Flashes Pegged Second in East in MAC Media Day Poll
7/26/2022 9:02:00 AM | Football
CLEVELAND, OHIO- The Golden Flashes earned three first-place votes and are pegged second in the MAC East in the annual pre-season media poll announced at the Mid-American Conference's Media Day held at the House of Blues in Cleveland.
The Flashes earned 116 poll points from the 24 media members who voted in the poll. Kent State trails only Miami in the east division, the Flashes knocked off Miami 48-47 in overtime last season at Dix Stadium in a de-facto east division title game. The two teams will meet on October 8th in Oxford this season.
Kent State brings back nearly 74 percent and over 2,500 rushing yards from last season. Leading the way is Maxwell Watch List member Marquez Cooper who rushed for over 1,200 yards last year. The Flashes ranked third in the FBS in rushing yards per game last year at just over 248 yards per game. Through the air, Kent State brings back over 60 percent and 2,000 yards of offense. Biletnikoff Award Watch List member Dante Cephas and Mackey Award Watch List member Kris Leach help to headline the aerial attack. Cephas had over 1,200 receiving yards last year and was the first Golden Flash to top 1,000 yards since 1997.
Defensively, new defensive coordinator Jeremiah Johnson takes over, coming to Kent after leading Northern Iowa to become one of the top defensive units in the FCS. Dean Clark returns as the leading tackler from last season with 112 stops in 2021. The Flashes also welcome back their top pass rushers from last year in CJ West, Saivon Taylor-Davis and Adin Huntington, all three had at least three sacks a season ago.
Kent State opens the 2022 campaign on the west coast, heading to Seattle on Saturday, September 3rd to take on the Washington Huskies. Kick-off is at 7:30 PT, 10:30 ET and will air on Fox Sports 1.
The full pre-season poll can be viewed below, the west teams in italics are on the Flashes' schedule for the 2022 season.
East Division (first place votes)
1. Miami (20) – 139 Points
2. Kent State (3) – 116 Points
3. Buffalo – 78 Points
4. Ohio – 72 Points
5. Bowling Green (1) – 71 Points
6. Akron – 28 Points
West Division (first place votes)
1. Northern Illinois (11) – 122 Points
2. Toledo (9) – 120 Points
3. Central Michigan (4) – 112 Points
4. Western Michigan – 56 Points
5. Eastern Michigan – 52 Points
6. Ball State – 42 Points
MAC Football Champion Votes:
Northern Illinois (9), Toledo (6), Miami (5), Central Michigan (4)
