KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan football program and head coach Lance Taylor have announced eight additions for the NCAA Transfer Portal for the upcoming 2023 season.
The Bronco Brotherhood welcomes Keshawn King (Orange Park, Fla./Virginia Tech), Tedi Kushi (Staten Island, N.Y. / Long Island), Nate Norris (Chalfont, Pa. / Lehigh Mountain), Michael Shanahan (Orlando, Fla. / Texas Tech), Leroy Thomas (Roanoke, Va. / VMI), Donald Willis (Garfield Heights, Ohio / Minnesota), Hayden Wolff (Venice, Fla. / Old Dominion), and Kenny Womack (Upper Marlboro, Md. / Sacred Heart).
The group consists of one quarterback, one running back, two linebackers, two wide receivers and two offensive lineman.
Keshawn King | RB | 5-11, 180 lbs | Orange Park, Fla. / Virginia Tech | 2 Years Eligibility
King comes to WMU after three seasons at Virginia Tech. Through his three seasons in the ACC he rushed for 900 yards on 182 carries, averaging 4.95 yards per carry with six touchdowns. King also showed his versatility, catching 31 passes in his career. The Orange Park, Fla., native is coming off of his best season, where he rushed for 443 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 6.0 yards per carry.
Head Coach Lance Taylor on King - "We feel as though Keshawn was one of the best running backs available in the entire country. He has experience starting and playing at the Power 5 level rushing for close to 1,000 yards in his career. He is a weapon out of the back field catching the football and also has experience returning kicks. Keshawn is a humble young man who comes from a great family. We couldn't be happier that he is a Bronco."
Tedi Kushi | OL | 6-7, 305 lbs | Staten Island, N.Y. / Long Island | 2 Years Eligibility
Kushi played three seasons at Long Island University. Last season he was named First Team All-NEC and was named the NEC Offensive Lineman of the Year by Phil Steele. Kushi also excels academically as a CSC Academic All-District selection and was received the team's Presidents Award for showing perseverance in making outstanding contributions to the team's success.
Head Coach Lance Taylor on Kushi - ""Tedi was a standout at Long Island University and was one of the best FCS offensive tackles in the country. He has great length and movement skills that we know Coach Mendelson will continue to develop. We think Tedi has a chance to come in and push the current offensive lineman we have on the roster to raise the overall level of play. He comes from a great family and is an excellent young man who has a very bright future in Kalamazoo."
Nate Norris | LB | 6-1, 225 lbs | Chalfont, Pa. / Lehigh Mountain | 1 Year Eligibility
Norris played in 41 career games at Lehigh Mountain, racking up 194 career tackles. He comes to Kalamazoo on the back of his best season, recording 83 tackles with 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one interception.
Head Coach Lance Taylor on Norris - Nate Norris comes to us from the state of Pennsylvania playing at one of the premiere academic institutions in the FCS. He was a standout in the Patriot League who started three seasons with 190 career tackles. Nate is extremely intelligent, hard-working, and has a high football IQ. His ability to raise the game of those around him was something our defensive coaching staff fell in love with.
Michael Shanahan | OL | 6-5, 320 lbs | Orlando, Fla. / Texas Tech | 1 Year Eligibility
Shanahan played two seasons at Tennessee-Martin before transferring to Texas Tech. He was an All-OVC First Team selection in 2021 and named a HERO Sports Sophomore All-American. Shanahan started all 20 games in his time at UTM.
Head Coach Lance Taylor on Shanahan - "Michael brings starting all-conference experience at the FCS level to our offensive linemen room. He comes from a football family as his brother is a standout Division 1 OL. Michael has already graduated and will bring experience and competition to our football team. He has experience playing both tackle and guard at Texas Tech as well. Western Michigan football has always had a history of great OL play and we know that is a predicate to winning football.
Leroy Thomas | WR | 5-11, 180 lbs | Roanoke, Va. / VMI | 1 Year Eligibility
Thomas comes to WMU after four seasons at VMI. Thomas was productive every season, catching at least 25 balls each year. He leaves VMI with 168 catches for 1,719 yards, eight touchdowns and averaged 10.2 yards per catch. During the 2019 and 2021 seasons he had a career-high three touchdown receptions.
Head Coach Lance Taylor on Thomas - "Leroy is a graduate student who is going to come in and help us all over the field on offense. He has great versatility with the skills to play inside, outside and run the football. He is extremely physical and will bring an edge to our football team. Leroy had a previous relationship with our OC/QB coach, Billy Cosh as they were together at VMI during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. Leroy is also a standout in the classroom who comes from a first-class family.
Donald Willis | LB | 6-2, 220 | Garfield Heights, Ohio / Minnesota | 2 Years Eligibility
Played three seasons at Minnesota, totaling 37 games. He played all 13 games in each of the past two seasons and recorded career-high 19 tackles last season. He leaves the Golden Gophers with 46 career tackles and two pass breakups.
Head Coach Lance Taylor on Willis - "Donald will be a great addition to our defense and linebacker room. He and Coach Esposito have a great relationship and we feel like Donald can come in right away and help our football team. With three years of experience playing in the Big Ten, Donald is battle tested and ready to help us continue the high-level defense played here in Kalamazoo. Donald is a great young man who loves football and who was heavily recruited by schools all over the country."
Hayden Wolff | QB | 6-5, 235 lbs | Venice, Fla. / Old Dominion | 2 Years Eligibility
Wolff started 22 career games at Old Dominion before coming to Kalamazoo. He had his most productive season in 2022, starting in all 12 games and throwing for 2,908 yards, 18 touchdowns and just six interceptions. In 25 career games he totaled 5,578 yards through the air and 30 touchdowns.
Head Coach Lance Taylor on Wolff - "We couldn't be more excited to add Hayden to our roster. We feel like he was one of the best QBs available in the transfer portal, starting 22 games in his career over 3 seasons. Hayden comes from a football family with his brother also being a Division I athlete. He has already graduated and is working towards his graduate degree. His leadership, experience, poise and character will be great additions to our football team.
Kenny Womack | WR | 5-11, 180 lbs | Upper Marlboro, Md. / Sacred Heart | 3 Years Eligibility
Womack played two full seasons and redshirted after four games as a freshman at Sacred Heart. He comes to Kalamazoo off his best season, recording 54 receptions for 721 yards and three touchdowns in 2022. For his career he has 98 catches for 1,234 yards and five scores. Womack also played three seasons for SHU's men's basketball team.
Head Coach Lance Taylor on Womack - "Kenny is a dynamic wide receiver who was a standout dual sport athlete at the college level (basketball and football). He has already earned his degree and comes from a great family. We know that Kenny will come in and immediately raise the talent level in our wide receiver room and be a great addition to the classroom and the Kalamazoo community."
