Football | August 30, 2018

Feature special to wmubroncos.com by Paul Morgan

KALAMAZOO, Mich.- The sigh of relief was huge from Western Michigan University football head coach Tim Lester. The Broncos' offense didn't have any injuries during preseason camp and is ready to go against Syracuse at Waldo Stadium on Friday night.

''Our offense is looking good,'' the second-year head coach said. ''We have tons of returners and our second and third-string guys have played, so there aren't a lot of new players.

''And the couple of new people we have added have experience.''

The biggest loss from last year is offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor, who was a third-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in this past April's National Football League draft. Okorafor helped fill this season's left tackle position, though.

''Jaylon Moore (sophomore, Detroit Consortium College Prep), since spring practices, has emerged as the guy,'' Lester said. ''Chuks put him under his wing for the past two years.''

At right tackle, redshirt senior Zach Novoselsky has returned after suffering an injury in the last game of the 2017 season and he is being pushed by sophomore Mark Brooks, who has spent practice time with the first team, too.

The middle three linemen – senior center John Keenoy, junior right guard Luke Juriga and sophomore left guard Mike Caliendo – all return.

''Really, you look at all the positions on our offense and I feel like all we have done is add,'' Lester said. ''We like the guys who are coming back and we've added more people.''

Which is important because during the 2017 season (6-6 overall, 4-4 Mid-American Conference West Division), WMU lost 21 players to injuries.

''We got pretty thin last season,'' Lester said. ''We are in a better position now than we were last year, no question, especially at the wideout spot where we have six or seven ready to go, and we have three or four running backs ready to go, seven or eight linemen and four tight ends and two quarterbacks ready to go.

''We're not going to see a huge dropoff if anything happens. Last year, for example, we knew we could lose some running backs, but we didn't expect to lose five.''

With senior Jamauri Bogan (589 yards rushing in 2017) and juniors LaVante Bellamy (394 yards) and Davon Tucker (143 yards) all back, Lester feels very good about his running backs. They will pick up the load of First Team All-MAC honoree Jarvion Franklin (1,228 yards, 11 touchdowns), who was signed as a free agent by Pittsburgh in April. Franklin set a number of school records on his way out, including most career rushing yards (4,826) and career rushing TDs (52). Bogan currently sits No. 8 in career rushing at WMU with 2,563 yards and fourth with 27 career rushing touchdowns.

This past spring, junior Giovanni Ricci made the transition from wide receiver to tight end, taking the spot of Donnie Ernsberger, who signed as a free agent with Tampa Bay in April. Also returning at tight end is senior Odell Miller out of local Gull Lake High School. Miller has been a key blocking piece to the Broncos' run success, almost serving as a sixth lineman.

The wide receiver spot is where a lot of players have been added to the mix. Returning are junior D'Wayne Eskridge, a 4.33 40-yard burner who averaged 17 yards per catch in 2017 and junior Keishawn Watson, who had team highs in receptions with 41 and touchdowns with seven.

Then there are a newbies like redshirt senior transfer Drake Harris, redshirt freshman Jaylen Hall and freshman Jayden Reed who Lester feels will add a lot to his receiving corps.

''It's exciting because when we have longer drives, we can rotate receivers and feel pretty good about it,'' Lester said.

Quarterback is where Lester feels that Western Michigan is in a good spot going into this season. Back from an injury is junior Jon Wassink, who was 124 of 193 passes for 1,411 yards with 14 touchdowns and four interceptions before being lost for the season in the eighth game of the 2017 season. Backing up Wassink is freshman Kaleb Eleby.

''By the end of spring, Jon looked great and had no issues,'' Lester said. ''Kaleb has looked great, too.''

About the upcoming season, ''We have increased our depth, and maybe we stay healthy and don't need as many bodies all the time,'' Lester said. ''But if we don't stay healthy, I think we will be able to make a run late in the season.

''And in the Mid-American Conference, that's when it happens. In November, you have to be healthy.''


WMU opens the 2018 season hosting Syracuse on Friday, Aug. 31 at 6 p.m. Single game and season tickets, as well as Pick 3 Plans are on sale now at wmubroncos.com/tickets and 1-888-4-WMU-TIX.