Wayne State University Athletics

Football 7/26/2018 10:00:00 AM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

2018 Football Position Previews - Linebackers

Listen to Coach Robinson's thoughts on his student-athletes.

Over the next few weeks, we will be previewing each position on the 2018 Wayne State University football team with each position coach highlighting their respective units. Linebacker coach Jon Robinson, who begins his third full-time season on Paul Winters staff, is featured in this segment.

The linebacker corps returns four starters despite losing Honorable Mention All-GLIAC performer Dustin Carlin, who played in all 44 games in his four years and received membership National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society.

Senior Anthony Pittman (Beverly Hills, Mich. / Birmingham Groves) moved to middle linebacker midway through last season and was the lone Warrior to earn First Team All-GLIAC recognition. He has started 18 games, while recording 105 career tackles (72-33). A GLIAC All-Academic honoree, Pittman was a 2017 team captain and was voted WSU's Defensive Most Valuable Player a year ago after leading the squad in tackles for loss (12.5). He is tied-for-27th in school history with 10 fumble return yards, tied-for-20th with 20 (17 solo, 6 assisted) tackles for loss, tied-for-22nd in quarterback hurries (4), tied-for-43rd in yards from sacks (32), and 49th in tackles for loss yards (63).

Classmate Drew Dowding (Michigan Center, Mich.) has played in 28 games in his first three seasons, making six starts. A three-time GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team selection, Dowding was WSU's 2015 Defensive Rookie of the Year as well as the 2017-18 Deans' Award recipient from the Mike Ilitch School of Business for having the highest cumulative grade-point average of all student-athletes in that college. He twice won the WSU Defensive Player of the Week award and is a two-time WSU Special Teams Player of the Week honoree.

Juniors Ryan Smith (Warren, Mich. / De La Salle) and Leon Eggleston (Sylvania, Ohio / Southview) have also started for the Warriors. Smith, who was voted WSU's Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2016, has played in all 22 games over the last two seasons, making four starts. Meanwhile, Eggleston has played in 21 games in his first two seasons, making six starts. Both Smith and Eggleston have earned Academic All-GLIAC recognition each of the last two years.

Senior Samson Tai (Newark, Calif. / Newark Memorial / De Anza J.C.) joined the Warriors in January of 2017 and played in all 11 games in his first season at WSU. Tai was credited with a season-high eight tackles (2-6), including a solo tackle for loss at Ferris State, along with his first career interception.

Junior Terry Sanders (Sterling Heights, Mich. / Stevenson) missed the entire 2017 year due to a preseason injury. He saw action in six games in 2016 to earn his first letter. Sanders made his collegiate debut vs. Lake Erie on the kickoff coverage and punt return teams. He saw action on the kickoff return team and on the kickoff coverage team in five games.

Quentin Taylor (New Lothrop, Mich.) played in 10 games a year ago, including nine as a back-up linebacker, while also seeing action on the kickoff coverage, kickoff return and punt return teams.

Redshirt freshmen Spencer Stephenson (Midland, Mich. / Dow) and Brandon Tuck-Hayden (Akron, Ohio / Buchtel) will look for playing time in 2018. Stephenson will battle Pittman and Taylor for time at middle linebacker, while Tuck-Hayden is behind Smith and Sanders at will linebacker. The strong side linebacker duties will be handled by Dowding, Eggleston and Tai.

Six incoming freshmen, two at each spot, will most likely redshirt in 2018 to adjust to the speed of the college game and add the strength needed to compete in the GLIAC. The middle linebackers are Julius Wilkerson (Mequon, Wisc. / Homestead) and Patrick Burrage (Belleville, Mich.), the weak-side linebackers are Blake Grice-Brunson (Lathrup Village, Mich. / Southfield A & T) and Cameron Rogers (Riverview, Mich.), along with strong side linebackers Niko Mosley (West Bloomfield, Mich.) and Brendan Madigan (Sterling Heights, Mich. / Warren De La Salle).

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Players Mentioned

#47 Dustin Carlin: MLB; 6' 0"; Senior

#40 Drew Dowding: OLB; 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior

#36 Leon Eggleston: OLB; 5' 11"; Redshirt Junior

#50 Blake Grice-Brunson: OLB; 5' 11"; Freshman

#55 Brendan Madigan: OLB; 6' 1"; Freshman

#41 Niko Mosley: OLB; 6' 3"; Freshman

#52 Anthony Pittman: MLB; 6' 3"; Redshirt Senior

#65 Cameron Rogers: OLB; 5' 11"; Freshman

#24 Terry Sanders: OLB; 6' 1"; Redshirt Junior

#54 Ryan Smith: OLB; 6' 0"; Redshirt Junior

#44 Spencer Stephenson: MLB/LS; 5' 11"; Redshirt Freshman

#19 Samson Tai: OLB; 5' 11"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#47 Dustin Carlin
: 6' 0"; Senior
: MLB

#40 Drew Dowding
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior
: OLB

#36 Leon Eggleston
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Junior
: OLB

#50 Blake Grice-Brunson
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: OLB

#55 Brendan Madigan
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: OLB

#41 Niko Mosley
: 6' 3"; Freshman
: OLB

#52 Anthony Pittman
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Senior
: MLB

#65 Cameron Rogers
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: OLB

#24 Terry Sanders
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Junior
: OLB

#54 Ryan Smith
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Junior
: OLB

#44 Spencer Stephenson
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Freshman
: MLB/LS

#19 Samson Tai
: 5' 11"; Senior
: OLB