KALAMAZOO, Mich. – 410 days. When Western Michigan Football returns to the field on Wednesday, Nov. 4 at Akron, it will mark the return of an explosive playmaker in redshirt senior D'Wayne Eskridge.

Eskridge missed the final nine games of the 2019 season after fracturing his clavicle at Syracuse. 410 days later with a new outlook and new number, Eskridge is ready to leave it all on the field in 2020.

"It's crazy that Nov.4 will be the first time I have put on a WMU jersey since the injury," said Eskridge. "It's been a long time coming. I feel good and I'm just ready to go out and play."

A projected starter at wide receiver with the possibility of playing cornerback, Eskridge's impact was felt all over the field last season. In four games the versatile playmaker had three receptions for 73 yards to go along with 14 tackles (10 solo) and four pass break ups.

Playing primarily offense in 2018 Eskridge torched secondaries with 38 receptions for 776 yards and three touchdowns. Eskridge ranked second in the MAC in yards per reception and fifth in receiving yards per game (70.55). Heading into 2020, he was named a preseason First Team All-MAC selection by Athlon Sports and third team by Phil Steele. Eskridge is also a member of the Paul Hornung Award Watch List.

While all the accolades and praise are well deserved, Eskridge looks to take the lessons he learned from his injury a season ago and make 2020 a year Bronco fans will never forget.

"Sitting out last year and watching the game from a different perspective, that's the greatest thing that could have happened to me," said Eskridge. "I know it's a crazy injury but all the good that I took from that injury, it's going to travel with me for the rest of my life."

"Getting to watch different players and study them while I was out…it helped out my game and now it's all coming to fruition on the field," Eskridge said.

When Bronco fans sees Eskridge play on the field not much will change. Fans will be delighted to see the 5'9" receiver with 4.33 40-yard dash speed zoom by defenders. However, one thing will be different for Eskridge this year, his number.

The former No. 7 that dawned the Brown & Gold will switch to No.1. A jersey number change Eskridge felt was needed.

"I've had seven since my freshman year and it was back-to-back injuries every single year. So I thought, 2020, new D'Wayne Eskridge, New Number," said Eskridge. "I felt it was the right move to do and now I just have to put my best foot forward to live up to the No.1 jersey."

In his absence last season, a newcomer stepped up at the receiver position in sophomore Skyy Moore. While Eskridge was sidelined Moore went on to earn First Team All-MAC honors after totaling 802 receiving yards on 51 catches. With the return of Eskridge to the offense side of the ball, the Bluffton, Ind., native is excited for what the offense will be able to accomplish with both himself and Moore.  

"It's going to be dangerous with myself and Skyy," said Eskridge. "We have both come a long way in these three weeks of practices and we are only getting better being out there with each other."

It's been 410 days since Eskridge has taken the field for the Brown & Gold. November 4 will be the end of a long journey for the dynamic playmaker but the start of another as Eskridge looks to lead the Broncos to a MAC title during his senior campaign.

#LetsRide