Football coach Butch Jones said it's the most talented incoming class he's ever seen as Central Michigan.
And that's saying something, considering the last two have featured the Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year.
In each of the past two seasons, a breakout freshman has had a large part in CMU's championship run. Wide receiver Antonio Brown won the award last year and quarterback Dan LeFevour won the award after the team's conference title in 2006.
Jones said he might play 14 to 16 true freshmen this season and acknowledged the importance they have on the team.
"With so many freshmen, not only will they help us in offense and defense, but in special teams as well,"
Jones said. "You win and lose games through your special teams and we've made it an emphasis throughout training camp. It's critical that these freshmen are able to step up and contribute right away."
One position where three freshmen could see playing time is at running back. Jahleel Addae, Paris Cotton and Bryan Schroeder round out the deepest position on the team.
"(Schroeder)'s going to bring a lot to the table in terms of a bigger back,"
Jones said. "You'll see three true freshmen playing in the backfield at some point in time this year."
With Ontario Sneed and Justin Hoskins each missing significant time this summer rehabbing from injuries, Addae, who originally committed to West Virginia, also could see immediate playing time.
"I hope that's the case. We've come in, paid attention at meetings; we're picking up on the plays quick,"
Addae said. "Sometimes you get out there and there's so much tension and you tend to forget, but I think us three coming in as true freshmen right now are doing pretty good."
Josh Allison was in the program last season, yet never saw the field as he sat out his freshman year. Now the redshirt freshman Allison is looking to add to a defensive line that ranked fifth in the MAC in sacks last season with 24.
"He's a work in progress right now, so the big thing I think with Josh is just continue to work on his consistency and understanding defensive football,"
Jones said. "Josh is doing a great job for it, and we look for him to compete for a starting job."
Allison said he tries to be leader on the field and thinks other freshmen can do the same.
"(Jones) tells us all the time, you don't have to be a senior to be a leader out there. You just need that one chance,"
he said. "It doesn't matter if you're a freshman, redshirt freshman, sophomore or a junior - everyone can lead."
