Wayne State University Athletics

Football 7/17/2023 3:46:00 PM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

2023 Warrior Football Season Preview

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University football team will have a much different look both on the field and on the sidelines this fall.

WSU returns just three starters on defense (Matt Buschman at linebacker, along with Drake Reid and Elijah Fowlkes in the secondary), plus has almost an entirely new coaching staff led by first-year head coach Tyrone Wheatley, who brought in six new assistant coaches. The offense returns nine starters, including five offensive linemen who combined to make 38 starts a year ago.

Of the 43 returning letterwinners on the roster, only one (Noah Nicklin) has earned three letters, and two of the 15 with two letters did not play a season ago (Niko Mosley and Dalen Peeks). The remaining 27 letterwinners earned their first collegiate letter following the 2022 campaign.

Wayne State has approximately 34 incoming freshmen plus 10 transfers comprising its 2023 roster.

The 2022 Warriors compiled a 1-9 record against the second-toughest schedule in Division 2 according to the NCAA as Wayne State's opponents had a .692 winning percentage (74-33). After starting the year 1-1 with a loss at Slippery Rock (10-3 in 2022) and a home field win over Shaw, WSU fell in the final four minutes to Division III powerhouse, Wisconsin-La Crosse (9-2 in 2022). Following a non-conference loss to Grand Valley State at Tom Adams Field, the Warriors fell 37-30 at home to Northern Michigan.

Wayne State led 31-21 early in the fourth quarter at Michigan Tech, before the Huskies rallied and scored the winning touchdown with 27 seconds left to win 35-34. The next Saturday at Davenport, WSU led 43-40 late in the fourth quarter prior to the Panthers scoring on a 13-yard touchdown pass with nine seconds left in regulation.

The Warriors led Saginaw Valley State 14-7 midway through the fourth period before the visiting Cardinals tallied the final 14 points, including a nine-yard game-winning touchdown run with 55 seconds left. Wayne State ended the year with a pair of setbacks to GVSU and Ferris State in which WSU was out-scored 82-28.

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Players Mentioned

#10 Matt Buschman: OLB; 6' 2"; Graduate Student

#2 Elijah Fowlkes: CB; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#41 Niko Mosley: DE/LB; 6' 2"; Redshirt Fifth Year

#73 Noah Nicklin: G; 6' 3"; Graduate Student

#7 Dalen Peeks: CB/S; 5' 11"; Redshirt Senior

#3 Drake Reid: CB; 5' 9"; Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

#10 Matt Buschman
: 6' 2"; Graduate Student
: OLB

#2 Elijah Fowlkes
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: CB

#41 Niko Mosley
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Fifth Year
: DE/LB

#73 Noah Nicklin
: 6' 3"; Graduate Student
: G

#7 Dalen Peeks
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Senior
: CB/S

#3 Drake Reid
: 5' 9"; Graduate Student
: CB