Central Michigan Football: All-Decade Team
The past decade got off to a rough start for Central Michigan football fans. While the program had several fine individual players come through it from 200-2004, the wins just did not follow.
Advertisement
In 2005, that all began to change as the Chippewas went 6-5 for their first winning season since 1998. Since then, the Chippewas have closed out the decade with three MAC Championships and four bowl appearances.
Along the way, Chippewa fans have been treated to several memorable individual performances by a variety of special players.
With that said, Chippewacountry brings you the Central Michigan Football All-Decade Team:
1ST TEAM
OFFENSE
QB: Dan LeFevour 2006-09-No explanation needed but we'll give a quick one. Name is littered throughout the CMU record books. National touchdowns record holder. 4 bowl games. 3 conference championships. 4-0 vs. Western Michigan. Any questions?
RB: Robbie Mixon 1999-02- Battled injuries early in his career but bounced back as a senior to the tune of 1,363 yards and 9 touchdowns. Also had 26 catches and a score. Mixon set a MAC single game record in 2002 with 377 yards rushing against Eastern Michigan. 2nd Team All-MAC as a senior. Team MVP as a senior.
FB: Adam Supianoski 2000-03- The lead blocker for a 1,000 yard rusher all four years that he started.
TE: Tory Humphrey 2001-04- Playing in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers. Four year starter who didn't put up awesome numbers but was a great blocker and a lack of numbers had more to do with quarterback issues than anything else.
WR: Bryan Anderson 2006-09-NCAA record holder for consecutive catches in a game. Reliable target for Lefevour for four years.
WR: Antonio Brown 2007-09- One of the most explosive playmakers in the country. A threat to score any time he touches the ball. 22 career receiving touchdowns. All-American as a junior.
WR: Damien Linson 2003-06- CMU's leader in receiving yards as a sophomore and a junior. 55 catches and 5 touchdowns as a senior when CMU won the MAC champhionship and the Motor City Bowl. Made a lot of big catches in big games.
WR: Justin Harper 2002-05- Receptions leader as a junior and a senior. Harper seemingly didn't drop a ball during his four years at CMU.
LT: Joe Staley 2003-06- 1st Team All-MAC as a senior. Now a starter for the San Francisco 49ers.
LG:Allen Ollenburger 2006-09- First Team All-MAC as a senior in 2009. A part of three MAC Championship teams. Came to CMU as a tight end and accepted a position switch that turned out pretty well for him.
C: Eric Ghiaciuc 2002-04- Has been playing in the NFL for the Cincinnati Bengals and most recently, the Kansas City Chiefs.
RG: Drew Mormino 2003-06- 2nd team All-MAC as a senior. Had a brief stay in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins.
RT: Adam Kieft 2001-04- 1st Team All-MAC as a senior and 2nd Team as a junior. Was with the Cincinatti Bengals for a while before injuries derailed his career.
DEFENSE
DE: Dan Bazuin 2003-06- Owns CMU career record for sacks with 35.5 and also the season record with 16. 1st Team All-MAC as a sophomore, junior, and senior. Injuries have hurt his NFL career but he is still with Houston Texans.
DT: Steven Friend 2004-07- Third Team All-MAC as a senior and 2nd Team All-MAC as a junior. An absolute force to be reckoned with in the middle.
DT: Tony Thompson 2002-05- He probably never received the recognition he deserved but he was as four year starter and a very strong gap plugger against the run.
DE: Cullen Jenkins 1999-02- Has enjoyed a productive career with the Green Bay Packers at both the tackle and end spots. Was a defensive end at CMU.
LB: Ike Brown 2003-205, 2007-Spent some time with the Atlanta Falcons. First Team All-MAC as a senior. One of the hardest hitters CMU has had. Recipient of the Kurt Dobronski, which is for the CMU senior who demonstrates great effort, intensity and appreciation for the CMU football program.
LB: Red Keith 2004-07- 148 tackles as a senior. First Team All-MAC as a senior and junior. 2nd team All-MAC as a sophomore.
LB: Nick Bellore 2007-09- 1st team All-MAC as a sophomore and a junior. Has three 100 plus tackle seasons.
CB: Josh Gordy 2006-09- Second Team All-MAC as a senior in 2009. He has been CMU's most reliable cover corner for the last four years. He is a part of 3 MAC Championship teams and has made several big interceptions along the way.
CB: Tedaro France 1998-01- First Team All-MAC as a senior. Recorded two interceptions as a senior and was also the team's punt and kick returner. Tied for 7th all time at CMU with 11 career interceptions.
FS: Brian Leigeb 1997-00- 2nd Team All-MAC as a senior and spent some time in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles. Owns the CMU record for tackles in a game with 26. CMU's career leading tackler with 490.
SS: James King 2001-04- 143 tackles as a junior in 2003. Blocked 4 punts in a game against Michigan State in 2001 and would end up with 8 on the season, a CMU single season record. Fourth all-time leading tackler at CMU with 408. Second Team All-MAC as a junior and a senior.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker: Andrew Aguila 2007-09- If the game winner vs. MSU didn't lock this spot up for Aguila, than the onside kick beforehand should have. He was third team All-MAC in 2008 and has been very reliable for an offense that has forced him to be on the field a lot kicking extra points. CMU record holder for career PATs with 156.
Punter: Brian Brandt 2000-03- Second all-time in season punt average with 43.1 yards per punt in 2003.
2ND TEAM
OFFENSE
Brian Brunner 2005-08- A concussion and the emergence of Dan Lefevour prevented him from seeing the field as much as it was thought he would when he came to CMU. However, he was a consummate team leader and when he played, he did nothing but win and put up big numbers. As a senior, led the team to victories over Western Michigan and Indiana. Against Indiana, threw for 485 yards and 4 touchdowns.
RB: Ontario Sneed 2005-08- Four year starter and an Honorable Mention All-MAC selection as a freshman when he rushed for 1,065 yards and 8 touchdowns and caught 51 passes for 3 touchdowns. Was also always a threat to catch the ball out of the backfield. Had 39 career touchdowns with 26 rushing and 13 receiving.
FB: Terrance Jackson 2000-03- Came to CMU as a fullback but also played tailback. Team MVP in 2001 after rushing for 1,194 yards. Very powerful and tough to bring down.
TE: Jacob Brown 2001-03, 2005- Injuries and position switches made his career somewhat rocky. However, as an undersized tight end in 2005, he had 33 catches for 429 yards and 3 touchdowns. His final touchdown was in his last game against Ball State. It was the game winner and gave CMU its first winning season since 1998.
WR: Kito Poblah 2007-09- While he has been overshadowed by some of his other teammates, Poblah has made big plays while also being a very reliable possession receiver. Also an excellent downfield blocker.
WR: Justin Gardner 2004-07- A former walk-on who developed into a steady possession receiver that was a key contributor on two MAC Championship teams.
WR: Rob Turner 1999-02- CMU's leading receiver as a junior and a senior. Turner had reliable hands and was physically gifted. One can only imagine what he could have done in the spread with Lefevour or Brunner throwing to him.
LT: Andrew Hartline 2005-08- 1st Team All-MAC as a senior. 2nd Team All-MAC as a junior and sophomore. Part of two conference championship teams.
LG: Kyle Croskey 1999-02- A road grader for some offenses that ran the ball very well. 1st Team All-Conference as a senior.
C: Colin Miller 2007-09- Starter since his redshirt freshman season. Part of two MAC Championship teams. 2nd team All-MAC as a junior in 2009.
RG: Eric Tunney 2005-07- 3rd Team All-Conference as a senior. Part of two MAC Championship teams.
RT: Jeff Jenerou 2002-05- 2nd Team All-Conference as a senior.
DEFENSE
DE: Frank Zombo 2006-09- First Team All-MAC as a junior and a senior. Part of three MAC championship teams.
DT: Sean Murnane 2007-09- Third Team All-MAC in 2009.
DT: Casey Droscha 2005-08- Never had the prototypical size of a Division One defensive tackle. However, was a disruptive force because no one could match his heart, drive, and quickness off the ball.
DE: Matt Wohlgemuth 2000-03- Played both tackle and end at CMU. Was a continual disruptive force and was constantly drawing double teams.
LB: Doug Kress 2003-06- Honorable Mention All-MAC as a senior. A part of the 2006 MAC Champion team and Motor City Bowl victors. 111 tackles as a senior and also had an interception that clinched the Motor City Bowl win against Middle Tennessee State.
LB: Jovan Clarke 2001-02- As a senior, recorded 107 tackles, 20 for loss and 4 sacks.
LB: Darvin Lewis 1999-02- Spent time in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles. Had 100 plus tackle seasons as both a sophomore and a junior.
CB: Marlin Maxwell 2003-05- A big hitter and always solid in coverage.
CB: Pacino Horne 2005-06- Not flashy but was very reliable and a big reason why the 2006 defense was as solid as it was.
FS: Curtis Cutts 2004-07- Two year starter and a part of two MAC Championship teams. A hard hitter who had 29 career tackles.
SS: Eric Fraser 2006-09- Injuries have derailed his career quite a bit. However, you can't ignore his hard hitting style of play or the amount of big plays he made as a freshman that were a big part of CMU having the successful season it did.