Dev

#85Donnie Ernsberger

TE·Western Michigan·2017

Donnie Ernsberger is a Slot Specialist TE for Western Michigan. Donnie's 2017 season produced 26.3 total EPA across 43 plays.

2017 Production

Receiving

34 Receptions394 Rec yards4

Performance Analysis · 2017 · vs TE peers

Player type

Slot Specialist TE

The offense's primary passing-down weapon — routes, separation, and reliability on 3rd down define this role.

3rd-down converterRoute technicianHigh passing-down share

Peer percentiles

Opponent-adjusted EPA (WEPA/play)100th %ile · elite

Game-to-game consistency67th %ile · average

Key findings

▸Top-10% efficiency among TEs — elite opponent-adjusted EPA rate.
▸Limited usage share suggests a rotational or specialist role.
▸7 high-impact games (EPA/play > 0.4) this season — elite ceiling.
▸Production faded as the season progressed — 0.34 EPA/play decline from first to second half.
▸Peak game: 1.62 EPA/play in Wk 8 vs Eastern Michigan (SP+ -5).

Historical Comparables · TE · efficiency + volume + value

Players from 2014–2024 matched on EPA efficiency, play volume, and adjusted value tier — not just one metric.

Player	Team	Yr	Plays	WEPA/play	Line val	Total EPA
Ty Thompson	Tulane	2024	48	0.420	0.4	20.2
Seth Green	Minnesota	2018	83	0.390	0.0	32.4
Johnny Langan	Rutgers	2020	59	0.300	0.0	17.7
Evan Svoboda	Wyoming	2024	75	0.290	0.0	21.8
Jordan Myers	Rice	2021	59	0.270	0.2	15.9

Comps are statistical — efficiency, volume, and value tier all factor in. Style and conference context differ.

Game Log · box score + EPA, week by week

EPA per play, by weekabove 0 = added points · below = lost

Wk	Opponent	Result	Opp SP+	Rec	Rec Yds	Avg	Long	EPA/play
1	@USC	L31-49	17.9	3	15	5.0	8	0.48
2	@Michigan State	L14-28	13.8	1	9	9.0	9	0.82
3	vsIdaho	W37-28	-12.4	2	29	14.5	25

Usage & Situational · Pro

Snap-share proxy

Overall

5.2%

Passing plays

14.5%

Rushing plays

0.0%

Standard downs

4.0%

Passing downs

7.9%

EPA by down type

Standard downs: 0.66
Passing downs: 0.56
Pass / Rush EPA: 0.61 / —

Usage = share of team plays (CFBD has no true snap counts).

Donnie Ernsberger

Western Michigan

Position: TE
Jersey: #85
Class: —
Ht / Wt: 6'3", 255 lb
Hometown: Battle Creek, MI

2017 Season

Player board →

Plays

Usage

Last Game

@ ToledoWk 13

EPA -0.1

Rec 2 · Rec Yds 31 · Avg 15.5 · Rec TD 0