Wayne State University Athletics

Blake Bustard is a returning All-American.

Football 7/28/2023 9:02:00 AM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

2023 Warrior Football Position Previews - Offensive Line

Listen to Coach Byrd's thoughts on his group.

DETROIT -- With the start of the 2023 season just over a month away, this segment will feature the offensive line under the direction of first-year coach Rosco Byrd, Jr.

The cupboard is not bare as nine players with collegiate experience return, including six of which started at least six games a season ago. The O-line contingent is young, however, as five of the eight letterwinners from last year earned their first Warrior letter.

The lone three-year letterwinner on the entire 2023 squad is veteran Noah Nicklin (Davisburg, Mich. / Clarkson). The graduate student has made 13 starts (nine at left guard and four at center), while playing in 23 career contests.

The two-year letterwinners on the offensive line are tackle Blake Bustard (Muskegon, Mich. / Mona Shores) and guard Chrishoun Roberts (Garfield Heights, Ohio / Lakewood St. Edward). Bustard, a redshirt junior, garnered First Team All-GLIAC and Honorable Mention All-America accolades from Hansen Football last year. He started all 10 games at right tackle in 2022. Roberts, a redshirt senior, has started 17 career games (14 at right guard and three at center).

Joining Bustard as a returning tackle is redshirt junior Tyler Schompert (Olmsted Township, Ohio / Olmsted Falls), who started nine times at left tackle a season ago. Redshirt sophomore Adam Sarjo (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Grand Rapids Christian) appeared in nine of the 10 games last year seeing action at both tackle spots. Two redshirt freshmen tackles also return in 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.

There will be strong competition at the guard positions with five student-athletes with collegiate experience batting for two starting spots. Joining the aforementioned Noah Nicklin and Chrishoun Roberts are redshirt sophomores Owen Salingue (Wayland, Mich. / Wayland Union) and Sam Waibel (Medina, Ohio / Highland), along with redshirt junior Charles Wesley (Clinton, Mich. / Chippewa Valley). Salingue appeared in the final two games of 2022, both on the PAT team. Waibel played in all 10 contests a season ago, starting the final seven games at right guard. Wesley also played in all 10 contests last year, starting seven times at left guard.

The center position has the least collegiate experience as redshirt sophomore Aidan Tweedy (Oswego, Ill.) is the only one who has played in college. A versatile performer, Tweedy saw action in eight contests last year and made his lone start at left tackle (at GVSU). He also played left guard in four consecutive games as well as seeing action at center and at right guard. Both Will Edwards (Cincinnati, Ohio / Winton Woods) and Jayden Lewin (Grand Blanc, Mich.) redshirted in 2022. Edwards received 2021 Second Team All-Ohio accolades, while playing for the Division 2 state champions. Meanwhile Lewin received Second Team All-Saginaw Valley League honors as a senior.

Wayne State recruited six offensive linemen to help with depth for the 2023 campaign. They are Brayden Davis (6-5, 270, Miamisburg, Ohio / Miamisburg), Isaac Dawkins (6-3, 280, Berkley, Mich. / Berkley), Jamire Hall (6-3, 275, Detroit, Mich. / Redford Union), Jon Haygood (6-4, 280, Warren, Mich. / Woods Tower), William O'Brien (6-3, 290, Detroit, Mich. / Cass Tech), and Noah Thomas (6-6, 290, Livonia, Mich. / Dearborn Divine Child).

Other Position Previews
Season Preview
Quarterbacks Preview
Running Backs Preview

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Players Mentioned

#77 Tomi Bisiriyu: T; 6' 4"; Redshirt Freshman

#74 Blake Bustard: T; 6' 7"; Redshirt Junior

#62 Will Edwards: G/C; 6' 3"; Redshirt Freshman

#76 Ethan Gates: T; 6' 6"; Redshirt Freshman

#78 Jayden Lewin: C; 6' 4"; Redshirt Freshman

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

#66 Chrishoun Roberts: G; 6' 2"; Graduate Student

#70 Owen Salingue: G; 6' 4"; Redshirt Sophomore

#75 Adam Sarjo: T; 6' 4"; Redshirt Sophomore

#71 Tyler Schompert: G/T; 6' 4"; Redshirt Junior

Players Mentioned

#77 Tomi Bisiriyu
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Freshman
: T

#74 Blake Bustard
: 6' 7"; Redshirt Junior
: T

#62 Will Edwards
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Freshman
: G/C

#76 Ethan Gates
: 6' 6"; Redshirt Freshman
: T

#78 Jayden Lewin
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Freshman
: C

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

#66 Chrishoun Roberts
: 6' 2"; Graduate Student
: G

#70 Owen Salingue
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Sophomore
: G

#75 Adam Sarjo
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Sophomore
: T

#71 Tyler Schompert
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Junior
: G/T