East Michigan News

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – As Eastern Michigan University's senior punter and a two-time Ray Guy Award Preseason Nominee, Mitchell Tomasek (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) is well-versed in precision, patience, and perseverance. Recognized as one of the top punters in the nation, Tomasek prioritizes his team's success over personal accolades.

The Honor and Reality of Recognition

For Tomasek, being listed among the best punters is an honor, but he maintains a humble perspective. "At the end of the day, it doesn't really mean much," he says. "It's just a team game, and I just got to do the best I can to put our team in a good position." This team-first mentality has been central to Tomasek's approach throughout his career at Eastern Michigan.

The recognition underscores the talent present in the Mid-American Conference. "It's possible," Tomasek says about a MAC punter winning the Ray Guy Award. "There's a lot of good punters out there, and hopefully I end up as one of the best this year."

Fine-Tuning the Craft

Tomasek's commitment to improvement is evident in his offseason preparation. His focus is on minor adjustments that can make all the difference at his position. "Just little schematic things most people wouldn't understand," he explains. "Something I guess would be a shorter first step. And then just more flexibility and some stuff with your mind."

He does not obsess over numbers or records. When asked if he follows his stats during the season, Tomasek dismisses the notion. "I don't look at the numbers... I just got to put my best ball out there and see what happens."

Growing Confidence and Leadership

Tomasek reflects on his growth at Eastern Michigan: "I feel it a lot, actually. I'm definitely more confident now than I was." This confidence has translated into a leadership role within the specialist group following key departures like long snapper Steven Bird.

"I would say, yeah, a big part of it's me," he says about taking on leadership responsibilities alongside Jesús Gómez and Kenyon Bowyer.

The Challenge of Breaking in New Players

With many new players from the transfer portal joining this season, building chemistry has been crucial. "We have...the ninth-most new people on the roster," he says. Integrating new players has been a primary focus this offseason.

Breaking in new long snappers has also been important for Tomasek: "Everything deals with confidence, and they both have confidence."

Looking Toward the Future of Punting

Tomasek monitors changes in NFL rules surrounding kickoffs aimed at reducing injuries but remains optimistic these won't affect punting significantly: "I hope not...or else my job might be in jeopardy."

Embracing the Theme of "BET"

Eastern Michigan's theme for this season is "BET," which resonates deeply with Tomasek: "It just means bet on yourself...We're always doubted...we're ready to show people what we can do."

Reflecting on Experience

As Tomasek prepares for another season, he reflects on his time at Eastern Michigan and recent renovations to Rynearson Stadium: "It feels more like a stadium now...I'm very thankful to Max and Rachel Crosby and everybody that donated."

For Tomasek, it's about delivering his best for the team with confidence built over time.

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