Detroit Free Press article by George Sipple on WSU Football.

Click here for Free Press story.

Click here for Free Press photo gallery.

Wayne State plans to replace star Joique Bell with balance

BY GEORGE SIPPLE
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

Wayne State coach Paul Winters doesn't expect one player to replace running back Joique Bell. But he does expect an improved offense.

As a senior, Bell won the 2009 Harlon Hill Trophy -- awarded to the best player in Division II. He led all NCAA divisions in rushing yards per game (189.5), points per game (17.5) and all-purpose yards per game (217.5). He now plays for the Buffalo Bills and has scored touchdowns in each of their first two exhibition games.

"Anytime you talk about losing a Harlon Hill winner, that's about as big a blow as a group can take," Winters said. "You can't expect one person to be that guy. You're going to count on two or three people to fill that role. With two or three people taking a role, there's less that other teams can focus on. We'll have to be more diverse and rely a lot more on our quarterback."

The Warriors ranked eighth nationally last season at 233.7 rushing yards per game. Redshirt freshman Toney Davis (5-feet-10 and 205 pounds) and junior Josh Renel (5-8, 187) are expected to get the most carries among a committee of backs.

Davis rushed for 1,157 yards on 126 carries to help Muskegon go 14-0 and win the Division 2 state championship as a senior.

"He's a kid with really good balance," Winters said. "A hard runner to bring down. Not a big guy by any means, but he's hard to tackle."

Davis is confident he can be an asset.

"We're going to be a better team," Davis said. "People are going to think, 'They don't have Joique, so they're not going to be that good.' But they don't know that we're going to be a balanced team now. We still can have that 200-yard rushing game because we've got a good offensive line."

Renel, who graduated from Rochester Adams in 2008, could help out more by catching passes out of the backfield. He has been the punt returner the past two seasons and also handled kickoff returns last season. He averaged 6.9 rushing yards per carry last season (24 for 165 yards).

"In a limited role, when we had a wildcat offense, I'd be our motion back and kind of had more sweep runs," Renel said. "Playing with Joique, you learn a lot. He was the best running back I've ever seen."

If not for Bell, Winters said, Renel would have had more rushing opportunities.

"He's just a tremendous talent," Winters said. "He's a guy that we really wanted to try to get on the field, but he was playing behind the best player in the country. We're very excited about what he's going to bring to us this year."

Renel is just as excited for what the whole unit can deliver.

"I feel we have a bunch of different players that have all different skill sets, and I think teams are going to have a handful," Renel said. "They're not going to be able to just key on one guy. ... I think it's going to be an exciting year."

Sophomore quarterback Mickey Mohner will be counted on more this season after throwing for 1,123 yards with nine touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2009. Junior Troy Burrell (25 catches, 458 yards, four TDs) is the top returning receiver.

Contact GEORGE SIPPLE: 313-223-4796 or gsipple@freepress.com.