Top MAC Football Players Of 2014: No. 38 Justin Currie, Western Michigan Safety

Justin Currie has seen it all for the Western Michigan Broncos.  Some of the highest highs, and lowest lows.

In his first season, he played sparingly in a season that saw a 7-5 Bronco team sneak into the Little Caesars' Pizza Bowl against Purdue.  That season also saw Jordan White pretty much demolish most MAC, and school records for receiving while catching passes from Alex Carder at the top of his game.  It was a delightful season, one that seemed to set the stage for a big year once the calendar turned over.

But as Currie stepped into the spotlight, the team around him seemed to crumble.  Carder lost his touch, White had graduated, and few players seemed to play well at all en route to a 4-8 season and the firing of Bill Cubit.  However, Currie was able to garner Second Team All-MAC honors, while playing well in a rover position.

Last season was bittersweet for Currie.  P.J. Fleck came in, trumpeted his philosophy to every reporter he could, and the team barely won a single game, against UMass.  However, Currie ballooned his play to another level, leading the Broncos in tackles at 113, had seven tackles-for-loss, and also picked off a trio of passes (the team lead) while somehow managing to not garner any love on the All-MAC teams.

Now a senior, it's up to Currie to lead the Western Michigan defense, having played through such a wild career.  He's fully developed his play on the field to quarterback a much more inexperienced front seven while remaining a great mentor from the "Good Days".  His leadership is something that'll come in handy this season, with possibly the most storied recruiting class in MAC history looking to mark their own path in Bronco history.

Fleck will only have 12 seniors this season.  Twelve.  Of those, 10 have had some decent playing experience in the past, but six of those players are in the secondary, arguably the strength of this Western Michigan team.  Currie, the most consistently solid player in a position where he is all over the field, will surely be one of the most depended upon player by Fleck to not only lead his young team on the field, but off it.

And Currie could very well boost his own stock.  His continual growth along with his consistent play should have scouts keeping a close eye on him.  And if the defense seems to gel together, Currie could join EJ Biggers and Louis Delmas as WMU defensive backs to make the jump to the NFL.  But first, Currie and his teammates are focused on not repeating history, and avoiding only winning a single game again this season (or worse).