Wayne State University Athletics

Dion Brown is WSU's top returning wide receiver.

Football 8/4/2023 8:24:00 AM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

2023 Warrior Football Position Previews - Wide Receivers

Listen to Coach Collins' thoughts on his group.

DETROIT -- As we near the start of the 2023 football pre-season camp (players report on Sunday), we will continue previewing each position on the 2023 Wayne State University football team. This segment with new wide receivers coach Ed Collins is the final one for the offensive side of the ball.

Only three of last year's top six in receptions return for 2023, and the top receiver a year ago was running back Kendall Williams. The top two returning wideouts are redshirt sophomores Dion Brown, Jr. (Davison, Mich.) and Manny Harris (Kankakee, Ill. / Bishop McNamara). The duo combined for 36 catches for 356 yards a season ago.

Also returning are redshirt seniors Darrin King II (Inkster, Mich. / Detroit Country Day) and Max Nicklin (Davisburg, Mich. / Clarkston). King had his first four career receptions last year. Nicklin played in nine games in 2022, primarily on special teams.

The six newcomers at wide receiver are Jordan Bell (St. Joseph, Mich.), Marcel Boyce, Jr. (Akron, Ohio / Buchtel Community Learning Center), Beau Strawder (Detroit, Mich. / Voyageur College Prep), Tyler Swick (Grosse Ile, Mich.), Bryan Williams (Detroit, Mich. / Chandler Park Academy) and Annas Zeedan (Dearborn, Mich. / Edsel Ford).

Bell, the son of WSU Hall of Fame inductee Joique Bell, was selected to the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference (SMAC) Honorable Mention All-League Team as a senior. Boyce caught 49 passes for 947 yards and 11 touchdowns in 12 games as a senior.

Strawder received Honorable Mention All-Charter League accolades in 2022, while Swick was named to the 2023 Detroit Free Press All-West First Team.

Williams played for former WSU assistant coach Tony Blankenship last year at Chandler Park Academy. Zeedan missed most of his senior season with the Thunderbirds due to an injury.

At the slot position, the Warriors return junior Te'Avion Warren (Flint, Mich. / Davison) and redshirt junior Jeff Knight (Detroit, Mich. / U. of Detroit Jesuit). In addition, recruit Ke'Waun Farnum (Muskegon, Mich. / Mona Shores) will be in the mix, while newcomer Dontez Hicks (Detroit, Mich. / Central) will redshirt.

Warren had four receptions last year in limited time on offense as he also played in the secondary on defense. Knight saw action in three games a season ago, mainly on special teams. Farnum garnered Michigan High School Football Coaches Association (MHSFCA) Division 2 All-State First Team honors in 2022. Hicks was selected to the 2022 MHSFCA Division 7 All-State First Team.

Other Position Previews
Season Preview
Quarterbacks Preview
Running Backs Preview
Offensive Line Preview
Tight Ends Preview

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Players Mentioned

#7 Dion Brown, Jr.: WR; 5' 11"; Redshirt Sophomore

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

#80 Darrin King II: WR; 6' 1"; Redshirt Senior

#17 Jeff Knight: SL; 5' 6"; Senior

#9 Max Nicklin: WR; 5' 11"; Redshirt Senior

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

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

#15 Ke'Waun Farnum: SL; 5' 9"; Freshman

#21 Dontez Hicks: CB; 5' 10"; Freshman

#19 Bryan Williams: WR; 6' 3"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#7 Dion Brown, Jr.
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Sophomore
: WR

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

#80 Darrin King II
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Senior
: WR

#17 Jeff Knight
: 5' 6"; Senior
: SL

#9 Max Nicklin
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Senior
: WR

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

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

#15 Ke'Waun Farnum
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: SL

#21 Dontez Hicks
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: CB

#19 Bryan Williams
: 6' 3"; Freshman
: WR