Western Michigan QB Kaleb Eleby is the MAC's best-kept secret

In 2018, Western Michigan quarterback Kaleb Eleby was an hor d'oeuvre.

In five appearances in place of the injured Jon Wassink, Eleby threw for 1,092 yards and four touchdowns against three interceptions.

He redshirted in 2019 before assuming the starting role in the pandemic-shorten 2020 season, where he stamped his name amongst the best quarterbacks in college football, giving the world another taste of his abilities.

He threw 16 touchdowns against one interception for 1,442 yards and the Broncos finished 4-2, but Eleby isn't satisfiedt.

Heading into the 2021 season, he is primed to be the full course for the Broncos.

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"I'm excited, glimpses we've seen in his five-game stint as a true freshman, which is very difficult, and then his six-game stint this year where he was fantastic, one of the best in the country," Western Michigan coach Tim Lester said. "He's consistent, he shows up every single day. He's not a secret anymore. We enjoy knowing we have a young, talented kid that was gonna have a bright future."

WMU finished in second place in the MAC West last season, one game behind Ball State. Winning the conference is the goal for the Broncos, picked to finish third in what seems to be a wide open division.

"One thing I learned about myself is that I'm very humble," Eleby said. "I kind of knew that but I knew I learned at an increased rate, being able to become a better leader for the guys, and being able to learn how to follow u and being able to listen and things of that nature has really helped him and his team," he said.

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In the offseason, Eleby has placed emphasis on uniting an offense that lost offensive tackle Jaylon Moore and wide receiver D'Wayne Eskridge, a second-round pick for the Seattle Seahawks.

"I think that's one of his biggest strengths. People would ask what about his arm strength," Lester said with a smile. "Yes, he's phenomenal, and all those things, but as a leader, he's about as good as I've ever been around."

The Broncos hope that leadership will trickle down to other skill players on the offense to help them pick up from last season.

"I think Kaleb has stepped into his leadership role as a starting quarterback extremely well, within the past year. He has grown a tremendous amount as a leader, and it's fun to watch. It's every single day I see it." offensive lineman Mike Caliendo said. "I know our receivers running backs, tight ends, all those skill guys on the offense are going to step right into their roles. Whether they've done it before or not. I'm confident the leaders on our team will prepare them and get them ready to step in when the time comes."

Eleby will be tested early as the Broncos open the season at Michigan Stadium against the Wolverines.

"Everyone wants to see more of (Eleby's talent). We've got a chance to see it for a couple of years now. We're gonna go to the big house on game one, and he's gonna have a chance to do it in Ann Arbor. So it's gonna be fun to watch and let everybody watch him play," Lester said.

Goodbye, Ghost Bronco

WMU reduced its number of official colors from seven to two — brown and gold — the colors which are cited in the fight song.

Western Michigan has eliminated the black, silver, white, light brown, and Vegas gold, several colors present in their famous Ghost Bronco logo.

Instead of multiple organizational logos, the school settled on a university cohesive logo with a gold W engulfed in a brown circle with a gold outline.

"There has been a lot of controversy going on with it. Me personally, I just want to go out there and be able to play," Eleby said regarding the new logo. "Obviously, I would like to look good by doing so, but the most important thing is a W."

Fans and alumni have voiced their displeasure on social media. They're not sold on the new logo and calling for the school to bring back the black ghost bronco logo.

"The Bronco logo is the one a lot of people talk about. It was associated with the year that we went 13-0 and went to the Cotton Bowl," Caliendo said. "So I think that was a lot of people that are having trouble with (the change) because they're associating it so much with the success we had that year."

The Bronco helmets will be similar to last year's white design with brown and gold accents but the goal for players is not to have the circular W on their helmets, but the newer bronco logo that is the original bronco with a flipped orientation and colored brown and gold palette.

"I'm sure it'll continue to be its own thing and have its own momentum," Lester said about the logo controversy. "But I know people will like whatever we wear if we're winning."

Mia Berry is a sports reporting intern with the Free Press. Reach out via email: mberry@freepress.com.

MAC preseason poll

The predicted finish for the 2021 MAC football season, according to the media, with first-place votes in parentheses:

East Division

1. Kent State (11)

2. Ohio (2)

3. Miami (Ohio) (5)

4. Buffalo (4)

5. Akron

6. Bowling Green

West Division

1. Ball State (11)

2. Toledo (7)

3. Western Michigan (4)

4. Central Michigan

5. Eastern Michigan

6. Northern Illinois

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Western Michigan QB Kaleb Eleby: The MAC's best-kept secret