The MAC East Stars of the Class 

Akron
S Joe Riggins, 6-2, 210 – Late to the Zips, all of a sudden Akron’s recruiting class looks far better after getting a possible leader for the secondary. Very big and with linebacker hitting skills, the Florida native was around several big southern programs, and Northern Illinois and Utah State were in, but he found a home in Akron where he’ll one day be a stat-sheet filler. 

Bowling Green 
QB James Morgan, 6-4, 205 – DT Nico Lautanen might turn out to be the key get as an active defender up front, but Morgan is the one who should turn heads. He’s not a runner like Bowling Green likes at times, but he’s a passer with the right size and the skills to spread the ball all over the field. Give him a few years to get up to around 220, and then he might be a true pro-style bomber to worry about. 

Buffalo
QB Tyree Jackson, 6-4, 196 – The Bulls might have their passer for the future. The Michigan native is a bit of a late bloomer, but he has a big, live arm and he could be an absolute steal with a little bit of time and polish. He’s mature enough now, and he should be a pure passer at times, but he needs a little refinement. Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan made a push, and UConn wanted him – he was a good get for UB. 

Kent State 
S P.J. Simmons, 5-11, 185 – It’s not a star-studded class, but Simmons is close with a few nice offers from Power 5 schools and the ability to become the star of the Golden Flash secondary. With linebacker hitting ability as a defensive back, he’s a natural at safety even though he could play corner if needed. Indiana, North Carolina, Vanderbilt and USF made an offer, and he could’ve had his pick of MAC and Sun Belt schools, but the Florida native made the Kent State class far better. 

Massachusetts
RB Sekai Lindsay, 5-10, 205 – It seems like UMass should get more offensive talent after such a fun and productive year, but the running backs are the key to the class with Marquis Young a bruising back and Lindsay a possible workhorse. The Florida native appeared to be destined for Pitt, but Paul Chryst took off and everything changed. NC State, USF and Georgia Tech were all interested, but he chose the Minutemen where he might be the main man for the ground attack right away. 

Miami University
LB Junior McMullen, 6-2, 225 – Carter Masek is another excellent inside linebacker prospect, and QB Billy Bahl is going to become the team’s offensive leader someday, but it’s McMullen who should shine the brightest on a RedHawk defense that needs playmakers. It was a fight to get him, and there were some Big Ten teams flirting with the idea of offering him, but MU got the man many in the MAC wanted. 

Ohio
LB Demetrius Colbert, 6-0, 230 – It looked like he’d be off to Eastern Michigan as a key part to the defensive puzzle, but instead he ended up moving over to Ohio where he should one day be the team’s leading tackler. He already has the bulk and the frame, but he needs a little bit of time and a home in the corps. He’s the type who can lead a defense, but first he’ll be a part of the rotation as the type of tackler things will be funneled to. 

MAC West Stars of the Class 

Ball State
QB Riley Neal, 6-4, 205 – With great size and big passing skills, he knows how to lead an offense and he knows how to drive the ball down the field. He might look like he’s 12-years-old, but he has an ultra-mature game with great athleticism to go along with the live arm. He was on the radar of some major schools – Georgia, Miami and Michigan – but he didn’t get any other real offers, partly because he was in with Ball State early in the process. 

Central Michigan
LB Rayshawn Wilborn, 6-4, 210 – Did the coaching drama matter at all? Apparently not to Wilborn, a special prospect for a MAC program with phenomenal upside and great athleticism for a player with his size. Is he a linebacker? Is he going to hit the weights hard and become a defensive end? San Diego State was in the hunt, and Western Michigan was a suitor, but given a little time he could be a terror of a pass rusher and disruptive force for the Chippewas. 

Eastern Michigan 
RB Breck Turner, 6-0, 195 – The Eagles desperately need to find a lot more defensive help – and this class tries to do that – but Turner is the back the offense could work around. A wee bit of a late bloomer on the recruiting trail, he was a good high school player, but he didn’t blow up until his junior year and then came up with a whopper of a senior campaign. He was good enough to get an offer from Illinois and Minnesota, and Navy was a big player in the hunt, but he was a nice get for EMU. 

Northern Illinois
OG Nathan Veloz, 6-4, 310 – How has Northern Illinois become such a MAC superpower? It always – ALWAYS – has nasty offensive linemen to work around. Veloz has tackle size, and he could end up working on the outside, but he fits the interior where he should be a massive run blocker for the always-great Huskie ground attack. It’s a wee bit telling that Wisconsin didn’t make an offer to a local talent, but don’t be fooled – he’s the real deal and should end up as a nice starter at a high level. 

Toledo
LB Chris Green, 6-1, 222 – The linebacking corps is getting some nice help with Tyler Taffe and Green. Taffe should turn out to be a playmaker on the outside, while Green should be a terror against the run in the interior. He got some nice offers from Illinois, Georgia Tech, Kentucky and West Virginia, but he should fit well for the rockets and should round out to around a 235-pound leading tackler. 

Western Michigan
S Justin Tranquill, 5-11, 195 – A fantastic get for the program, Tranquill is big, fast, and can hit like a linebacker despite his lack of size. The secondary is a big area for the Broncos this year, and while he might end up being a leading tackler if he ends up at safety, he could be a whale of a nickel back and he might become a receiver if needed. A few Big Ten schools – Purdue, Illinois and Indiana – wanted him, but he’s going to Kalamazoo.