By Brandon Folsom

Special to Detroit Free Press

Eastern Michigan offensive coordinator Kalen DeBoer is excited for the season to start because he finally has something the Eagles have lacked since he took the job in 2014.

What they have lacked was depth at wide receiver.

The Eagles, who were 1-11, ranked eighth in the Mid-American Conference in passing offense last season. They averaged 222.2 passing yards per game but lacked consistency.

That ultimately hurt their rushing attack that former running back Darius Jackson — in camp with the Dallas Cowboys now — led with 1,121 yards and 14 touchdowns.

“What we thought we needed to do is improve the passing game to open up the defense, spread them out and get something out of it as well as the play-action game down the field,” DeBoer said during EMU’s media day this month.

“If you run the ball successfully, you should be able to throw the ball down the field.

“We’re getting some pretty good competition, and guys are fighting, scrapping and doing everything they can to win a spot in the starting lineup. There’s a good mix of returners who haven’t been on the field much, as well as three transfers this summer who have really spiced things up.”

Sophomore Eddie Daugherty is the top returner from a season ago. He was second on the team with 37 catches for 557 yards.

But DeBoer has his eyes on those three transfers in John Niupalau, Antoine Porter and Sergio Bailey, who each played JUCO last year.

“All three of our wide receivers that are new are running with the ones and twos,” DeBoer said. “Johnny Niupalau has done a great job and is a very physical, sure-handed guy, and you’re never going to question his effort. He’s going to come in and hit some safeties, block some guys and, if you need him to catch the football, he’s going to catch it every time.

“Our slot, who has done a really nice job, is Antoine Porter. He’s done a really good job. He’s tough to defend one-on-one. On the other side, we have Sergio Bailey, who has some pretty good speed. He has good hands, and those three guys have just really added to the room we have with Eddie Daugherty, (Lemar) Harris and the rest of the group there.”

Meanwhile, starting quarterback Brogan Roback could be suspended for more than one game, coach Chris Creighton said Monday. There is no timetable for his return. The Eagles suspended the redshirt junior last week for violating department and team rules.

“We’re taking it a game at a time, and he won’t be playing this Friday night,” Creighton said.

Junior Todd Porter, a junior college transfer from Garden City (Kan.) Community College who started his career at Western Kentucky, will start the home opener against Mississippi Valley State. He passed for 1,218 yards and 10 touchdowns during his sophomore season for Garden City.

“After Thursday’s practice, (Porter) will have had 44 practices,” Creighton said.

“He got here in January as a guy we were super excited about.

“He has progressed very nicely throughout his time here, during the winter, spring and summer. He’s our starter here Friday night.”

DeBoer said Shaq Vann (100 carries, 586 yards) has looked like the No. 1 running back on the depth chart, and former Clarkston standout Ian Erickson should make the transition from special-teamer to backup rusher.

EMU at a glance

2015 record: 1-11, 0-8 MAC.

Key players: Senior DB DaQuan Pace, junior QB Brogan Roback, senior OL Matt Thornton.

Keep an eye on: Fifth-year senior DL Pat O’Connor enters the fall as a captain and EMU’s best player. He missed 2015 with an injury but captained the 2014 defense, starting 12 games and leading the MAC with 71/2 sacks. He was fourth in the MAC in tackles for loss (14).

Overview: The Eagles return 18 starters, eight on offense, but they lose two of their biggest playmakers in RB Darius Jackson and WR Dustin Creel, who graduated. They also have a dilemma at quarterback with Roback starting the season suspended. Junior transfer Todd Porter, who threw for 1,218 yards for Garden City (Kan.) Community College last season, will start the year as the No. 1 QB.