The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

AS the build up for the 2015 Popeye’s Bahamas Bowl continues, beat writer for the Western Michigan Broncos, David Drew of MLive.com, offered his insight on why the Broncos will have an edge in this year’s matchup.

Drew said for the Broncos coaching staff, they expect the matchup to be a challenge because the teams share such similar traits.

“The coaching staff said it’s kind of like looking into the mirror. Middle Tennessee, they have a good receiver tandem like the Broncos do, the quarterbacks have similar numbers, but I  think the difference is that Western runs the ball more and has a bit more success on the ground. Middle Tennessee has a freshman quarterback so I’m going to look for Western to bring the blitz and try to throw him off a bit,” Drew said. “I think you’re going to see a lot of points scored in this game because Middle Tennessee also has a very good offence.”

The Broncos, 7-5 overall and 6-2 in MAC play, will come into the Popeye’s Bahamas Bowl with a share of the MAC West Division title after posting six victories in their last eight games, including a 35-30 victory over No. 24 Toledo in WMU’s last game.

Western Michigan has the top receiving duo in the country as juniors Daniel Braverman (103 receptions; 1,270 yards) and Corey Davis (82 receptions; 1,253 yards) have combined for 185 catches in 2015.

“There will be a number of players to watch out for from the Broncos. The top two will be Corey Davis and Daniel Braverman. They are the top receiving duo in the country right now. Corey is a no brainer NFL receiver. I think if he left after this year which is his junior year, he could be a third or fourth round draft pick.

“I anticipate him coming back but I think when it’s all said and done you could see Corey being a mid to high second round pick. Braverman is kind of a Wes Welker type, a guy who gets the ball and makes you miss and can beat you with some juke moves,” Drew said.

“Western also has a pretty good backfield. They have Jarvion Franklin who rushed for 1,500 yards last year. They have Jamauri Bogan who has taken over being the main back and they also have LaVante Bellamy and the three of those guys have rushed for over 2,000 yards. It’s the second season in a row western has rushed for over 200 yards.”

The Broncos have 11 All-Mac selections, including All-Mac second team quarterback Zach Terell and second team defensive back Darius Phillips.

“When you look at what Zach does for this team he’s a game manager and makes everything go. If we’re talking Bahamas Bowl I know people remember Cooper Rush and what he was able to do when he almost single-handedly brought Central Michigan back last year, I don’t think Zach Terrell is that kind of a quarterback. He can make big throws, he can make some deep passes down the field, but he’s very good at running Western’s spread offence.

“He’s good at making reads on the option running attack and has been pretty good at knowing where to throw the ball,” Drew said.

“There aren’t a lot of superstars on the defensive side of the ball. Maybe one guy to look at would be Darius Phillips. He was a guy who played slot receiver last year and moved over to corner. He’s also been one of the reasons the Broncos have been good on special teams all season. They have had very good kick and punt coverage teams. He has a lot of speed and if he gets a crease he can take one to the house.”

The Broncos will face Middle Tennessee (7-5) in a MAC vs. Conference USA matchup in the second Popeye’s Bahamas Bowl. The bowl game will be played at noon on Christmas Eve and the contest will be televised on ESPN and broadcast on the Popeye’s Bahamas Bowl Radio Network.

The game will mark Western Michigan’s seventh overall bowl game appearance, and it will be the second straight for the Broncos under head coach PJ Fleck, who is in his third season at the school and is the youngest head coach at the FBS level. The Broncos played in the 2014 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl against Air Force.

This is the second time Western Michigan will participate in a bowl game outside of the United States as the Broncos played in the inaugural 2007 International Bowl against Cincinnati in Toronto, Canada.

The 2015 Popeye’s Bahamas Bowl will mark the first meeting between Western Michigan and Middle Tennessee.