Football 10/8/2025 12:00:00 PM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Football Visits Top-Ranked Ferris State

GAME STORYLINES
The Wayne State football team will travel to Big Rapids, Mich., this Saturday to face defending National Champion and No. 1-ranked Ferris State. The Bulldogs enter the contest on a 19-game winning streak, with the most recent setback being a 19-3 loss at Pittsburg State in the 2024 season opener.

SCOUTING FERRIS STATE
FSU owns a 5-0 mark after topping Roosevelt 66-0 last week for the Bulldogs' first in-conference win of the 2025 campaign. Ferris State tallied 788 yards of total offense in the triumph over the Lakers, which is the most for FSU since at least the 2009 season.

Tony Annese is in his 13th season at FSU after capturing the program's third National Championship a year ago. In his time with the Bulldogs, Annese has earned a 142-21 record, while leading the squad to 10 straight NCAA Playoff appearances.

Ferris State's signal caller is redshirt freshman Wyatt Bower. Bower has thrown for 1,059 yards and 11 touchdowns with zero interceptions, while completing 64 percent of his attempts. On the ground, the Corunna, Mich., native leads the way for the Bulldogs with 374 yards and six scores.

Cam Underwood has a team-leading 202 yards on nine receptions with a squad-high four receiving touchdowns. Hauling in the most passes is senior Brady Rose, with 12 for 152 yards. FSU has five more student-athletes with at least 100 yards receiving.

Rose contributes on special teams as well, returning four punts for 48 yards. The senior sees action on kickoff returns as well, notching 38 yards on three returns. Taariik Brett is the primary kickoff returner, as the junior has tallied 210 yards and one score on five returns.

Ahlston Ware is the leading tackler for Ferris State with 25, and has intercepted one pass, which is tied-for-first on the team. Kailib Davis has produced a team-best four sacks.

Mitch Middleton takes care of punting duties for the Bulldogs, averaging 44.4 yards on 10 attempts (444 yards total), pinning the opponent within the 20 five times this season. Place-kicker Eddie Jewett has connected on 33-of-35 extra-point attempts and has made one-of-two field goals.

ALL-TIME SERIES
The Bulldogs lead in the all-time series 34-22, prevailing in the most recent 10 contests. When playing at FSU, the Warriors are 9-17, with the most recent road win coming on October 18, 2008, when WSU topped Ferris State 19-0.

MATTHEWS TAKES IT TO THE HOUSE
In the first quarter of the 48-24 setback to Michigan Tech, Kelly Matthews intercepted an Alex Bueno pass, returning it 53 yards for a touchdown. It was the first pick six since September 17, 2022, when Elijah Fowlkes ran 51 yards for a score against Wisconsin-La Crosse. Matthews' interception is the 11th-longest in the last 36 years of Wayne State football, and is the longest since Anthony DeDamos' 85-yard return against Hillsdale on November 15, 2014. Jeremy Jones holds the WSU record with a 100-yard return in a 14-9 win over No. 6-ranked Hillsdale on October 23, 2010.

TUGGLE PROVIDING EXPLOSIVE PLAYS
In the home loss to Quincy, Justyz Tuggle posted game-highs in both receptions (six) and receiving yards (79). The redshirt senior caught a 27-yard pass on the team's opening drive and added an 18-yard strike in the second quarter that put WSU at the Hawks' nine-yard line. In the fourth stanza, Tuggle hauled in his final pass of the game for 26 yards.

The Redford, Mich., native snagged a 21-yard pass against Michigan Tech, while throwing a 40-yard touchdown to Nick Ostas in the opening period.

HICKMOTT HAULING IN PASSES
Redshirt freshman Drew Hickmott is tied-for-fourth in the GLIAC with three touchdown receptions. He has the highest average per catch of anyone on the WSU squad with at least five receptions.

In week one, Hickmott caught three passes for 37 yards and scored the only WSU touchdown in the 34-7 loss to Tiffin.
In the week two contest at Findlay, Hickmott had five receptions for a team-best 78 yards, including a 27-yard catch that put WSU at the UF two-yard line and led to a Wayne State field goal.

The Ortonville, Mich., product tallied two more receptions for 44 yards in the loss at Wisconsin-La Crosse, one of which was a 30-yard reception at UWL's two-yard line. WSU scored on the ensuing play to take a 7-0 advantage in the second period.

Hickmott had his first multi-score performance in the 31-14 home loss to Quincy, catching three passes for 26 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

STEADY LINEBACKER PLAY
WSU's starting linebackers have combined for 118 total tackles and are the Green and Gold's top-three tacklers individually. Mike linebacker Martell Williams leads the team in tackles with 49 and has recovered one fumble. Logan McGraw is the squad's will linebacker and has 36 tackles, 7.5 of which are for a loss, and has forced two fumbles. Max Edwards serves as the team's star linebacker and has contributed 33 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss (one sack).

McGraw leads the GLIAC and is tied-for-20th in the nation with 1.5 TFL per game. Williams' 9.8 tackles per contest ranks second in the conference and is tied-for-18th nationally.

FOWLKES MAKING PLAYS
Senior safety Elijah Fowlkes grabbed his first interception of the season, and fifth of his career, at Findlay after picking off UF's Chase Harrison in the third stanza. The two-year captain added one pass break-up along with six total tackles in the setback.

In the team's next game (at UWL), Fowlkes scorched past everyone on the Eagles' first play from scrimmage, sacking the quarterback and knocking the ball loose. The fumble would be recovered by Wisconsin-La Crosse at the 19-yard line and resulted in a 12-yard loss.

The Cleveland, Ohio, native added eight total tackles at home against Quincy, three of which were solo. The senior earned WSU Defensive Player of the Week honors for the third straight week for his efforts against MTU.

WARRIOR DEBUTS
Of the 58 players who saw action in the season opener vs. Tiffin, 28 had previously donned the Green and Gold in a regular-season contest. Another 12 players made their season debut in the contest at Findlay.

Seventeen (17) student-athletes made their collegiate debut against the Dragons - Jordan Bell, Haiden Bollini, Dove Eitzen, Zaiden Hall, Drew Hickmott, Donovan Isaac, Trezelle Jenkins, Jr., Luke Johnson, Spencer Lyons, Nahji Mabry, Trae'vion Meadows, Blake Nelson, Griffin Nowak, Keathan Smith, Wendell Smith, Ryan Spate and Gavin Troy. Five more made their collegiate debut at UF - Dharon Flowers, Mikey O'Brien, Drew Rankin, Jaheem Richmond, and Tyler Torey.

Thirteen players made their WSU debut vs. TU - Justhin Austin, D'Vaun Bentley, Angel Carrillo, Omar El Khatib, Sherod Green, Trent Leicht, Logan McGraw, Mar'Tavion Robinson, Josh Sekiyoba, Ashawn Sims, Braden Siri, Darel Washington and Martell Williams. Two others - Peyton Hatten and Mikey Thomas - made their WSU debut at Findlay.

An additional three players made their season debuts at Wisconsin-La Crosse, including true freshman Liam Distelzweig, who made his collegiate debut. Redshirt freshman Jasir Rahaman and redshirt senior Jonathan Tillman also saw action at UWL.

Three more Warriors made their season debuts against Quincy. Kelly Matthews made his WSU debut, while Lance Blakely and Zach Green played their first collegiate snaps. Matthews made a solo kickoff coverage tackle on his first play for the Green and Gold.

Sterling Anderson and Devon Isaac made their WSU debuts against Michigan Tech, while Daylon Doe saw his first collegiate action.

FRESH FACES
Despite having 126 players on the roster, WSU only has 53 returners, including 18 letterwinners. In total there are 73 newcomers (49 freshmen, four mid-year transfers, and 20 summer transfers). In addition, the coaching staff features seven new hires including four full-time coaches and three graduate assistants along with the promotion of Mustafa Khaleefah to full-time Tight Ends Coach from Offensive Line Graduate Assistant Coach.

GLIAC PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
1. Ferris State (47 points, six first-place votes)
2. Grand Valley State (41 points, one first-place vote)
3. Saginaw Valley State (38 points, one first-place vote)
4. Davenport (31 points)
5. Michigan Tech (28 points)
6. Wayne State (16 points)
7. Roosevelt (12 points)
8. Northern Michigan (11 points)

TOUGH ROAD AHEAD
After playing the toughest schedule in the country in 2023, WSU played the third-toughest schedule in NCAA Division 2 during the 2024 regular-season with its opponents combining for a .615 winning percentage (67-42).

The Green and Gold face yet another tall task during the 2025 campaign. WSU's past 2025 opponents have a cumulative record of 13-5 (.722) which ranks fourth in D2. The Warriors' future foes hold a 13-14 ledger (.481), while the composite record of 26-19 (.578) is 16th nationally.

In addition, Wayne State will see action against five squads that appeared in the AFCA D2 Coaches Preseason Poll in No. 1-Ferris State, No. 3-Grand Valley State, No. 31-Saginaw Valley State, No. 38-Findlay, and No. 40-Davenport.

WARRIORS BY THE NUMBERS
Of the 126 student-athletes on the 2025 WSU football roster, 92 came from high school, 11 joined the squad after playing for a junior college, 17 transferred in after playing for another four-year college, and six more came from a two-year or four-year college, but did not play.

The 2025 Wayne State football team currently has representatives from 13 states and one Canadian Province with the majority of football student-athletes coming from Michigan (91). Ohio (10), California (7), Texas (4), Florida (2), Virginia (2) and Washington (2) all have multiple student-athletes, while Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Ontario all have one.

DON'T MISS ANY OF THE ACTION
Wayne State enters a new era for the broadcast of its football games with the launch of the Warrior Sports Network. Veteran Detroit broadcaster Sean Baligian is in his 17th season calling Warrior football. Former Warrior defensive end Brady Beedon will serve as the color analyst for eight contests, while Kevin Brechmacher will handle color commentary for the other three contests. In addition, Tony Ortiz will serve as the Sideline Reporter for all five home games.

Every Wayne State GLIAC football game will be on Flo Sports, plus the home non-conference contests against Tiffin and Quincy as well as the road game at Findlay. The FloSports broadcast of home games will be via The PreP for the third consecutive year.

A FAMILY AFFAIR
WSU currently has three sets of brothers:
Champion and Max Edwards
Malachi and Matthew Evans (twins)
Devon and Donovan Isaac

Other Warriors with family ties include Evan Bainbridge (father Matthew was an offensive tackle) and Jordan Bell (father Joique is a WSU Athletics Hall of Fame running back).

In addition, true freshman offensive lineman Trezelle Jenkins, Jr., is the son of Trezelle Jenkins, who played at Michigan (1991-94) and nine games in the NFL with Kansas City. Defensive lineman Jesse Brown is the son of former Green Bay Hall of Famer Gilbert Brown.

WEEKLY WITH WHEATLEY
Join head football coach Tyrone Wheatley and Brady Beedon each Wednesday prior to a home football Saturday for the Weekly with Wheatley podcast. Beedon is in his fifth season as WSU football analyst and also serves as the host for the Locker Room Report and Senior Spotlight interviews each week for the football broadcast.

There will be five shows in 2025, each with a different assistant coach and student-athlete. The remaining shows will be taped on Oct. 15 and Oct. 29 in front of a live audience at Woodbridge Pub starting at 5:30 PM. Each episode will be added to the Wayne State Athletics website for those unable to attend.

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Players Mentioned

#83 Jordan Bell: WR; 6' 2"; Redshirt Sophomore

#33 Max Edwards: Star; 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman

#2 Elijah Fowlkes: S; 5' 10"; Senior

#72 Sherod Green: OL; 6' 3"; Redshirt Senior

#42 Devon Isaac: DE; 6' 3"; Redshirt Senior

#14 Donovan Isaac: WR; 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman

#40 Griffin Nowak: PK/P; 6' 4"; Redshirt Sophomore

#74 Mikey O'Brien: OL; 6' 5"; Redshirt Freshman

#85 Nick Ostas: TE; 6' 4"; Senior

#24 Jasir Rahaman: CB; 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman

Players Mentioned

#83 Jordan Bell
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Sophomore
: WR

#33 Max Edwards
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman
: Star

#2 Elijah Fowlkes
: 5' 10"; Senior
: S

#72 Sherod Green
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Senior
: OL

#42 Devon Isaac
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Senior
: DE

#14 Donovan Isaac
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman
: WR

#40 Griffin Nowak
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Sophomore
: PK/P

#74 Mikey O'Brien
: 6' 5"; Redshirt Freshman
: OL

#85 Nick Ostas
: 6' 4"; Senior
: TE

#24 Jasir Rahaman
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman
: CB