star rating by rivals and 247SportsPlayed offensive guard for Coach Christopher Malleo at The Peddie School…A first team All-MAPL (Mid-Atlantic Prep League) selection in his senior season at the Peddie School…2019 Mercer County Prep Offensive Lineman of the Year…Helped the Falcons to an 8-0 record and the MAPL Championship in 2019…Anchored an offensive line that helped Peddie’s offense to 1,700 rushing yards in 2019…Allowed just one sack in 142 pass attempts by Peddie…Named to the MAPL First Team for the first time as a junior…Earned Second-Team All-MAPL honors after helping the Falcons to a share of the MAPL Championship as a sophomore in 2017…Also offered by Arizona State, Auburn, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Nebraska, North Carolina, Pitt, Purdue, Rutgers, Syracuse, Tennessee, UCLA, Virginia and Wake Forest…Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll…PERSONAL: Full name: Christopher Elijah Hairston Mayo…Son of Eli and Tia Mayo…Has a brother, Kori…African American History major.
Owen Snively OL 6-4 310 Jr. Fremont, N.H.-Tilton-Colorado State
EMU: 2023: Transferred to EMU from Colorado State University…Enrolled in classes for the winter semester…COLORADO STATE: 2022: Did not see game action…2021: Did not see game action…2020: Redshirted…HIGH SCHOOL: A three-star recruit by Rivals and 247Sports…Coached by Matt Dawson…Played three sports in high school, including baseball and hockey…A two-way performer on football, playing offensive and defensive line…PERSONAL: Full name: Owen B. Snively…Son fof Robert and Marcia Snively…Has a sister, Shannon….Communications major.
Dan Sunderman OL 6-5 315 Gr. Omaha, Neb.-Millard South-Central Missouri
EMU: 2023: Transferred to EMU from the University of Central Missouri…Enrolled in classes for the winter semester…UCM: 2022: Voted Second Team All-MIAA…Started in all 11 games for the Mules and helped UCM rank third in the MIAA in passing yards with 2,712 yards…2021: Started on the offensive line for UCM in all 11 games…Second Team All-MIAA offensive lineman…Named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll…2020: Team did not play due to COVID-19…2019: Jumped into the Mules starting lineup and started all 13 games at left guard…Helped lead the Mules offense to No. 1 rankings in the MIAA in scoring, total offense, and passing offense…UCM scored 31 rushing touchdowns and gained more than 200 yards per game on the ground…Made the All-MIAA Third Team as an offensive lineman, the only freshman offensive lineman to make the All-MIAA First, Second or Third Team…2018: Redshirted and did not appear in any games…HIGH SCHOOL: Played under head coach Andy Means at Millard South High School…Earned All-State and All-Metro honors during his prep career… Selected to play in the Shrine Bowl…Also competed in track and field…Named to the honor roll from 2016-2018…PERSONAL: Full name: Daniel Robert Sunderman…Son of Kurt and Holly Sunderman…Has a brother, Jake…Working on his MBA.
Javon Swinton WR 6-1 185 Jr. Stafford, Va.-North Stafford-Indiana
EMU: 2023: Transferred to EMU from the University of Indiana…Enrolled in classes for the winter semester…INDIANA: Appeared in 28 games for the Hoosiers…Recorded 31 catches for 289 yards and a score...2022: Appeared in nine games with one start…Caught two passes for eight yards against Illinois (Sept. 2)…Made three catches for 28 yards against Western Kentucky (Sept. 17)…Caught two passes for 33 yards at Nebraska…Career long catch of 28 yards in the second quarter against the Huskers (Oct. 1)…Caught three balls for 41 yards at Rutgers (Oct. 22)…Caught two passes for 12 yards against No. 16 Penn State (Nov. 5)…2021: Played in 11 games with one start…Caught 15 passes for 115 yards and one touchdown…Returned a blocked punt for a four-yard TD in the Idaho win (Sept. 11)…Also made three receptions for 33 yards and his first career score…Pulled in a career-high four balls against No. 10 Michigan State (Oct. 16)…IU special teams player of the week (Idaho)…2020: Appeared in all eight games and made his first career start in the Outback Bowl vs. Ole Miss (Jan. 2)…Caught four passes for 52 yards…Made a pair of catches for 23 yards in his collegiate debut and the season-opening win over No. 8 Penn State (Oct. 24)…HIGH SCHOOL: Wide receiver and cornerback for head coach Neil Sullivan at North Stafford High School…Two-time all-region selection…Posted 48 catches for 858 yards and 13 touchdowns his senior season…Added 46 tackles, two interceptions, seven pass breakups, and one forced fumble…Made 26 receptions for 632 yards (24.3 average), and 10 touchdowns in 2018…Ranked the No. 20 prospect in Virginia by Rivals…Also lettered in basketball…North Stafford’s all-time leading scorer…Named the 2019 Free-Lance Star Boys Basketball Player of the Year…Averaged 27.0 points per game…PERSONAL: Full name: Javon Swinton…Son of Gene Swinton and Tiffany Hunter…Has a brother, Julian, and two sisters, Kianna and Brittany…Individualized studies major.
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