2019 Outlook
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2019 OUTLOOK Wayne State will look to rebound in 2019 after posting well as WSU’s Offensive MVP, returns after leading the GLIAC back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since Paul in yards per carry (6.4), which ranked 18th nationally. Hill Winters first two years in Detroit. Winters enters his 16th finished fourth in the league in rushing yards (831), and fifth season guiding the Warriors with 49 returning letterwinners, in rushing touchdowns (10). During Hill’s breakout season a including 16 starters. year ago, he was second on the squad in receptions (17), total The lone full-time coaching staff change from last year offense (831 yards) and all-purpose yards (1,021), and third was the addition of Jay Peterson, who was hired to coach the in receiving yards (172). linebackers. Moffett set career-highs in every rushing (116-508-9) and When camp began, there was a two-way battle between receiving (12-116) category a season ago. He has also spent senior Dakota Kupp and junior Jake AmRhein to be the signal time as a kickoff returner racking up the 13th-best career caller on opening day. kickoff return average (22.75 - min. 15 returns) in school Kupp is 4-1 as a starter and will enter his senior season history. Moffett enters his final campaign with 1,287 career ranked 18th in school history in total offense per play (5.25 all-purpose yards. yards), 24th in completion percentage (.454 / 59-of-130), Nicholas, who has been limited to a total of seven games 25th in passing efficiency rating (96.1) and 26th in passing the last two years combined, has played in 29 collegiate yards per completion (12.8 / min. 50 completions). games and ranks first in school history with a 10.24 yards AmRhein started the final nine games a season ago, and per carry average (85-870 / min. 55 attempts), which is more finished the year ranked fourth in the GLIAC in both passing than 2.5 yards higher than second place. He is sixth in school yards (1,744) and passing efficiency rating (122.7), and fifth history in kickoff return yards (1,111), eighth in kickoff return in passing touchdowns (11), while ranking 30th nationally in average (23.64 - min. 23 returns), 12th in all-purpose yards yards per completion (13.95). per game (87.4 / min. 25 games), 14th in yards per catch Also in the mix at quarterback is senior Christian Klink, (16.32 / 34-555 / min. 30 receptions), 19th in all-purpose Senior running back James Hill was redshirt freshman Chase Churchill and a pair of true freshmen yards (2,536), tied-for-38th in career rushing yards (870), WSU’s 2018 Offensive MVP. in Frank Potenza III (Oakland Twp., Mich. / Rochester Hills tied-for-40th in total touchdowns (11), and 48th in receiving Stoney Creek) and Jay Solano (Trenton, Mich.). yards (555). receptions for 21 yards in 2018. Redshirt senior Tyler Klink is a three-time GLIAC All-Academic Team selection Battling for playing time will be a trio of redshirt Blaszczak is doubtful for the upcoming year due to an injury. who has appeared in two contests. Churchill redshirted as sophomores in Donte McClure, Avery Hall and King Sanders. Kameron Ford, a redshirt sophomore, saw action in two a true freshman in 2018. Potenza passed for 1,200 yards Nick Isley will miss the 2019 campaign due to an injury contests in 2018 on the punt return team. and 17 touchdowns as a senior for the Cougars, while sustained during spring ball. Steven Mason and Nolan Kimmey both redshirted in 2018 Solano completed 63 percent of his passes in 2018 for 2,457 McClure played in eight games a season ago and had eight as true freshmen. yards and 27 touchdowns to only four interceptions to earn carries and six receptions. Hall saw action on kickoff coverage Trevonte Davis (Flint, Mich. / Hamady), Darrin King II Associated Press Division 3-4 Honorable Mention All-State in two contests in 2018, while Sanders is looking to make his (Inkster, Mich. / Detroit Country Day), Max Nicklin (Davisburg, accolades. collegiate debut in 2019. Mich. / Clarkston) and Jesse Prewitt III (Columbus, Ohio Graduate student Deiontae Nicholas and seniors James The three incoming running backs - Trevon Davis (Ypsilanti, / Northland) will look to adjust to the speed of the college Hill and DeOntay Moffett will lead the rushing attack. The Mich. / Lincoln), Chandler Edwards (Norton Shores, Mich. / game in 2019. trio has combined for 2,435 rushing yards and 25 rushing North Muskegon) and Kendall Williams (Farmington Hills, This year’s tight ends contingent features a senior, a junior, touchdowns along with a 6.44 yards per carry average. In Mich. / Farmington) - will all most likely redshirt. a sophomore, and a true freshman. addition, the three seniors have a joint 864 receiving yards The fullback position will be handled by fifth-year senior Senior Luke Ketterman was limited a year ago to special giving the contingent 3,299 yards from scrimmage in their Stephen Charron, who has played in all 33 games the last teams action due to an injury. He has played in 29 games, careers. three seasons, starting 10 times. A three-time GLIAC All- making five starts. Junior Steven Glenn started six games Hill, who was voted to the 2018 All-GLIAC Second Team as Academic Team member, Charron has 166 all-purpose yards a season ago and caught nine passes for 192 yards and two in his career, including one rushing touchdown. touchdowns. Sophomore Nick Poterack appeared in 10 Backing-up Charron at fullback will be redshirt sophomores games as a redshirt freshman in 2018. Ryan Motala and Will Butler. Freshman Jackson Neely True freshman Dayton Keller (Jackson, Mich. / Lumen (Muskegon, Mich. / Mona Shores) will most likely redshirt. Christi) will most likely redshirt due to the depth at tight end. Motala saw action on kickoff return in the first two games a WSU lost two all-conference players to graduation in left season ago, while Butler was a back-up at left guard in 2018. tackle Israel Helms and left guard Tommy Richardson. Over 80 percent of last year’s wide receivers receptions Redshirt senior center Charlie Younger returns to the return in senior Darece Roberson, Jr., redshirt senior Kyle lineup after missing the final seven games in 2018 due to an Lewis and redshirt junior Ray’Jon Williams-Jackson, along injury. He has started 15 games in his career. with redshirt senior Marcus Bailey. Battling for playing time at center will be sophomore Reid Roberson led last year’s squad in receptions (27), receiving Thompson, who started the final seven games a year ago in yards (579) and touchdown catches (8), while Lewis Younger’s absence, and redshirt freshman Chuckie Anthony. contributed 14 receptions for 153 yards with both of those The starting guards are slated to be junior Lane Potter, totals ranking second on the team. Roberson, who enters his who has started all 22 games since he arrived on campus, and senior season fourth in average yards per catch (18.29 - min. senior Adam McJunkin, who has played in 16 games, while 35 receptions), fifth in touchdown catches (15) and 17th in making three starts since walking-on to the team. receiving yards (1,061), had at least one touchdown catch in Depth at the guard positions will be provided by redshirt seven contests during the 2018 campaign. Lewis was a 2018 freshmen Josh Mayberry, Noah Nicklin and Dalton Thorner. Honorable Mention All-GLIAC performer based on both his Redshirt sophomore Cooper Kukal will miss the season due kick returns and wide receiver playing ability. to an injury. Darece Roberson, Jr. enter his senior season Williams-Jackson has started five times in the 21 games Newcomers who most likely will redshirt include Ty Potter fifth in career touchdown receptions (15). played during his first two seasons, while Bailey had two (Hudsonville, Mich.) and Chrishoun Roberts (Garfield Heights, 12 2019 FOOTBALL MEDIA GUIDE 2019 OUTLOOK games, making 10 starts. Sanders has appeared in 16 games the WSU Defensive Rookie of the Year award after playing in in his two healthy seasons at WSU, while Rau has played in all 11 games and starting the last nine contests. all 22 games over the last two seasons, making four starts. Adding depth at the safety position will be redshirt Jacob Mass played in all 11 games as a true freshman in sophomore Jake Galsterer, sophomore Samari Dean and 2018. Sean Banaszak, who can play both defensive end redshirt freshman DeAnthony Davis. Other newcomers at and defensive tackle, played in all 11 games a season ago, safety include freshmen Brian Hill (Huber Heights, Ohio / starting three consecutive contests. Battling the incumbents Wayne), Koriante Moore (Flint, Mich. / Hamady) and Troy for playing time will be redshirt freshmen Kofe Kimbrell and Vinson (Monroe, Ohio / Middletown), along with Amir Daniel Knight, along with veteran Lamar Namou. Abdullah (Evanston, Ill. / Evanston Township), who will True freshman Jacob Edelman (Beverly Hills, Mich. / redshirt in 2019. Birmingham Groves) will most likely redshirt in 2019. The cornerback position has three returning starters who The defensive tackle position is well stocked with the have a combined 32 starts. McDade has played in 23 games return of Battle and Banaszak, along with senior Kenneth over two full seasons and two medical redshirt years, making Cephus and redshirt sophomore John-Paul Morris. 15 starts. Redshirt junior DaVarie Halliburton has appeared Battle saw action in 24 games in his first three years, in all 22 contests in his first two seasons, making nine starts, Senior linebacker Leon Eggleston was making 15 starts, while Cephus played in all 11 games, while fifth-year senior Myron Riley-Brown, who earned WSU’s 2018 Defensive MVP.