Wayne State University Athletics

Football 8/22/2022 10:54:00 AM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

2022 Football Position Previews - Special Teams

Listen to Coach Gardiner's thoughts on his group.

DETROIT – This is the final position preview for the 2022 Wayne State University football team. This segment features special teams coordinator Steve Gardiner.

There will be competition for each spot on special teams, including place kicker where a trio of redshirt sophomores return. Griffin Milovanski (Saugatuck, Mich.) handled the place-kicking duties over the final nine games of 2021 connecting on 7-of-8 field goal attempts and 24-of-27 extra points. He was second in the league in field goal percentage (.875), tied-for-third in longest field goal (45 yards), and fourth in kicking points (45).

Jeremy Taras (Macomb, Mich. / Henry Ford II) saw action in the first two games, including making a field goal vs. Truman. Maxx Fisher (Midland, Mich.) was named to the GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team in 2021. Hadi Jawad (Dearborn, Mich.) joined the squad just before camp started after playing both soccer and football at Dearborn High School.

The competition for the long snapper position will feature redshirt freshman Aidan Tweedy (Oswego, Ill.) among a host of others, who might see time either on field goal/PAT or punt long-snapping duties. Those in the mix are redshirt senior Jacob Mass (Livonia, Mich. / Franklin), and graduate students Noah Nicklin (Davisburg, Mich. / Clarkston) and Cooper Kukal (Fremont, Mich.).

The holder position is open after the graduation of both Jake AmRhein and Chase Churchill. Quarterbacks Josh Kulka (Clinton Township, Mich. / Chippewa Valley) and Elijah Taylor (Warren, Ohio / Warren G. Harding) among others will battle during camp for this spot.

Kickoff return duties will be a training camp battle since four of the top five leaders from a year ago return. Redshirt sophomore Myles Harris (Clinton Twp., Mich. / Chippewa Valley) averaged a team-best 24.3 yards per return last season before being injured. Redshirt junior Darrin King II (Inkster, Mich. / Detroit Country Day) had a team-high 12 returns in 2021. Redshirt freshmen Manny Harris (Kankakee, Ill. / Bishop McNamara) and Dion Brown, Jr. (Davison, Mich.), sophomore Te'Avion Warren (Flint, Mich. / Davison), and redshirt junior Kendall Williams (Farmington Hills, Mich. / Farmington) are among the group of returnees looking for action on kickoff return.

Trying to earn an opportunity in punt return duties are Myles Harris, Warren, Manny Harris and Brown.

Milovanski handled most of the punting chores a season ago and averaged 35.4 yards per attempt with seven of his 42 punts being inside the 20. Taras punted 12 times in 2021 and averaged 37.4 yards per boot. Redshirt freshman quarterback Elijah Taylor (Warren, Ohio / Warren G. Harding) could also see time as he punted in high school.

Wayne State begins the 2022 season with a 6 p.m. kickoff at Slippery Rock on September 3rd, with the home opener slated for September 10th vs. Shaw. Kickoff at Adams Field is slated for 6 p.m.

Other Position Previews
Season Preview
Running Backs Preview
Quarterbacks Preview
Linebackers Preview
Offensive Line Preview
Defensive Line Preview
Tight Ends Preview
Wide Receivers Preview
Defensive Backs Preview

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Players Mentioned

#18 Jake AmRhein: QB; 6' 4"; Graduate Student

#14 Chase Churchill: QB/H; 6' 4"; Senior

#88 Dion Brown, Jr.: WR; 5' 11"; Redshirt Freshman

#27 Maxx Fisher: PK/P; 6' 0"; Redshirt Sophomore

#1 Manny Harris: WR; 5' 9"; Redshirt Freshman

#9 Myles Harris: S; 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore

#80 Darrin King II: WR; 6' 3"; Redshirt Junior

#63 Cooper Kukal: C; 6' 4"; Graduate Student

#12 Josh Kulka: QB/H; 6' 2"; Redshirt Sophomore

#91 Jacob Mass: DE; 6' 4"; Redshirt Senior

Players Mentioned

#18 Jake AmRhein
: 6' 4"; Graduate Student
: QB

#14 Chase Churchill
: 6' 4"; Senior
: QB/H

#88 Dion Brown, Jr.
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Freshman
: WR

#27 Maxx Fisher
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Sophomore
: PK/P

#1 Manny Harris
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Freshman
: WR

#9 Myles Harris
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore
: S

#80 Darrin King II
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Junior
: WR

#63 Cooper Kukal
: 6' 4"; Graduate Student
: C

#12 Josh Kulka
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Sophomore
: QB/H

#91 Jacob Mass
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Senior
: DE