MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Central Michigan is a contender for the MAC Championship this year under fourth year head coach Jim McElwain. One of the reasons will be a powerful offense with the hiring of Paul Petrino in late February just ahead of the 2022 season.

Petrino, who has a strong coaching background in college and the professionals, has coached in 12 bowl games and served on coaching staffs that have won 152 games. This year, he will have control of the offense and be the quarterbacks coach.

MORE NEWS: PFAS Treatment Plant in the Works in Marquette County

“I was really excited to get back at it as the guys worked hard all summer. They came back in really good shape and the first few practices they have looked sharp and done some good things and we are ready to get after it,” says Petrino.

Back to lead an offense that averaged 32.1 points and 444.5 yards per game is quarterback Daniel Richardson. Last year he threw for 2,633 yards and 24 touchdowns with a 151.70 passer rating.

“The first thing you like about Daniel is his love for the game, his love to compete, and he’s really smart with great knowledge and very teachable,” says Petrino. “He likes to show up and study football. He loves practicing it and studying it. He’s got a strong arm and very accurate and makes all the throws.”

The CMU offense featured the top runner in the nation in Lew Nichols III who is on every NCAA Division I watch list in the Walter Camp, The Maxwell, and Doak Walker. He had 1,848 rushing yards and 2,186 all-purpose yards last season. With Nichols, though, there are two other talented running backs that will also push for time in Myles Bailey and Marion Lukes who are both sophomores. Lukes played in 13 games averaging 4.3 yards per carry while Bailey was in 12 games at 3.8 yards per carry.

Petrio talks about both running backs and how the running back room is stacked this year saying, “My confidence level in this two guys is real high as they both had great spring practices. Myles broke a bunch of tackles and had all kinds of big plays. Both Myles and Marion showed up on the spring tape all the time. They are both very talented and can catch the ball, run great routes, and bust through the holes for home runs and make big plays for sure.”