Josh Rolston

Josh Rolston of Eagle River helped kicked to the curb Central Michigan’s bowl drought.

The Chippewas of the Mid-American Conference upset Washington State 24-21 at the Sun Bowl for CMU’s first bowl victory since 2012 and its first win over a Power 5 opponent since 2017.

“This was huge,” Rolston said by direct message. “We really wanted to win to represent the MAC and CMU on a national stage.”

The true freshman placekicker from Alaska averaged 47.8 yards on five kickoffs, placing three of five inside the 5-yard line. His first kickoff had a 4.4-second hang time.

“That got all the guys jacked up on the sidelines,” he said.

Kickoffs aren’t always just about crushing the ball off the tee. Rolston is tasked with positional kickoffs with precise placement.

“Most of the time the coach picks one corner or high and short. Either right or left,” Rolston said. “The team knows what the plan is and it’s a targeted goal.”

He’s also responsible for identifying the opposing playmakers on kick returns.

“Find him. Communicate and kick away,” Rolston said.

His final two kickoffs tonight were intentional pooch kicks that he executed to prevent a big return, both times inducing a fair catch.

Rolston almost didn’t get to play in his first bowl game. Central Michigan was originally scheduled to play in the Arizona Bowl, which was canceled. It looked like maybe CMU would be left out in the cold. But then a spot opened up in the Sun Bowl and the Chippewas got a second chance.

“Luckily, we had enough time to get to El Paso (Texas),” Rolston said. “It became like a road game in some ways. Bus ride, walkthrough and play.”

CMU finished the season 9-4, the team’s most wins since 2009.

Rolston, of Chugiak High fame, played in all 13 games and posted 79 kickoffs for a 56.4-yard average and 22 touchbacks in his first season at the NCAA Division I level.

“Good but not great,” Rolston said. “Room for improvement.”

In October 2020, Rolston kicked the longest field goal in Alaska high school football history after splitting the uprights on a 56-yard bomb.

A year later, he was blasting kickoffs against LSU in front of a crowd of 92,547 at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge.

“Kicking in front of 90,000 at LSU is a bit different than playing at Chugiak High,” Rolston said. “The pressure is immense.”

Rolston never wilted under the spotlight because the Central Michigan coaching staff prepared him to be ready. Every aspect of his progression was studied and scrutinized.

“Every day is broken down into 15-minute segments of responsibility,” he said. “Every kick is tracked. Every rep scheduled. It is very structured and detailed.”

The CMU coaches want Rolston to add 10 pounds and refine his technique for next year as he will challenge incumbent Marshall Meeder for the right to kick field goals and PATs.

“That’s the challenge heading to next year,” Rolston said.

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