Brandon Folsom

Special to the Detroit Free Press

Eastern Michigan football coach Chris Creighton has suspended starting quarterback Brogan Roback.

The third-year coach said Roback violated department and team rules.

"With the privilege of being a member of the Eastern Michigan University football program there are expectations and standards to which we hold our student-athletes accountable," Creighton told the Free Press in an email. "Unfortunately, Brogan has been suspended due to a violation of our policies."

The school would not comment on how many games Roback will miss. The Eagles open their season by hosting Mississippi Valley State on Sept. 2.

Roback told reporters during EMU's media day Saturday that he had spent the off-season improving his maturity and approach to leadership. He said it was needed for the Eagles to improve upon their 1-11 record and help the offense grow.

"Just coming out here and being mature and helping everybody out by doing the right things I need to do, and working on my craft and helping other people, has helped our offense be successful," he said.

Roback threw for 2,304 yards and 16 touchdowns last season. He ranked eighth in pass efficiency (125.8) and ninth in passing average per game (192) in the Mid-American Conference.

The 6-foot-3, 206-pound redshirt junior played in all 12 games, making 10 starts.

He threw for 330 yards and three TDs during a Sept. 12 win at Wyoming — both were season highs.

The Eagles have five quarterbacks on this year's depth chart, with four of them on scholarship. Garden City (Kan.) Community College transfer Todd Porter likely will take Roback's starting position. Porter is a 6-3 junior who started his career at Western Kentucky before moving to a JUCO. He passed for 1,218 yards and 10 TDs as a sophomore.

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