ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE ASSOC. AD/MEDIA RELATIONS: GREG STEINER 799 North Hewitt Road ASST. DIRECTOR OF MEDIA RELATIONS: MARY GASIOR Convocation Center Suite 307 ASST. DIRECTOR OF MEDIA RELATIONS: ALEX JEWELL Ypsilanti, MI 48197 AMR GradUATE ASSISTANT: ALEXIS CHEVALIER 734.487.0317 / 734.487.0318 AMR ASSISTANT: THOmaS ROTH @EMUAthletics / #EMUEagles STUDENT ASSISTANTS: JESSICA CRUSAN & BARRY KEYES EMUEagles.com Dec. 18, 2019 For Immediate Release EASTERN FOOTBALL INKS 21 IN EARLY SIGNING PERIOD Head Coach Chris Creighton covers North America to add players from 11 states YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University Head Football Coach Chris Creighton officially welcomed 21 student-athletes to the football program Wednesday, Dec. 18, during the Early Signing Period. All have committed to join the Eagles for the 2020 campaign. The class includes eight defensive and 13 offensive players representing 11 different states. On defense, EMU added four recruits in the defensive backfield, two defensive linemen, and two linebackers. Offensively, EMU signed four wide receivers, three offensive linemen, two running backs, two tight ends, and two quarterbacks. “We feel very strongly about this incoming class,” said Creighton. “Each and everyone of these young men have chosen our culture and our challenge of taking this program to an even higher level. This group is a bunch of hungry winners and I cannot wait for them all to get here.” The highly anticipated class features 15 student-athletes rated as three-star prospects by the national recruiting services. Overall, three members of the class are already enrolled at Eastern Michigan with four more anticipated to enroll in January. In its third year, the early signing period was approved by the NCAA in May 2017. The early signing period allows high school seniors a 72-hour window in December to sign a National Letter of Intent with the school of their choice. It comes about two months before National Signing Day, which is Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. Eastern Michigan finished its 2019 season with a 6-6 record and will play in consecutive bowl games for the first time in the 128-year history of the program when it battles the University of Pittsburgh at the Quick Lane Bowl, Dec. 26, in Detroit. The Eastern offense, led by senior quarterback Mike Glass III, was electric during the 2019 season, amassing 4,833 total yards, 45 touchdowns, and 349 total points. Glass was electric with 3,203 yards of total offense (345 rushing, 2,858 passing) and 29 touchdowns. He led the Mid-American Conference and ranks 17th nationally in total offense with 291.2 yards per contest. He finished the regular season ranked 14th in the FBS in completion percentage (67.8%), 18th in completions per game (21.64), 18th in points responsible for per game (16.0), and 24th in passing yards per game (259.8). Defensively, it was another strong campaign for Neal Neathery’s unit. Strong up-front, EMU tallied 20 sacks, while its veteran-laden secondary hauled in 11 interceptions, good for third in the MAC. Senior Kobie Beltram paced EMU with 116 tackles. His 9.7 stops per game is good for fifth in the conference and 17th in the NCAA. The following is a roster and biographical sketches for each of EMU’s newest additions... page 2 - football announces 2020 recruiting class 2020 Eastern Michigan University Football Signees Name Pos Ht Wt Class Hometown-High School-Previous School Jacob Barrett WR 5-11 170 Fr.-Fr. Council Hill, Okla.-Checotah Trey Bess RB 5-9 190 Fr.-Fr. McRae, Ga.-Telfair County David Carter Jr. DB 5-11 175 Fr.-Fr. Ecorse, Mich.-River Rouge Jason Eaton OL 6-7 350 Fr.-Fr. Clarksville, Tenn.-Clarksville Jere Getzinger TE 6-3 230 Fr.-Fr. West Branch, Mich.-Ogemaw Heights Zach Hartsfield TE 6-3 230 Jr.-Jr. Bakersfield, Calif.-Centennial-Bakersfield College Chris Helbig QB 6-4 225 Sr.-Sr. Thornton, Colo.-Holy Family-Southern Utah Tristen Hines DB 5-11 170 Fr.-Fr. Milan, Mich.-Milan Brycen Huddleston LB 6-0 205 Fr.-Fr. Ft. Thomas, Ky.-Highlands DJ Jackson DL 5-11 330 Jr.-Jr. Atlanta, Ga.-Hapeville Charter-Hutchinson C.C. Kaiden Keefe WR 6-2 180 Fr.-Fr. Highlands Ranch, Colo.-Valor Christian Baron May QB 6-0 200 Fr.-Fr. New Philadelphia, Ohio-New Philadelphia Myles McNeal DB 5-10 170 Fr.-Fr. Pontiac, Mich.-Grand Blanc TJ Peavy DB 5-10 190 So.-Fr. Fayetteville, Ga.-Sandy Creek-Air Force Academy Anthony Ransey Jr. DL 6-0 320 Sr.-Sr. Fitzgerald, Ga.-Fitzgerald-Hutchinson C.C. Mickey Rewolinski OL 6-5 275 Fr.-Fr. Caledonia, Wis.-Union Grove PJ Ross OL 6-5 255 Fr.-Fr.. Chicago, Ill.-Hope Academy-John Hope College Rico Small WR 6-0 180 Fr.-Fr. Willoughby, Ohio-Willoughby South DJ Smith RB 5-9 195 Fr.-Fr. Dallas, Texas-Frisco Lone Star Xavier Smith WR 5-10 165 Fr.-Fr. Detroit, Mich.-River Rouge Tariq Speights LB 5-10 230 Jr.-Jr. Valencia, Calif.-Valencia-College of the Canyons page 3 - football announces 2020 recruiting class Name Pos Ht Wt Class Hometown-High School-Previous School Jacob Barrett WR 5-11 170 Fr.-Fr. Council Hill, Okla.-Checotah EMU: 2020: Joins the EMU program as an incoming recruit...HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Checotah High School and played under Head Coach Chad Hendricks as a Wildcat...Ranked as a three-star recruit by 247Sports and ESPN...Ranked as the No. 25 player on The Oklahoman’s Super 30 list...Played quarterback as a senior for a team that finished 9-3... In 2019, finished with 3,000 all-purpose yards, 30 touchdowns, and zero fumbles...On defense, had 91 tackles, six intercep- tions, two forced fumbles, and 28 pass breakups...Holds the school’s interception record...In his final high school game, finished with 158 rushing yards on 19 carries and was 10-of-15 passing for another 190 yards in a Class 3A quarterfinals playoff game...As a junior, scored 11 touchdowns and finished with 56 catches for 941 yards receiving...Rolled for 204 yards and three touchdowns in the Wildcats’ game against Seminole...Moved into the Checotah School District from Okmulgee, where he was the starting quarterback as a sophomore...Watched YouTube videos of top NFL wide receivers to pick up tips on how to run pass routes...Passed for 1,525 yards and 18 TDs while adding 928 yards rushing and eight scores in 2017...Is a four-sport athlete who also played baseball, basketball, and track...PERSONAL: Full name: Jacob Ashton Barrett...Son of John and Crystal Delso...Has one sister, Sophia...Business major. Trey Bess RB 5-9 190 Fr.-Fr. McRae, Ga.-Telfair County EMU: 2020: Joins the EMU program as an incoming recruit...HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Telfair County High School and played under Head Coach Matt Burleson as a Trojan...Listed as a three-star prospect by 247Sports...Ranked 66th by SouthernPigskin.com for the top high school football players that will graduate in 2020...Had a 291-yard rushing effort with three scores in a 20-13 victory over Lanier County...As a junior, was voted first team all-region...Also a member of the school’s baseball team. David Carter Jr. DB 5-11 175 Fr.-Fr. Ecorse, Mich.-River Rouge EMU: 2020: Joins the EMU program as an incoming recruit...HIGH SCHOOL: Attended River Rouge High School and played under Head Coach Corey Parker as a Panther...Listed as a three-star prospect by 247Sports... Ranked No. 1 2020 cornerback in State of Michigan by Max Preps...Ranked 51st on The Detroit News’ Blue Chip recruits for 2020...Honored with second team all-state accolades from The Detroit News for Division 3-4...Tallied 30 tackles, 12 pass break-ups, one interception, and one touchdown in his senior campaign...Helped River Rouge to capture a 12-1 record and the 2019 MHSAA Division III State Championship in his final season with the team...As a junior, finished with 30 tackles, two in- terceptions and nine pass breakups...Earned second team All-News-Herald honors in 2018...Earned four letters in both football and track, respectively...Served as team captain for two seasons...Was listed as one of the The Detroit News’ top players for 2019...Spent two years at Melvindale...PERSONAL: Full name: David Darnell Carter Jr...Son of David Carter Sr. and Samia Conner...Has one brother, Xander, and two sisters, Malia and Nadia...Business management major. Jason Eaton OL 6-7 350 Fr.-Fr. Clarksville, Tenn.-Clarksville EMU: 2020: Joins the EMU program as an incoming recruit...HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Clarksville High School and played under Head Coach Isaac Shelby as a Wildcat...Listed as a three-star prospect by 247Sports and ESPN...Selected to the 2019 Nashville area’s all-region teams to cap three consecutive years of being honored...Team rushed for more than 3,000 yards and 40 touchdowns...Help the team make it to the second round of playoffs, a feat not duplicated in more than 10 years...As a sophomore, was named to The Leaf-Chronicle All Area Football second team with 37 pancake blocks...Also played basketball and wrestling...Selected the most improved player of the year in basketball...PERSONAL: Full name: Jason Alexander Eaton...Son of Robert Eaton and Ofelia Lamas...Has two brothers, Robert and Daniel, and two sisters, Stephanie and Priscilla...Undecided major. page 4 - football announces 2020 recruiting class Name Pos Ht Wt Class Hometown-High School-Previous School Jere Getzinger TE 6-3 232 Fr.-Fr. West Branch, Mich.-Ogemaw Heights EMU: 2020: Joins the EMU program as an incoming recruit...HIGH SCHOOL: Played under Head Coach Chad Miller as a Falcon at Ogemaw Heights High School...Ranked as a two-star recruit by 247Sports and ESPN...Selected first team all-state by The Detroit News as well as the Associated Press...Named the 2019 MLive Bay City Football Dream Team’s Defensive Player of the Year and the Golden Helmet Class B Player of the Year award...As a senior, tallied 59 tackles, 11 sacks, and three fumble recoveries on defense...The team captain also excelled as a blocking tight end while hauling in 11 receptions and a touchdown...Was an overpowering force that lifted Ogemaw to its first playoff berth in six years, controlling the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball...Also a member of the basketball and track teams...Posted a regional finish in the shot and discus...PERSONAL: Full name: Jere Donald Getzinger Jr...Son of Gail Nowicki Getzinger..