KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- With 101 days until kickoff of the 2021 football season, the Western Michigan football team has placed 13 players on Athlon Sports' MAC All-Conference projection. The Broncos were led by OL Mike Caliendo and DL Ralph Holley, who were each on the first team.

WMU's 13 selections trailed only Central Michigan (17) and Ball State (14). The Broncos had 10 players on last year's Athlon postseason All-MAC list at the conclusion of the 2020 season, including four first team picks.
 

First Team
Mike Caliendo - Started the last 39 straight games - Led a Bronco OL that allowed the fewest sacks in the MAC (teams that played all six games)	OL
Ralph Holley - 9.0 TFLs in 2020 led the team - Part of a Bronco DL that led the MAC with 19 sacks - Had just one missed tackle on 381 defensive snaps	DL
Second Team
Kaleb Eleby - Top passer rating in the nation among returning QBs - Trailed only Mac Jones & Zach Wilson in the category last year	QB
La'Darius Jefferson - One of 27 running backs in FBS (and one of 11 in the Group of Five) to average over 100 yards per game in 2020	RB
Skyy Moore - Ranked in the top-10 in the MAC in receptions per game and yards per game last year	WR
Mark Brooks - Allowed one sack in 397 snaps last season	OL
Ali Fayad - Five sacks in just four games last season - Had a pass rush rating of 90.4 (Pro Football Focus), 12th in the Group of Five	DL
Bricen Garner - Allowed the fewest catches of any WMU defensive player targeted more than twice last year	S
Third Team
Nick Mihalic - Had a long punt of 68 yards last season, among the top-20 in FBS	P
Fourth Team
Jaylen Hall - 26.92 yards per catch led FBS last year	WR
Braden Fiske - Second on the team with 14 total pressures in 2020	DL
Marshawn Kneeland - Third on the team with 13 total pressures last fall	DL
A.J. Thomas - Posted a 77.2 coverage grade per Pro Football Focus, tops on the team a year ago	S

After going 4-2 in last season's abbreviated MAC-only campaign, head coach Tim Lester's squad returns 18-of-22 starters on offense and defense. The Broncos open the season Saturday, Sept. 4, at Michigan before the home opener on Saturday, Sept. 11, against Illinois State.

Tickets are available by visiting WMUBroncos.com/tickets or by calling 888-4-WMU-TIX.

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