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Lights, Camera, MACtion: Preview Of Michael Zordich's Defensive Backs For CMU In 2024

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Football

Three proven players with CMU game day experience return to lead Defensive Backs Coach Michael Zordich's 2024 Central Michigan cornerbacks unit in 2024.

Headlining the cornerbacks room is senior Donte Kent, who has played a key role in CMU's defense over the last three seasons. Two returnees emerged last year at both cornerback positions in Da'Raun McKinney and Marcus Badgett. The duo both rose to starting roles and made key contributions as the season wore on.

Players who departed accounted for 12 starts last season.

CORNERBACKS PERSONNEL ROSTER
0 | Marcus Badgett | 6-0 | 195 | R-Jr. | Red Oak Texas
4 | Donte Kent | 5-11 | 195 | Sr. | Harrisburg, Pa.
5 | Da'Raun McKinney | 5-10 | 200 | Sr. | River Rouge, Mich.
8 | Aakeem Snell | 6-3 | 180 | Sr. | Pittsburgh, Pa.
13 | Bryce Rowe | 5-11 | 165 | Fr. | Southfield, Mich.
16 | Jaree Turner-Kinsler | 6-2 | 180 | Sr. | Ocala, Fla.
18 | Jaion Jackson | 5-10 | 160 | Fr. | East St. Louis, Mo.
23 | Kyle Krebs | 6-0 | 195 | R-So. | Denver, Colo.
25 | Keyton Jones | 5-9 | 185 | Fr. | Avon, Ind.
25 | Trey Liebhardt | 5-11 | 185 | R-Fr. | Chardon, Ohio
34 | Jamari Allen | 5-11 | 170 | R-Fr. | Detroit, Mich.
43 | Bryce Lambeth | 6-2 | 180 | Jr. | South Lyon, Mich.

Kent enters the season as a Jim Thorpe Award candidate and consensus preseason First Team All-MAC selection. He was named the league's top cover corner in Lindy's Magazine, is a two-time All-MAC honoree (First Team in 2022 and Second Team in 2023), and Football Writers Association Freshman All-America selection in 2021. Last year, Kent played both cornerback and free safety as he finished the year ranked No. 3 on the squad and No. 29 in the MAC in tackles with 58 (39 solo), led the Chippewas in pass breakups with seven, and registered 2.5 tackles for loss in 11 games played. He led the Chippewas in tackles in three games and registered two 10-plus tackle games. As a sophomore, he concluded the year ranked No. 9 nationally and No. 2 in the MAC in passes defended (15, 1.4 per game) and made 51 tackles (39 solo).

Over his four-year, 41-game career, Kent has totaled 182 tackles (138 solo), 4.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 37 pass breakups, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He enters the 2024 season ranked No. 3 in school records for career pass breakups (37) and needs 10 to break the school record held by Tedaro France (46 from 1998-2001). He also ranks tied for No. 4 in school history in career pass deflections (39). The record is also held by France, who accumulated 56 deflections (46 breakups/10 interceptions) from 1998-01.

A River Rouge, Mich. native, McKinney will begin his second season at Central Michigan after transferring in from South Dakota. He was named a preseason All-MAC selection by two different publications upon entering the season. Last year, his role expanded with each game as he played in eight contests and made six starts. In the end, he ranked No. 8 on the team in tackles with 39 (24 solo), registered three tackles for loss, four pass breakups, and a quarterback hurry. His most active game was a nine-tackle effort at Ohio. Combining his four-year, 28-game career at Central Michigan, South Dakota, and Iowa, McKinney has made 134 tackles (95 solo), seven tackles for loss, 15 pass breakups, and intercepted one pass.

Badgett played in 10 games with two starts at cornerback in 2023. He finished the year with nine solo tackles, two pass breakups and an interception for a 13-yard return. The Texas native has seen action in 12 career games, both at cornerback and on special teams.

Other returnees are Kyle Krebs, Jamari Allen, and Trey Liebhardt. A redshirt sophomore, Krebs has contributed primarily on special teams, while Allen and Liebhardt both earned redshirt seasons last year.

Three transfers join the mix in senior Jaree Turner-Kinsler (Albany State), junior Bryce Lambeth (Temple), and senior Aakeem Snell (Saint Francis, Pa). Turner-Kinsler was an all-league honoree who made 21 tackles and intercepted a pass in 10 games at Albany State last year. Lambeth played two seasons at Temple. Snell played in 12 games over two seasons at Saint Francis and totaled nine tackles last year with a sack, and interception.

Newcomers are freshmen Bryce Rowe, Jaion Jackson, and Keyton Jones. Rowe was an All-State and All-Area honoree at West Bloomfield High School as a senior, while Jackson made 167 tackles in four years at East Saint Louis Senior High School.