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Wayne State University Athletics

Derrick Coleman 2017 at Walsh
Jim Roetzel

Football Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

2018 Football Position Previews - Defensive Line

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

Derrick Coleman in the 2017 season opener at Walsh.
DETROIT -- Over the next few weeks we will continue previewing each position on the 2018 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 15h year on the WSU staff this fall and his 14th 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 for the 2017 campaign.

Despite losing six letterwinners (LaMonte Baker, Jake Carrizales, Harold Gibbs III, Justin Hollins, Keith Love and Blake Mazur) on the defensive line, the defensive end position should be a strong unit for the defense with four experienced players.

Senior Derrick Coleman (Beverly Hills, Mich. / Country Day) has played in 30 contests for the Green and Gold, making 10 starts.  He has 17.5 career tackles for loss (16 solo, 3 assisted) and was a 2016 Honorable Mention All-GLIAC selection.  Juniors Brady Beedon (Marysville, Mich.) and Jalen Lewis (Pontiac, Mich. / West Bloomfield), and sophomore Justin Rau (Flushing, Mich.) round out the returnees at the defensive end position.  Beedon started the final 10 games last year and earned a spot on the GLIAC All-Academic Team.  Lewis returns after missing all but the first half of the 2017 opener at Walsh.  Rau played in all 11 games a year ago, making his lone collegiate start against Grand Valley State.  He was named to the GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team.

Battling the four incumbents for playing time at defensive end will be true freshmen Jacob Mass (Livonia, Mich. / Franklin), Athletic Jones (Rochester Hills, Mich. / Stoney Creek) and Kofe Kimbrell (Fort Gratiot, Mich. / Port Huron Northern).  Redshirt freshman Anthony Clark (Detroit, Mich. / Cass Tech) will redshirt in 2018.

Two-year letterwinner Tiroca Battle (Auburn Hills, Mich. / Avondale) is slated to start at defensive tackle after making seven starts there last year.  Redshirt freshman Sean Banaszak (Kenosha, Wis. / Indian Trail) has moved inside, while transfer Kenneth Cephus (Milwaukee, Wisc. / Marquette) will compete for playing time after spending the last three seasons at Minnesota (Mankato) State.  Sophomore John-Paul Morris (West Bloomfield, Mich.) and redshirt freshman Darius Collins (Lima, Ohio / Senior) will redshirt in 2018.

The nose tackle position has the least amount of experience with two redshirt freshmen and a true freshman battling for depth chart positioning.  Both Damani Green (Detroit, Mich. / Martin Luther King) and Cameron Judge (Avon, Ohio) redshirted a year ago, while the newcomer is true freshman Griffen Best (Bloomfield Village, Mich. / Birmingham Groves).

Other Position Previews
GLIAC Preview

Linebackers

Running Backs

Wide Receivers




 
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Players Mentioned

LaMonte Baker

#96 LaMonte Baker

NT
6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
Jake Carrizales

#2 Jake Carrizales

DE
6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
Harold Gibbs III

#68 Harold Gibbs III

DE
6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
Justin Hollins

#93 Justin Hollins

NT
6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
Blake Mazur

#92 Blake Mazur

DT
6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
Keith Love

#95 Keith Love

DE
5' 11"
Graduate Student
Sean Banaszak

#98 Sean Banaszak

DE/DT
6' 3"
Redshirt Freshman
Tiroca Battle

#94 Tiroca Battle

DT
6' 1"
Redshirt Junior
Brady Beedon

#57 Brady Beedon

DE
6' 1"
Redshirt Junior
Anthony Clark

#RS Anthony Clark

DE
6' 2"
Redshirt Freshman
Derrick Coleman

#90 Derrick Coleman

DE
6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
Darius Collins

#RS Darius Collins

DT
6' 0"
Redshirt Freshman

Players Mentioned

LaMonte Baker

#96 LaMonte Baker

6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
NT
Jake Carrizales

#2 Jake Carrizales

6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
DE
Harold Gibbs III

#68 Harold Gibbs III

6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
DE
Justin Hollins

#93 Justin Hollins

6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
NT
Blake Mazur

#92 Blake Mazur

6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
DT
Keith Love

#95 Keith Love

5' 11"
Graduate Student
DE
Sean Banaszak

#98 Sean Banaszak

6' 3"
Redshirt Freshman
DE/DT
Tiroca Battle

#94 Tiroca Battle

6' 1"
Redshirt Junior
DT
Brady Beedon

#57 Brady Beedon

6' 1"
Redshirt Junior
DE
Anthony Clark

#RS Anthony Clark

6' 2"
Redshirt Freshman
DE
Derrick Coleman

#90 Derrick Coleman

6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
DE
Darius Collins

#RS Darius Collins

6' 0"
Redshirt Freshman
DT