Wayne State University Athletics

Football 7/12/2024 9:26:00 AM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

2024 WSU Football Season Preview

DETROIT -- Over the next six weeks, we will be previewing each position on the 2024 Wayne State University football team with each position coach highlighting their respective units. This segment is the season preview with head coach Tyrone Wheatley.

The Wayne State University football team will have a much different look on the field this fall with just seven returning starters.

Second-year head coach Tyrone Wheatley's entire full-time coaching staff returns from 2023, along with 31 letterwinners plus 36 others who have been in the program for at least a year. Add in 34 freshmen recruits plus approximately 28 transfers and the travel roster for the season-opener at Tiffin will most likely have many new names.

WSU returns just four starters on offense in offensive linemen Aidan Tweedy and Charles Wesley, tight end John Rayba and wide receiver Manny Harris. Eleven (11) additional letterwinners also return, including four on the offensive line.

Defensively, the Warriors have just three starters back in defensive tackle Gus Taylor, defensive end Colby Horn and linebacker Carl Ware. Eleven (11) other returning letterwinners are back in the fold, including veteran defensive backs Elijah Fowlkes and Brayden Vredeveld.

In terms of special teams, both snapper Nico Davis and punter Jeremy Taras are back for another season with the Green and Gold.

Wayne State does not have any three-year letterwinners returning, but has 11 two-year letterwinners on the roster.

The 2023 Warriors compiled a 3-8 record against the toughest schedule in Division 2 according to the NCAA as Wayne State's opponents had a .636 winning percentage. Four of the eight setbacks were to teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament, while two other losses came either in overtime or in the final 30 seconds of regulation.

The GLIAC will have a new look this fall with the addition of Roosevelt University. The Lakers will be the eighth football playing school in the conference which means all league institutions will play seven GLIAC games during weeks five through 11, with the first four weeks (plus week 0) available to play up to four non-conference contests.

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Players Mentioned

#54 Nico Davis: LS; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#1 Manny Harris: WR; 5' 8"; Senior

#55 Colby Horn: DE; 6' 5"; Redshirt Sophomore

#21 John Rayba: TE; 6' 0"; Senior

#8 Jeremy Taras: P/PK; 6' 3"; Graduate Student

#92 Gus Taylor: DT; 6' 3"; Senior

#64 Aidan Tweedy: OL; 6' 2"; Senior

#9 Brayden Vredeveld: NLB; 6' 1"; Graduate Student

#4 Carl Ware: OLB; 5' 11"; Graduate Student

#69 Charles Wesley: OL; 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior

Players Mentioned

#54 Nico Davis
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: LS

#1 Manny Harris
: 5' 8"; Senior
: WR

#55 Colby Horn
: 6' 5"; Redshirt Sophomore
: DE

#21 John Rayba
: 6' 0"; Senior
: TE

#8 Jeremy Taras
: 6' 3"; Graduate Student
: P/PK

#92 Gus Taylor
: 6' 3"; Senior
: DT

#64 Aidan Tweedy
: 6' 2"; Senior
: OL

#9 Brayden Vredeveld
: 6' 1"; Graduate Student
: NLB

#4 Carl Ware
: 5' 11"; Graduate Student
: OLB

#69 Charles Wesley
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior
: OL