Wayne State University Athletics

Football 7/29/2022 7:05:00 AM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

2022 Football Position Previews - Linebackers

Listen to Coach Gardiner's thoughts on his group.

DETROIT – Over the next few weeks, we will continue previewing each position on the 2022 Wayne State University football team with each position coach highlighting their respective units. This segment features linebackers coach Steve Gardiner.

The linebacker corps returns two of its three starters from 2021, including First Team All-GLIAC honoree Julius Wilkerson (Mequon, Wis. / Homestead). Wilkerson has made 160 career tackles (71-89) in 21 games. Niko Mosley (West Bloomfield, Mich.) started the first eight games last year at outside linebacker, before missing the final three games with an injury. He totaled a career-best 38 tackles (15-23) during last season.

Darien Tipps-Clemons (Piqua, Ohio / Eastern Kentucky) played in all 11 games a season ago, starting the final three contests. According to the coaching staff, Tipps-Clemons played very well during spring ball.

Three other returnees saw their first collegiate action in 2021. Blake Gilliam (Allen Park, Mich.) played in 10 contests and registered a game-high nine tackles (5-4) vs. Michigan Tech, in his first career start. Donte Reed (Chicago Hts., Ill. / Thornton Fractional North) appeared in nine games in 2021 primarily on special teams. Emarion Perkins (Warren, Ohio / Warren G. Harding) was one of two true freshmen to play a year ago. He participated in the last six games and finished eighth on the squad with 32 tackles (12-20), despite not playing in the first five games.

The linebacker depth will be bolstered by the addition of Eastern Michigan graduate transfer Matt Buschman (Brighton, Mich. / Eastern Michigan). Buschman appeared in 20 games over the last three seasons for the Eagles.

Michael Smith (Lansing, Ill. / Thornton Fractional South) enters his third year in the program, but has only dressed for one game due to the COVID shutdown in 2020 and injuries in 2021. A trio of players begin their redshirt freshman campaigns next month in Brody Dalton (Jackson, Mich. / Lumen Christi), Noah Foster (Shaker Heights, Ohio) and Justin Hart (Redford, Mich, / Westland John Glenn).

Dalton was selected to the 2020-21 Detroit Free Press Division 7 All-State First Team, while Foster earned Honorable Mention All-Conference accolades from the Lake Erie League in 2020. Hart, who redshirted a year ago as a tight end, but made the move to linebacker in the spring, recorded 79 tackles in seven games, including six sacks as a senior in 2020.

A quartet of incoming freshmen will provide depth as they get acclimated to collegiate football. The newcomers are Chris Banks II (Romulus, Mich. / Woodhaven), Elijah Cephus (Milwaukee, Wis. / Marquette), Darius King (Detroit, Mich. / Cass Tech) and Nahji Mabry (Flushing, Mich.)

Banks earned Michigan High School Football Coaches Association (MHSFCA) Division 1 First Team All-Region honors as a senior, while Cephus is the younger brother of former Warrior defensive tackle Kenneth Cephus. King was selected to the 2021 MHSFCA Division 1 All-Region 4 First Team with Mabry being voted to the All-Flint Metro League First Team in 2021.

Other Position Previews
Season Preview
Running Backs Preview
Quarterbacks Preview

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Players Mentioned

#95 Kenneth Cephus: DT; 6' 1"; Redshirt Fifth Year

#57 Brody Dalton: MLB; 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman

#40 Noah Foster: OLB; 5' 11"; Redshirt Freshman

#46 Blake Gilliam: OLB; 6' 0"; Redshirt Sophomore

#48 Justin Hart: OLB; 6' 3"; Redshirt Freshman

#41 Niko Mosley: OLB; 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior

#8 Emarion Perkins: OLB; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#44 Donte Reed: OLB; 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore

#36 Michael Smith: MLB; 5' 11"; Redshirt Sophomore

#21 Darien Tipps-Clemons: OLB; 6' 1"; Redshirt Senior

Players Mentioned

#95 Kenneth Cephus
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Fifth Year
: DT

#57 Brody Dalton
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman
: MLB

#40 Noah Foster
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Freshman
: OLB

#46 Blake Gilliam
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Sophomore
: OLB

#48 Justin Hart
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Freshman
: OLB

#41 Niko Mosley
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior
: OLB

#8 Emarion Perkins
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: OLB

#44 Donte Reed
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore
: OLB

#36 Michael Smith
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Sophomore
: MLB

#21 Darien Tipps-Clemons
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Senior
: OLB