Injury, depth chart update heading into CMU's Week 2 matchup
Redshirt freshman safety Devonni Reed is excited to run onto the gridiron on Sept. 8 to Kelly/Shorts Stadium packed with fans cheering for the Central Michigan football team.
It's CMU's first home game of the season, and the battle against Big 12 Conference opponent Kansas is just four days away.
The two programs face off at 3 p.m. on Saturday in Mount Pleasant.
Injury Report
In its 35-20 loss to Kentucky, CMU was without linebacker Alex Briones, tight end Logan Hessbrook and wide receiver Devon Spalding.
Briones, out for a non-injury related issue against the Wildcats, will be back for Week 2 and starting at one of the linebacker positions.
Spalding, one of four team captains, will be active and ready to play after making an offseason switch from running back to wide receiver.
The CMU coaching staff is currently waiting to hear back on Hessbrook, who has been day-to-day with a concussion. He is in return to play protocol but everything is out of Bonamego's hands.
"When someone is in that concussion protocol, it takes time," Bonamego said. "We are completely hands off because that is strictly our medical staff. When they say he's ready to go, we will return him.
"He did practice (on Tuesday), so I'm encouraged by that."
Third-string running back Romello Ross is also injured and will not play.
Jerrod Davis, the return man for the Chippewas, is not expected to go against the Jayhawks. He could be out for near six weeks due to an injury suffered against Kentucky. Look for true freshman Kobe Lewis to fill the void at that spot in the time being.
Updated Depth Chart
Central Michigan released its second depth chart of the season and it lists former Michigan kicker Ryan Tice as the kickoff starter, along with junior Kaden Keon.
The position lists both as the starter, so expect it to be a kicker-by-committee situation until one emerges.
Bonamego also noted that Tice will work in long field goal situations, while Michael Armstrong handles the short to medium range kicks.
Senior backup safety Tyjuan Swain and senior backup linebacker Trevor Apsey will miss the first half against Kansas due to targeting penalties near the end of the game against Kentucky.
“The two examples that happened with our two players are bang-bang plays," Bonamego said after CMU's 35-10 loss to Kentucky. "It wasn’t a case where they were leading with the head or anything like that. Those things happen in football. We teach five different techniques in tackling and it really depends on how we relate to the ball and where we are trying to leverage the ball."
To fill Apsey's void, expect redshirt freshman George Douglas, junior Christian Mercer or redshirt freshman Troy Brown to snag a few extra snaps in the first half.
At Swain's position, fellow backup Da'Quaun Jamison will be on double-duty until his teammate returns in the second half.
"Just seeing how some of the injuries shake out, the depth chart will be pretty much the same," Bonamego said. "The starting lineup in today's day is overrated because you have so many personnel groupings."
Odds Against Kansas
On Sunday, the Chippewas opened as a 7.0-point favorite against Kansas. Two days later, and CMU's line was down to a 4.5-point favorite. On Friday, the Chippewas jumped up to projected a 5.0-point advantage.
Between the two teams, the over/under for total points sits at 49.5 heading into Saturday's battle.
