Football | 8/2/2017 12:18:00 PM
DETROIT -- Over the next few weeks we will continue previewing each position on the 2017 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 14th year on the WSU staff this fall and his 13th 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. He took on an additional role as co-defensive coordinator this past winter.
Despite losing six letterwinners, including three starters (
Dalton Binkowski,
Alex Medenbach and
Nathan White) on the defensive line, the defensive end position should be the strongest unit on the defense with four experienced players.
Senior
Jake Carrizales (Hamler, Ohio / Patrick Henry) has started 19 times and is tied-for-14th in school history in sack yards (71), tied-for-15th in tackles for loss yards (121), 16th in quarterback sacks (12.5 / 9 solo, 7 assisted), 19th in tackles for loss (27.0 / 21 solo, 12 assisted) and tied-for-36th in forced fumbles (2). Junior
Derrick Coleman (Beverly Hills, Mich. / Country Day) is slated to start opposite Carrizales. Coleman had a very productive 2016 season leading the squad in both tackles for loss (9.5) and sacks (5.0) in earning Honorable Mention All-GLIAC accolades.
Battling for increased playing time at defensive end are sophomores
Brady Beedon (Marysville, Mich.) and
Jalen Lewis (Pontiac, Mich. / West Bloomfield). Lewis finished second on the squad a year ago with 3.0 sacks (all solo), while Beedon recorded three solo tackles for loss during the season.
Adding depth at the spot will be transfer
Keith Love along with veterans
Harold Gibbs III (Detroit, Mich. / Clawson) and
Justin Rau (Flushing, Mich.). Love graduated from Lake Erie College this past spring, but only played three years for the Storm. Both Gibbs and Rau are beginning their second years in the program. The two recruits at the defensive end position are
Sean Banaszak (Kenosha, Wis. / Indian Trail) and
Anthony Clark (Detroit, Mich. / Cass Tech).
Sophomore
Justin Hollins (West Bloomfield, Mich.) appeared in 10 games as a nose tackle during the 2016 season and tied for second on the squad with two forced fumbles, which ranked in the top 10 in the GLIAC. Senior
LaMonte Baker (Mt. Clemens, Mich. / L'Anse Creuse North) provides an experienced back-up, while newcomers
Damani Green (Detroit / Martin Luther King) and
Cameron Judge (Avon, Ohio) will most likely redshirt in order to get stronger for GLIAC play in the trenches.
Sophomore
Tiroca Battle (Auburn Hills, Mich. / Avondale) is slated to start at defensive tackle after playing in five games a season ago.
Blake Mazur (Comstock Park, Mich.) adds a veteran presence at the position with newcomers
John-Paul Morris (West Bloomfield, Mich.) and
Darius Collins (Lima, Ohio / Senior) most likely to redshirt.
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