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Wayne State University Athletics

Offensive Line

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

2022 Football Position Previews - Offensive Line

Listen to Coach Hensel's thoughts on this group.

DETROIT -- With the start of the 2022 season just a month away, this segment will feature the offensive line under the direction of third-year coach Joe Hensel.

WSU lost two all-conference players and four starters on the offensive line this off-season to graduation in First Team All-GLIAC honoree Landin Mitchell, Second Team All-GLIAC selection Lane Potter, along with center Reid Thompson and right tackle Joe Ziedas.  The quartet combined to start 95 games in their Warrior careers, led by Potter's 44 career starts.

However, the cupboard is not bare for offensive line coach Joe Hensel.

Veteran Cooper Kukal (Fremont, Mich.) is the most experienced returnee having played in 19 games.  Kukal played three different spots along the offensive line in 2021, but is slated to start at center this fall.  Redshirt sophomore Charles Wesley (Clinton, Mich. / Chippewa Valley) who missed all of last season due to an illness after the 2020 season was cancelled due to COVID, looks to make his collegiate debut this September.  Redshirt freshman Aidan Tweedy (Oswego, Ill.) missed all of 2021 due to a pre-season injury and is very versatile and could see action at multiple spots on the offensive line this fall.  Freshman Will Edwards (Cincinnati, Ohio / Winton Woods), who received 2021 Second Team All-Ohio accolades, while playing for the Division 2 state champions, provides depth at the position.

Redshirt senior Noah Nicklin (Davisburg, Mich. / Clarkson) has started seven games (six at left guard, and one at center) in his Warrior career, and is penciled in at left guard in 2022.  Fourth-year player Ty Potter (Hudsonville, Mich.) will most likely miss the upcoming campaign due to an off-season injury.  Nicklin will be backed-up by Tweedy, with newcomer Kaleb Vanaman (Lapeer, Mich.) providing depth.  Vanaman was a three-year starter for LHS, and a two-time First Team All-Saginaw Valley League (SVL) honoree.

Redshirt junior Chrishoun Roberts (Garfield Heights, Ohio / Lakewood St. Edward) started all 11 games a season ago at right guard and is slated there again in 2022.  In 2021, Roberts helped WSU rank third in the GLIAC in rushing yards per game (181.5) and fourth in passing yards per contest (178.1).  Redshirt freshmen Owen Salingue (Wayland, Mich. / Wayland Union) and freshman Jayden Lewin (Grand Blanc, Mich.), who received Second Team All-SVL honors as a senior, will back-up Roberts.

There will be strong competition at the tackle positions with four student-athletes batting for two starting spots.  This quartet consists of redshirt sophomores Blake Bustard (Muskegon, Mich. / Mona Shores) and Tyler Schompert (Olmsted Township, Ohio / Olmsted Falls), along with redshirt freshmen Adam Sarjo (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Grand Rapids Christian) and Sam Waibel (Medina, Ohio / Highland).

Bustard, who received MHSFCA Dream Team honors as a senior as well as Division 2 First Team All-State accolades, saw action in five games a season ago.  Schompert, who appeared in three games in 2021 for the Warriors, was voted to the All-Ohio Second Team for Division 2 by both the Ohio Prep Sportswriter's Association and the Ohio High School Athletic Association in 2019.  Sarjo was selected to the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association (MHSFCA) Division 4 All-State First Team in 2020, while Waibel was selected to the All-Suburban League First Team in both 2019 and 2020.

Providing additional depth will be redshirt junior Mohamed Saad (Dearborn, Mich.) and true freshmen Tomi Bisiriyu (Chicago, Ill. / Whitney Young) and Ethan Gates (St. Clair Shores, Mich. / Lakeview).  Bisiriyu was selected to the 2021 IHSFCA Honorable Mention All-State Team for Division 7A, while Gates received First Team All-State Division 2 accolades from the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association.

Other Position Previews
Season Preview
Running Backs Preview
Quarterbacks Preview
Linebackers Preview

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Players Mentioned

Landin Mitchell

#78 Landin Mitchell

T
6' 4"
Redshirt Fifth Year
Lane Potter

#72 Lane Potter

G
6' 4"
Graduate Student
Reid Thompson

#53 Reid Thompson

C
6' 0"
Graduate Student
Joe Ziedas

#64 Joe Ziedas

T
6' 4"
Redshirt Senior
Blake Bustard

#74 Blake Bustard

T
6' 7"
Redshirt Sophomore
Cooper Kukal

#63 Cooper Kukal

C
6' 4"
Graduate Student
Noah Nicklin

#73 Noah Nicklin

G
6' 3"
Graduate Student
Ty Potter

#62 Ty Potter

G
6' 2"
Senior
Chrishoun Roberts

#66 Chrishoun Roberts

G
6' 1"
Redshirt Junior
Mohamed Saad

#75 Mohamed Saad

T
6' 5"
Redshirt Junior

Players Mentioned

Landin Mitchell

#78 Landin Mitchell

6' 4"
Redshirt Fifth Year
T
Lane Potter

#72 Lane Potter

6' 4"
Graduate Student
G
Reid Thompson

#53 Reid Thompson

6' 0"
Graduate Student
C
Joe Ziedas

#64 Joe Ziedas

6' 4"
Redshirt Senior
T
Blake Bustard

#74 Blake Bustard

6' 7"
Redshirt Sophomore
T
Cooper Kukal

#63 Cooper Kukal

6' 4"
Graduate Student
C
Noah Nicklin

#73 Noah Nicklin

6' 3"
Graduate Student
G
Ty Potter

#62 Ty Potter

6' 2"
Senior
G
Chrishoun Roberts

#66 Chrishoun Roberts

6' 1"
Redshirt Junior
G
Mohamed Saad

#75 Mohamed Saad

6' 5"
Redshirt Junior
T