Wayne State University Athletics

Kendall Williams led the 2022 squad in rushing and all-purpose yards.

Football 7/24/2023 9:11:00 AM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

2023 Warrior Football Position Previews - Running Backs

Listen to Coach Wheatley's thoughts on his group.

DETROIT -- Over the next five weeks, we will be previewing each position on the 2023 Wayne State University football team with each position coach highlighting their respective units. This segment is on the running backs with head coach Tyrone Wheatley.

Two of last season's top three rushers return in First Team All-GLIAC selection Kendall Williams (Farmington Hills, Mich. / Farmington) and junior Te'Avion Warren (Flint, Mich. / Davison).

Williams, the squad's Offensive Most Valuable Player, had a very productive junior campaign finishing second in the GLIAC in yards per carry (7.3), all-purpose yards (850) and all-purpose yards per game (141.7), fourth in both rushing yards (445) and rushing yards per game (74.2), tied-for-sixth in rushing touchdowns (4), tied-for-seventh in receptions (23), eighth in rushing attempts (61), and 10th in both receiving yards (282) and yards per catch (12.3).

Warren will be mentioned in the wide receivers since he is listed as playing slot this fall.

Competing for playing time in the backfield are sophomore D'Marco Singleton (Marysville, Mich.), junior Jeremiah Sterling, Jr. (Benton Harbor, Mich. / St. Joseph / Olivet College), and redshirt freshman Brayden McKenna (Lapeer, Mich.).

Singleton played in all 10 games in 2022 and led the squad with three special teams tackles on punt coverage (3-0). Sterling rushed 943 yards in two seasons with the Comets before redshirting at WSU a season ago. McKenna redshirted in 2022 as a true freshman after earning Associated Press First Team All-State honors as a senior as well as being named to the Detroit News Dream Team. McKenna rushed for 2,145 yards and 30 touchdowns for Lapeer High School in 2021.

Joining the returnees are freshmen Dahmir Farnum (Muskegon, Mich. / Mona Shores) and XaVior Tyus (Portage, Mich. / Portage Northern).

Farnum received Division 2 First Team All-State recognition from the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association (MHSFCA) as well as Second Team All-State honors from Associated Press in 2022. He rushed for 1,314 yards and 19 touchdowns. Tyus, who rushed for 1,402 yards as a senior on 192 carries also had 235 receiving yards and scored 23 touchdowns. He was selected to the Detroit Free Press Division 2 All-State First Team.

The fullbacks have been incorporated into the tight end position group.

Other Position Previews
Season Preview
Quarterbacks Preview

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Players Mentioned

#37 Brayden McKenna: RB; 5' 10"; Redshirt Freshman

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

#25 Jeremiah Sterling, Jr.: RB; 5' 11"; Redshirt Junior

#3 Te'Avion Warren: SL/KR; 5' 7"; Junior

#4 Kendall Williams: RB/KR; 5' 8"; Redshirt Senior

#23 Dahmir Farnum: RB; 5' 8"; Freshman

#26 XaVior Tyus: RB; 5' 9"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#37 Brayden McKenna
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Freshman
: RB

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

#25 Jeremiah Sterling, Jr.
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Junior
: RB

#3 Te'Avion Warren
: 5' 7"; Junior
: SL/KR

#4 Kendall Williams
: 5' 8"; Redshirt Senior
: RB/KR

#23 Dahmir Farnum
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: RB

#26 XaVior Tyus
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: RB