As the college football season draws to a close and the NFL Draft season begins, invites to the Senior All-Star Game roll out. Five Central Michigan football players have earned invitations to various showcases as they hope to make their way to the NFL.
Thomas Income, a senior defensive end and transfer to Valdosta State, was the first to do so. On November 28, it was announced that Income had accepted Reese’s invitation to the Senior Bowl. Reese’s Senior Bowl is widely known as the pre-draft senior showcase that he held on February 4 at 2:30 p.m. in Mobile, Alabama.
In 2022, Income led Chippewas to third place in the nation with 11.5 sacks and was named to the All-MAC First Team. Additionally, his 19.0 TFL ranked him 6th in the nation, leading the team. In 2021, he started 2 games and recorded 8.5 TFL and 4 sacks.
Income was also invited to the East-West Shrine Bowl.
Senior tight end Joel Wilson has been invited to the National Football League Players Association’s College Eight Bowl after being named to the All-MAC Third Team this season. NFLPA takes place on his January 28th at 7pm
Over 200 NFL coaching staff from all 32 teams gather at the NFLPA Collegiate Eight Bowl to watch players practice and interview.
Wilson has appeared in nine games this season after an ankle injury sustained against Northern Illinois ended his season. Despite a shortened season, he ranked second on the team in receptions (44) and receiving yards (445). He led the team with six touchdown receptions.
Three seniors were invited to the Tropical Bowl: offensive linemen James Kimbrough, Cole Johnson and wide receiver Carlos Carriere. Tropical His Bowl will be in Orlando, Florida, the first event his CMU players will attend on the pre-draft schedule.The game will start at 4:00pm on January 23rd.
Johnson has played in 12 games and Kimbrough has been at center in 31 games between 2017 and 2022. Kimbrough was his Second Team All-MAC selection for 2022.
Carriere, a transfer from Maryland, led Chippewa in receptions (45) and receiving yards (520) while recording two touchdown receptions. In 31 games for Maryland from 2017 to 2021, he totaled 38 receptions, 480 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns.