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2009 Eastern Michigan Football Recruiting Report

2009 EMU Overview:

The Eagles signed 22 players from nine different states, and one each from Washington DC and Canada. Included in the recruiting class are four players from the state of Michigan, three each from Ohio and Illinois, two apiece from Texas, Indiana, California and Canada, and one from the states of Florida, Washington D.C., South Carolina and North Carolina. Of the 22 recruits fifteen are slated for defense with seven listed for offense. The breakdown goes like this; five linebackers, five defensive linemen and five defensive backs along with two quarterbacks, two tight ends, two wide receivers and one offensive lineman. Four JUCOs are a part of this class.

Top Players for EMU:

• Devontae Payne, QB, 6-6, 238, Cleveland, OH (South)

  Rated as the #11 overall prospect in Ohio by Ohio High. Listed as the #66 QB in the nation by ESPN/Scout. A “Byron Leftwich” clone. League MVP in a conference that has famed Cleveland Glenville. Chose EMU over Toledo among others.

• Orlando McCord, DE, 6-4, 260, Detroit, MI (Martin Luther King)

  Rated the #207 DE prospect in the nation by ESPN/Scout and listed as the #43 player in the state of Michigan. Recruited by the Michigan MAC schools, Toledo and Ball State.

• Delano Johnson, DE, 6-4, 275 Concord, NC (College of the Sequoias J.C.)

  An instant impact player who was recruited by PAC 10 and Mountain West schools. Three-star recruit by Rivals. One of three recruits in this class from the College of the Sequoias.

Sleepers in the EMU Recruiting Class:

• Darius Moffett, LB, 6-3, 220, Chicago, IL (Hubbard)

  Listed as the #63 ILB prospect in nation by ESPN/Scout. Recruited by Big Ten and Big 12 schools. A three-star recruit by Rivals. Chicago Public League Defensive Player of the Year after compiling 146 tackles with 10 sacks. Received serious recruiting interests from Illinois and Colorado but academics were an issue. According to The Ann Arbor News, “If he qualifies, he'll be a no-brainer.”

• Kinsman Thomas, WR, 6-3, 202 Bennettsville, SC ( Marlboro County)

  Two-time All-State wide receiver in the state of South Carolina and pre-season Top 25 overall prospect in the state heading into his senior season. A three-star recruit by Rivals. Listed as the #174 ‘athlete’ in the nation by ESPN/Scout. Recruited by NC State.

Final Analysis for EMU:

The Eagles rarely have recruiting classes ranked very high but if you look at NFL rosters, you will see a few EMU grads playing on Sundays. This class kind of typifies that statement. Outside of Payne, Moffett and the JUCOs, most of this class was not highly recruited by other DI-A schools. Still, players like McCord, Matthew Boyd, Nick Olds and Garrett Hoskins who all flew under the recruiting radar could easily become the next Dan Holtzclaw. Overall this class rates as GOOD compared to other MAC schools but new coach Ron English did bring in players who can both help his program immediately and in the near future.

> Official 2009 Eastern Michigan Football Recruits Press Release

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