Spring 2020 the Miami University Football Team Had a Banner Year in 2019, Capturing Its First MAC Champion- Ship Since 2010 with a 26-21 Win Over Central Michigan
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2019 Spring Preview: RedHawks MAC Title Defense Begins Spring 2020 The Miami University football team had a banner year in 2019, capturing its first MAC Champion- ship since 2010 with a 26-21 win over Central Michigan. While some may have been surprised that such a young team could win a game at Ford Field, those closest to the program knew the 2020 Football Schedule RedHawks had something special building in Oxford, Ohio. Date Opponent Time Sept. 5 at Pittsburgh TBA Over its last 31 conference games the RedHawks are an astonishing 23-8, tops in the conference. Sept. 12 Arkansas Pine Bluff TBA The RedHawks have also been bowl eligible in three of the last four seasons after being bowl Sept. 19 Cincinnati TBA eligible just twice from 2006-15. Sept. 26 at Akron TBA Oct. 3 Army TBA Offensively, Miami returns 10 starters from last season’s squad that averaged 24.2 points per Oct. 10 at Bowling Green TBA game in 2019. Not bad considering Miami started four true freshman on offense and will still have just five senior expected starters when 2020 begins. Oct. 17 Ohio TBA Oct. 24 at Central Michigan TBA Defensively, Miami returns seven starters that helped the RedHawks finish as one of the top Oct. 31 Ball State TBA defenses in the MAC in total scoring (22.5, 2nd), total defense (352.9, 3rd), pass defense (175.9, Nov. 10 at Buffalo TBA 1st) and sacks (27, 2nd). Nov. 17 Kent State TBA Nov. 27 Eastern Michigan TBA The biggest question Miami will have to answer is at special teams. Gone are All-MAC performers Sam Sloman, Kyle Kramer and Maurice Thomas. *MAC Game Home games in bold A breakdown of all positions can be found below. 2019 Results Date Opponent Result Quick Facts Football Staff Head Coach ............................... Chuck Martin (Milikin, 1990) Aug. 31 at Iowa L, 38-14 School .................................................................. Miami University Location .........................................................Oxford, Ohio 45056 Record at Miami ...........................................30-47 (six seasons) Career Record as Head Coach ...............104-52 (12 seasons) Sept. 7 Tennessee Tech W, 48-17 Founded...................................................................................... 1809 Associate Head Coach/Co-Offensive Coordinator/OL Enrollment ..............................................................................17,557 Sept. 14 at Cincinnati L, 35-13 .........................................................................George Barnett (seventh season) Sept. 21 at Ohio State L, 76-5 Nickname ........................................................................RedHawks Co-Offensive Coordinator/QBs ..........Eric Koehler (seventh season) Colors .............................................................................Red & White Sept. 28 Buffalo W, 34-20 Co-Defensive Coordinator/LBs..................Spence Nowinsky (third season) Affiliation ...............................................................NCAA Division I Co-Defensive Coordinator/CBs ........John Hauser (seventh season) Oct. 12 at Western Michigan L, 38-16 Conference......................Mid-American, East Division (MAC) Special Teams Coordinator ........Doug Shearer (second season) Oct. 19 Northern Illinois W, 27-24 Stadium ...................................................Yager Stadium (24,286) Safeties ......................................................Bill Brechin (seventh season) Surface..................................................................................FieldTurf Wide Receivers .....................................Israel Woolfork (sixth season) Oct. 26 at Kent State W, 23-16 President ........................................................... Dr. Greg Crawford Defensive Line ..............................................EJ Whitlow (third season) Nov. 6 at Ohio W, 24-21 Director of Athletics..........................................................David Sayler Tight Ends/Recruiting ..........................Pat Welsh (seventh season) Running backs ......................................Lamar Conard (third season) Nov. 13 Bowling Green W, 44-3 Athletics Dept. Phone ........................................(513) 529-3113 Athletics Website ..........................MiamiRedHawks.com.com Director of Football/Operations ................ Matt Yoches (fifth season) Nov. 20 Akron W, 20-17 Team Information Graduate Assistant..........................Heath Parling (second season) Nov. 29 at Ball State L, 41-27 2019 Record...................................................................................8-6 Graduate Assistant............................Logan Plumley (third season) Graduate Assistant............................. C.J. Robbins (second season) Conference Record .............................................6-2 (1st in East) Dec. 7 vs. Central Michigan (MACC) W, 26-21 Graduate Assistant....................Tommy Gerhard (second season) Letterwinners Returning............................................................37 Strength & Conditioning ............................Luke Kelly (fifth season) Jan. 6 Louisiana (LendingTree) L, 27-17 .................................(21 offense, 16 defense, 0 special teams) Director of Digital Design and Football.......Robert Trombley (second season) Letterwinners Lost .......................................................................20 .......................................(8 offense, 9 defense, 3 special teams) Starters Returning ........................................................................17 Miami Athletic Communications Important Spring Dates .....................................(10 offense, 7 defense, 0 special teams) Dave Meyer Spring Practice Begins - March 8 Starters Lost .......................................................................................8 Assistant A.D. for Communications/Football Contact Spring Practice Ends - April 18 .......................................(1 offense, 4 defense, 3 special teams) 513.529.4329//[email protected] Miami Athletic Communications • 230 Millett Hall • Oxford, Ohio, 43403 2020 RECRUITING CLASS David Afari, RB, 5-11, 200, West Chester, Ohio (Lakota West) High School: Currently attends Lakota West High School ... coached by Tom Bolden ... team captain ... had 1,203 all-purpose yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior ... earned first team all-southwest ... ranks second all-time at Lakota West in rushing yards. Jeremiah Batiste, WR, 5-11, 180, New 2020 Returning QB Stats Orleans, La. (Tyner Academy) Scouting the RedHawks Quarterbacks High School: Currently attends Tyner Name GP/GS C-A-I Pct. Yds. TD Lettermen Returning: 2, Lettermen Lost: 1 Gabbert 14/14 175-316-8 55.4 2,411 11 Academy ... coached by Wayne Turner ... team Starters Returning: 1, Starters Lost: 0 captain ... earned all-state honors as a senior, Reigning MAC Freshman of the Year Brett Gabbert returns for the 2020 season after throwing for recording 45 catches for 810 yards and 10 2,411 yards and 11 touchdowns, leading Miami to a MAC Championship victory. Gabbert took near- touchdowns ... earned all-state as a junior ly every snap for the RedHawks last season and has still not yet even been on campus for a full year (got to Miami last June). and was a finalist for Mr. Football in his state after recording 48 receptions for 1,133 yards Backing up Gabbert will be AJ Mayer, who saw action in three games, but did not attempt a pass in and 18 touchdowns. 2019. Aveon Smith, an early enrollee, is also here for the spring and Pete Lampert, Michael Bonds and Alec Bornhorst round out the quarterback room. James Bomba, TE, 6-6, 230, Bloomington, Ind. (Bloomington South) High School: Currently attends Bloomington South High School ... coached by Mo Moriar- ity ... team captain ... earned all-state honors as a junior and senior ... named team MVP in 2019 ... is a two-time all-conference player ... also lettered in basketball. Ambe’ Caldwell, DB, 6-1, 193, Atlanta, Ga. (Woodward Academy) High School: Currently attends Woodward Academy High School ... coached by John Running Backs 2020 Returning RB Stats Lettermen Returning: 4, Lettermen Lost: 1 Hunt and Ryan Davis ... earned first team all- Name GP/GS Rushes Yards Avg. TD region as a senior, recording 72 tackles, two Starters Returning: 1, Starters Lost: 0 Bester 11/6 171 741 4.3 14 Jaylon Bester had a career year in 2019, rushing Shelton 14/8 108 597 5.4 2 interceptions and four pass breakups ... had for 741 yards and 14 touchdowns. He suffered an Johnson 13/0 60 172 2.9 2 Kahn 13/0 23 71 3.1 1 43 catches for 817 yards and 13 touchdowns offseason injury and will not practice this spring, as a senior on the offensive side of the ball. which opens to door for several other running backs. Dominic Collado, OL, 6-3, 290, Crystal Tyre Shelton rushed for 587 yards and two scores last year, which includes 148-yard effort in a win Lake, Ill. (Crystal Lake South) over Kent State last year. Davion Johnson was fourth on the team in rushing last year with 172 yards High School: Currently attends Crystal and added two touchdowns, while Zach Kahn had 71 yards rushing in 2019. Ontario Russell red- Lake South High School ... coached by Rob shirted last year, but will be full-go this spring. Fontana ... team captain ... earned all-state honors as a senior ... recorded 59 pancakes from his offensive line position ... four-year starter ... also lettered in wrestling. Miami Athletic Communications • 230 Millett Hall • Oxford, Ohio, 45056 Kevin Davis, RB, 5-9, 160, Jackson, Tenn. (Trinity Christian Academy) High School: