Football | 8/1/2016 10:04:00 AM
DETROIT -- Over the next few weeks we will continue previewing each position on the 2016 Wayne State University football team with each position coach highlighting their respective units. Head coach
Paul Winters, who also oversees the running backs, is featured in this segment.
Last year, WSU produced its 10th 1,000-yard running back in the last 11 seasons as
Romello Brown (Westland, Mich. / Livonia Churchill) rushed for 1,287 yards and 19 touchdowns. In addition,
Demetrius Stinson (Detroit, Mich. / Douglass) and
Deiontae Nicholas (Chesterfield, Mich. / L'Anse Creuse North) combined for another 719 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.
A position that was largely unproven a year ago after the graduation of Desmond Martin and Jay Hayes, is one with an abundant supply of experience in 2016.
Brown enters his redshirt junior season 18th in school history with 1,389 rushing yards. He is ranked fourth in Warrior history in rushing yards per game (92.6), seventh in yards per carry (5.40 - min. 100 attempts), eighth in total offense per play (5.40 - min. 200 plays), 10th in rushing touchdowns (20), 13th in all-purpose yards per game (95.7), 14th in touchdowns scored (20), 19th in points scored (120) and 20th in total offense per game (92.6 yards).
Stinson had a solid year for the Warriors in 2015 after redshirting at Ferris State in 2013 and WSU in 2014. He was named to the GLIAC All-Academic Team and had WSU's longest run from scrimmage (49 yards) at Walsh. Nicholas played in all 11 games as a redshirt freshman last season and saw action on all four special teams in four games, and on kickoff coverage, punt coverage and punt return the other seven contests.
Battling for a chance to make their collegiate debuts in 2016 is a trio of redshirt freshmen in tailbacks
DeOntay Moffett (Muskegon Heights, Mich. / Mona Shores) and
James Hill (Livonia, Mich. / Clarenceville) along with fullback
Stephen Charron (Palm Harbor, Fla.).
Redshirt senior
Garrett Wiska (Northville, Mich. / Detroit Catholic Central) is the incumbent at fullback after setting a school-record with a 97-yard touchdown reception last season vs. Lake Erie, the longest offensive play in WSU history.
Newcomers in the backfield and likely to redshirt are
Dillon Powell (Independence, Ky. / Simon Kenton) at tailback, and
Brent Murray (Walloon Lake, Mich. / Petoskey) at fullback. Powell rushed for 1,780 yards and 23 touchdowns as a senior on 256 attempts with nine 100-yard games to earn NKFCA Division 6A District Player of the Year honors. Murray rushed for 1,490 yards and 21 touchdowns as a senior for the Northmen of Petoskey High School.
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