Football signs six recruits on 2019 National Signing Day, completes 24-man class
Central Michigan football signed 18 prospects during early signing day on Dec. 19.
Since McElwain was just three weeks into his head coaching tenure with the Chippewas at the first signing period, he had more recruiting in-store throughout the end of December, January and early February.
On Feb. 6, annual National Signing Day, CMU inked six more prospects, putting 24 new players on scholarship to join the team in the 2019 season.
Of the six recruits, offensive lineman Jake Dominguez is the only transfer signee. He comes to Mount Pleasant from Foothill College, an NJCAA program in Los Altos Hills, California.
The class of 2019 high school signees are defensive lineman Jacques Bristol, defensive end Fred Stokes, punter Luke Elzinga, offensive lineman Deiyantei Powell and safety Trey Jones.
Jake Dominguez
The 6-foot-5, 280-pound offensive tackle officially visited CMU on Jan. 19 and made a decision to commit to the Chippewas on Jan. 24. Despite offensive line coach Derek Frazier leaving for the New York Jets, Dominguez held true to his pledge.
From Foothill College (JUCO), Dominguez has three years of eligibility remaining and will be able to play immediately.
"I really enjoyed getting to know him during the recruiting process and he will be a great fit into our program and the offensive line room," McElwain said.
He sat out his freshman season but played as a sophomore in 2018. For his efforts last campaign, Dominguez was named to the All-California First Team Offense at the NJCAA level.
Jacques Bristol
Bristol was offered by CMU on Dec. 13, took an official visit on Jan. 26 and committed two days following the trip. The reason for his commitment – defensive line coach Justin Hinds and defensive coordinator Robb Akey.
"They were very welcoming as soon as I met them," Bristol said. "They treat me like family. It felt like home when I was there, and I feel like God put me there for a reason."
Bristol said he will get to CMU sometime during the summer to begin preparing for the 2019 season.
The 6-foot, 285-pound defensive end from Booker High School in Sarasota, Florida is expected to play in the three-technique, which is a defensive lineman who typically lines up not he outside shoulder of a guard.
"I am looking forward to the toughness and intensity he will bring into our locker room," McElwain said.
Bristol began playing football when he was six years old. His cousin, Abe Brown, played at Louisville from 2003-06 as a defensive back.
Fred Stokes
Hailing from Montini Catholic High School in Westchester, Illinois, Stokes officially visited CMU on Jan. 26 and committed two days later.
He's now officially a Chippewa.
"The first thing that you notice about Fred is his length," McElwain said. "He is an extremely gifted basketball player, and that athleticism and explosiveness really shines when he’s coming off the edge."
During the trip, Stokes was intrigued with Akey's direction for the defense. A season ago, the Chippewas were fourth among 12 Mid-American Conference teams in total defense and first against the pass.
Stokes mentioned Akey is focused on more of the same for CMU in 2019 and seasons to come.
"I can tell he will push me and the team in a very positive direction," Stokes said. "He's a great person."
Luke Elzinga
Not often does a punter pull a scholarship offer straight out of high school. For the most part, one is added as a walk-on and must prove themselves scholarship worthy.
Elzinga is unlike most as a 6-foot-4, 197-pound star from Grand Rapids Christian.
He took an official visit on Jan. 26, felt the energy of special teams coordinator Ryan Beard and committed to play for CMU on Jan. 30.
"The coaching staff is new, fired up and ready to turn the program around," Elzinga said. "That got me pumped."
Now that Elzinga has signed with CMU, he's looking forward to becoming a program changer.
Deiyantei Powell
Powell, at 6-foot-5, 270 pounds, played both offensive and defensive line for Bluefield High School in West Virginia. He was offered by CMU on Jan. 28, officially visited on Feb. 2 and committed at the end of his trip on Feb. 3.
Expect Powell to work specifically on offense under new offensive line coach coach Mike Cummings.
"He likes how I pull and get into open space to make the block," Powell said. "I could play guard or tackle, so we'll just see what goes better with the program."
When Cummings was the offensive coordinator at CMU for four years (2009-13), he was responsible for offensive tackle Eric Fisher, who was selected first overall in the 2013 NFL Draft.
Powell hopes to become the next Fisher.
Trey Jones
Committing and signing on Feb. 6, Jones picked the Chippewas over Alabama A&M, Jacksonville State, Morgan State, South Alabama, Toledo, North Alabama, Austin Peay, Alcorn State and Tennessee State.
Jones' official visit from Feb. 1-3 sealed the deal.
"When I took the visit, it felt like a home away from home," Jones said. "The coaches are great, the players are great and it just felt like home."
As a senior at Wetumpka, the 6-foot-2, 190-pound safety made 63 tackles, 12 pass breakups, four interceptions and four tackles for a loss in the 2018 season.
Central Michigan's 2019 National Signing Day signees (6):
Foothill College OT Jake Dominguez
Sarasota (Fla.) Booker DE Jacques Bristol
Westchester (Ill.) Montini Catholic DL Fred Stokes
Grand Rapids (Mich.) Christian P Luke Elzinga
Bluefield (W.Va.) OL Deiyantei Powell
Wetumpka (Ala.) S Trey Jones
Central Michigan's 2019 early signees (18):
Houston grad transfer QB Quinten Dormandy
Garden City Community College QB David Moore
Independence Community College CB Dishon McNary
Detroit (Mich.) Martin Luther King 3-star WR Darrell Wyatt
Bloomfield Hills (Mich.) Brother Rice DE Max Saylor
Warren (Mich.) De La Salle 3-star OL Danny Motowski
Hollywood (Fla.) Miami Carol City 3-star QB Daniel Richardson
Haines City (Fla.) Senior 3-star OT Cameron Vaughn
Plant City (Fla.) Durant 3-star CB Demarcus Governor
Alpena (Mich.) LB Logan Guthrie
Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech 3-star RB Lew Nichols
Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech 3-star ATH Kyron McKinnie-Harper
Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech 3-star S Ormondell Dingle
Flossmoor (Ill.) Homewood-Flossmoor LB Justin Whiteside
River Rouge (Mich.) CB Kamal Hadden
Jacksonville (Fla.) Westside 3-star WR/TE Javon Gantt
Pembroke Pines (Fla.) Somerset Academy Charter OT Vashon Bailey
Montclair (N.J.) RB Joshua Crawford
