Chippewas to Participate in MAC Football Kickoff Thursday in Detroit

By: Greg Hotchkiss
DETROIT, Mich.—Head Coach Jim McElwain, junior defensive back Trey Jones, and senior offensive lineman Deiyantei Powell-Woods will travel to Detroit on Wednesday to represent Central Michigan at the 2023 Mid-American Conference Football Kickoff event. The event will take place at Detroit's historic Fox Theater on Thursday, July 20 beginning at 9 a.m. to approximately 1:30 p.m.
The entire day's festivities will be broadcast live on ESPN+ ginning at 11:30 a.m. and can be accessed at this link. The show will be hosted by broadcasters Michael Reghi and Ryan Cavanaugh and will feature segments on each of the 12 MAC programs. CMU's segment will feature McElwain and Jones.
Fans will be able to follow along on an hour-by-hour basis by accessing CMU Football's blog at this link. McElwain, Jones, and Powell-Woods will tape and produce several segments including a MAC Social Media Corner, appear on the Call to MACtion podcast, tape several videos for the MAC, and conduct one-on-one-interviews with the assembled media. Jones and Powell will also Coach McElwain will produce his weekly podcast from the event. The event will also feature an 11 a.m. press conference with MAC Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher, which will be streamed live on ESPN+ at this link.
Jones and Powell-Woods will take promotional photos upon arrival on Wednesday and attend the MAC Student-Athlete Event on Wednesday evening.
Central Michigan's full media day schedule is listed below, along with a complete ESPN+ broadcast schedule.
The MAC Football Kickoff launches the 2023 season, which begins on Saturday, August 26 and concludes with the MAC Football Championship Game at Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday, Dec. 2.
Central Michigan opens its 2023 football season at Michigan State on Friday, Sept. 1. The New Hampshire game on Saturday, Sept. 9 marks CMU's home opener. Click here to access the schedule. Central Michigan and the Mid-American Conference have announced kickoff times and television designations for eight of CMU's 12 games. Four Chippewas contests are yet to be announced.
2023 Central Michigan Football season tickets are on sale. Tickets can be purchased or renewed through Ticket Central at www.cmuchippewas.com or by calling the CMU Athletics Ticket Office at (989) 774-3045 or by e-mail at athletictickets@cmich.edu. Lock in your tickets now for the best seats at the best value.
CMU non conference road game tickets, which includes games at Michigan State, Notre Dame, and South Alabama are now on sale to the general public. To secure tickets, fans must call the CMU Athletics Ticket Office at (989) 774-3045 or by e-mail at athletictickets@cmich.edu.
Central Michigan announced its 2023 promotions schedule on Monday. All Roads Lead Home is the season theme. Click here to access the information.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN MEDIA DAY SCHEDULE FOR MCELWAIN, JONES, AND POWELL-WOODS
Time Event
9 a.m. MAC Social Media Corner
10:15 a.m. ESPN+ Production taped (10:05 a.m. arrival, Trey Jones, Coach McElwain)
11-11:30 a.m. Commissioner Steinbrecher Press Conference
11-12:30 p.m. Head Coach/Student-Athlete 1-on-1 availability (Fox Theatre Man Stage)
12:30 p.m. Call to MACtion Podcast
1 p.m. MAC Video Content
Note: This is CMU's schedule for the day. CMU will spend the majority of its day at its table in the main media room.
TREY JONES
Defensive Back | 6-2 | 200 | Junior | Wetumpka, Ala./Wetumpka H.S.
In two-year, 33-game career, has totaled 122 total tackles (71 solo), 6.5 tackles for loss for 15 yards and three pass breakups … intercepted two passes in career and blocked one kick … as a sophomore in 2022, played in 11 games and made 11 starts at safety (missed the Bucknell game) … Fourth Team All-MAC honoree by Phil Steele Magazine … saw action in 909 plays both on defense and on special teams … ranked second on the team in tackles (85) and solo tackles (47), finished with 6.5 tackles for loss for 15 yards, intercepted a team-high two passes, broke up three passes and blocked one kick … led the team in tackles in three games … totaled two games with 10 or more tackles on the year … as a freshman in 2021, played in all 13 games … made first start against Washington State in the Sun Bowl (12/31) … collected 32 total tackles … as a redshirt freshman in 2020, appeared in five games … had three tackles, all against Ball State (12/5) … majors in Sport Management.
Deiyantei Powell-Woods
Offensive Lineman | 6-5 | 300 | Senior | Bluefield, W.Va./Bluefield H.S.
Played in 29 career games and started 28 career games as an offensive lineman … started 25 consecutive contests … as a junior offensive lineman in 2022, started all 12 games at left guard … Third Team All-Mid-American Conference selection … played in 875 plays … served as team captain in five contests … played in 12 games, making 11 starts as a sophomore … part of a line that blocked for the nation's leading rusher, Lew Nichols III (1,848 total yards/142.2 ypg), and a unit that ranked third in the Mid-American Conference in total offense (443.4 ypg) and passing (265.4 ypg.) … in 2020, started the first three games of the season at left guard … in 2019, appeared in all 14 games … majors in Organizational Leadership.