Hall of Fame
Josh Renel was a four-year football letterwinner (2008-11), who was the 2011-12 WSU Male Student-Athlete of the Year after serving as a team captain on the 2011 national runner-up football team.
He finished his career with the highest punt return average (11.7) in WSU history, while ranking second in all-purpose yards (5,595) and punt return yards (784), third in rushing yards (2,767), kickoff return yards (1,600) and kickoff return average (25.0), fifth in rushing touchdowns (28), and tied-for-sixth in points (192).
He was the 2011 McAvoy Award recipient, which is presented annually to the GLIAC football player who best combines outstanding character and leadership on the field, in the classroom, and in the community.
A four-time all-league performer (First Team running back in 2011, First Team running back and return specialist in 2010, and Honorable Mention return specialist in 2009).
As a true freshman in 2008, Renel led the GLIAC in punt returns.
The following year, he had the sixth-best kickoff return average in school history (24.7), which included a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown at Indianapolis.
In his junior campaign, Renel was a First Team All-American all-purpose back from Hansen's Football Gazette as he was the only Division II player to record at least 2,000 all-purpose yards during the regular season.
He started all 16 games as a senior and earned All-America honors from both the Football Gazette and D2Football.com.
During the 2011 NCAA playoff run, Renel had the most kickoff returns (11), and highest average per kickoff return (29.9) along with ranking fourth in rushing yards (302). Â He recorded 697 all-purpose yards, which included returning the opening kickoff in the national championship game for a 93-yard touchdown.
A native of Rochester Hills, Renel earned his degree in marketing. Â Academically, he was on the Honor Roll all eight semesters with four terms of at least a 3.5 GPA. Â
Renel was a two-time GLIAC Commissioner's Award recipient for academic and athletic excellence and earned CoSIDA Academic All-District recognition his last three years including First Team Academic All-American honors as a senior.
