Wayne State University Athletics

Football 7/22/2022 1:20:00 PM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

2022 Football Position Previews - Running Backs

Listen to Coach Winters' thoughts on this group.

DETROIT -- Over the next few weeks, we will preview each position on the 2022 Wayne State University football team with each position coach highlighting their respective units. Head coach Paul Winters, who also oversees the running backs, is featured in this segment.

Three of the top four rushers from last year return to the backfield, including First Team All-GLIAC selection Myren Harris (Clinton Township, Mich. / Chippewa Valley). He gained at least 100 yards in four of his last five games a year ago, including a WSU single-game record of 327 yards vs. Northwood. Harris averaged 7.847 yards per carry in 2021, which ranked second nationally.

Kendall Williams (Farmington Hills, Mich. / Farmington) was third on the team in rushing with 295 yards and finished second on the squad with 33 receptions a season ago.  Chandler Edwards (Norton Shores, Mich. / North Muskegon) could see action in the defensive secondary as well as at running back after averaging over five yards per carry in 2021. Karmi Mackey (Tampa, Fla. / Seffner Christian Academy), who returns for his second year as a graduate transfer from Eastern Michigan, was fourth on the team last year in rushing yards.

Redshirt freshman D'Marco Singleton (Marysville, Mich.) is a 6-2, 228-pound tailback who is working his way up the depth chart along with sophomore Te'Avion Warren (Grand Blanc, Mich. / Davison). Warren has moved to the offensive side of the ball after earning WSU Defensive Rookie of the Year honors a year ago as a true freshman.  Nick Isley (Rockford, Mich.) has played in just two of the five previous seasons due to injuries (2017 and 2019) and COVID (2020).

The two incoming freshmen, who most likely will redshirt, are Brayden McKenna (Lapeer, Mich.) and CJ Turner (Southfield, Mich. / Detroit Central). McKenna was selected as the 2021 Flint Area Offensive Player of the Year after being voted Saginaw Valley League MVP. He earned Associated Press First Team All-State honors as a senior as well as being named to the Detroit News Dream Team after rushing for 2,145 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2021, while also catching 17 passes for 316 yards. Turner received First Team All-State recognition in Division 7 from the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association (MHSFCA). He earned 2021 Associated Press Division 7 All-State Honorable Mention accolades as well as being selected to the 2021 Detroit Free Press All-Detroit First Team. He rushed for 1,119 yards and 11 touchdowns on 87 carries as a senior and totaled 466 receiving yards in 2021.

Redshirt senior Will Butler (Novi, Mich. / Detroit Catholic Central) will handle the fullback duties, along with a pair of redshirt freshmen in Nick Hayward (Bellevue, Mich.) and John Rayba (Rochester Hills, Mich. / Stoney Creek). Butler has played in 22 games over the last three playing seasons (2018-19-21).  Hayward was a two-time (2019 and 2020) Division 1 Eight-Player All-State First Team selection by the MHSFCA. Rayba was selected to the Associated Press Division 1-2 Honorable Mention All-State team in 2020 and also received Honorable Mention All-State accolades from the Detroit News.

Two recruits that will be utilized as an H-Back/fullback are Gabe Mendoza (Rochester Hills, Mich. / Rochester) and Quincy Salter (Livonia, Mich. / Stevenson). Mendoza was voted to the All-Oakland Activities Association White Division All-League team in 2021, while Salter received All-Kensington Lakes Activities Association honors as well as Honorable Mention All-Metro West in both 2020 and 2021.

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Players Mentioned

#43 Will Butler: FB; 6' 1"; Graduate Student

# 13 Chandler Edwards: CB; 5' 10"; Senior

#7 Myren Harris: RB; 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore

#34 Nick Hayward: FB; 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman

#45 Nick Isley: RB; 6' 2"; Redshirt Fifth Year

#24 Karmi Mackey: RB; 6' 2"; Graduate Student

#33 John Rayba: FB; 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman

#32 D'Marco Singleton: RB; 6' 2"; Redshirt Freshman

#2 Te'Avion Warren: RB; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#4 Kendall Williams: RB; 5' 9"; Redshirt Junior

Players Mentioned

#43 Will Butler
: 6' 1"; Graduate Student
: FB

# 13 Chandler Edwards
: 5' 10"; Senior
: CB

#7 Myren Harris
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore
: RB

#34 Nick Hayward
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman
: FB

#45 Nick Isley
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Fifth Year
: RB

#24 Karmi Mackey
: 6' 2"; Graduate Student
: RB

#33 John Rayba
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman
: FB

#32 D'Marco Singleton
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Freshman
: RB

#2 Te'Avion Warren
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: RB

#4 Kendall Williams
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Junior
: RB