Football | 8/6/2015 10:12:00 AM
DETROIT -- Over the next few weeks we will continue previewing each position on the 2015 Wayne State University football team with each position coach highlighting their respective units.
Scott Kazmierski, the longest tenured assistant coach on head coach
Paul Winters staff, is featured in this segment. Kazmierski is entering his 12th year on the WSU staff this fall and his 11th as the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator. He joined the Warrior football program in the spring of 2004 as running backs coach and moved to his current position in June of 2005.
In 2014, the Warrior defensive line corps produced two Academic All-GLIAC selections in
Blake Mazur and
Alex Medenbach along with WSU Defensive Rookie of the Year award recipient
Jake Carrizales. Carrizales was a Second Team All-GLIAC selection, while
Justice Akuezue and
Sam Sillmon were both named to the All-GLIAC Honorable Mention Team. Carrizales was third in the GLIAC in both sacks and tackles for loss per game, while Sillmon was among the conference leaders in fumble recoveries.
As a team, WSU led the GLIAC in 2014 and ranked 22nd nationally in sacks (2.91 per game), while ranking eighth in NCAA Division II with 9.3 tackles for loss per game. The Warriors were ranked 38th in D-II in total defense allowing 338.5 yards per game.
With three fifth-year seniors slated to start on the defensive line plus sophomore
Jake Carrizales (Hamler, Ohio / Patrick Henry) at one of the defensive end spots, this position group is poised for an outstanding year in 2015.
The nose tackle spot will be spearheaded by
Raafat El Hage (Dearborn, Mich. / Edsel Ford), while junior
Dalton Binkowski (Washington, Mich. / Romeo) and sophomores
Blake Mazur (Comstock Park, Mich.) and
LaMonte Baker (Mt. Clemens, Mich. / L'Anse Creuse North) providing depth at the position.
The defensive tackle slot is even more experienced than the nose tackle position with senior
Derrick Rodgers (Redford, Mich. / Thurston) being backed-up by juniors
Jada Littlejohn (Flint, Mich. / Northern),
Alex Medenbach (Muskegon, Mich. / Catholic Central) and
Marv Jefferson (Farmington, Mich.).
With Carrizales at one defensive end spot, senior
Ashawn Butler (Port Huron, Mich.) is slated to start on the other side. Back-ups on the outside include junior
Adam Williams (Lake City, Mich.) along with redshirt freshmen
Derrick Coleman (Beverly Hills, Mich. / Country Day) and
Kolby Nance (Farmington Hills, Mich. / Harrison).
All six incoming defensive linemen --
Tiroca Battle (Auburn Hills, Mich. / Avondale),
Brady Beedon (Marysville, Mich.),
Caleb Carrizales (Hamler, Ohio / Patrick Henry),
Jon Currie (Metamora, Mich. / Lapeer),
Justin Hollins (West Bloomfield, Mich.) and
Jalen Lewis (Pontiac, Mich. / West Bloomfield) -- are slated to be redshirted.
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