GAME STORYLINES
The Wayne State University football team will travel to Arlington Heights, Ill., to face Roosevelt in the first of a pair of road contests to wrap-up the 2025 campaign.

SCOUTING ROOSEVELT
RU has posted a 1-7 ledger through its first eight games of the 2025 season with a 23-21 season-opening win over Quincy as the squad's lone victory.

Billy McKeon is in his first season as the head coach of the Lakers after spending the 2024 campaign as the team's defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach.  McKeon spent eight seasons with Saint Xavier University prior to his time at RU.  As a player, the Joilet, Ill., native was an All-American wide receiver for the Cougars.

Zach Zella has a team-high 1,172 passing yards, along with nine touchdowns.  Last week, true freshman Tony Chahino set an RU record for passing yards in a game, with  366 yards to go with two touchdown passes.

Cam Davis leads all Roosevelt rushers with 465 yards, and has reached the end zone three times.  The senior has caught 20 passes for 93 yards and one score.

Four players have eclipsed 300 receiving yards this season, as Norion Espadron (622), Jack Young, Jr. (322), Norbert Espadron (318), and Michael Prokos (302) have all surpassed that mark.  Norion Espadron leads the squad in receptions with 43, while Young, Jr. has the most receiving touchdowns with four.

Handling kickoff return duties is Cam Davis.  The Dallas, Texas, product has returned 18 kickoffs for 370 yards, with a long of 41 yards.  Norion Espadron has 341 yards on 17 returns.  Norion has four punt returns for 14 yards, while Norbert Espadron has five for 24 yards.

Brandon Harvey is the leading tackler for RU, with 58 on the year.  Defensive lineman KJ Hayes leads the team in tackles for loss with 5.5, including a squad-high two sacks.  Hayes has forced one fumble as well.

Punting away for the Lakers is Eoin O'Sullivan.  The freshman has punted 35 times for 1,556 yards, averaging 44.5 yards per punt, pinning 10 within the 20-yard line.

Mauricio Escudero has connected on five-of-nine field goal tries with a long of 46 yards.

ALL-TIME SERIES
The Lakers and Warriors will meet for the second time, with WSU claiming the inaugural meeting 38-14 at home.  This will be the first time that Roosevelt has hosted Wayne State.

A BAGFUL OF M&Ms
Linebackers Martell Williams, Logan McGraw, and Max Edwards have combined for 201 tackles through the first nine games of the season.  Williams leads the way with 84 (38-46), while McGraw is second on the squad with 67 (30-37), and Edwards ranks third with 50 (21-29).  In addition, the trio has combined for 25.5 of WSU's 54 tackles for loss, and four of the squad's 12 sacks.

Williams' 84 tackles is tied-for-first in the GLIAC, while McGraw's 11.5 TFL rank second.  

IMPACTFUL REDSHIRT FRESHMEN
Through nine games, the Warriors have seven touchdown receptions, with redshirt freshmen accounting for five of them.  Donovan Isaac has hauled in a pair of scores through the air, while Drew Hickmott has a team-leading three touchdown grabs.  

In addition, Mickey Keller broke off an 80-yard rushing touchdown late in the 59-13 loss to No. 25-Grand Valley State, which is the longest rush since Champion Edwards had an 80-yard score against Northern Michigan in last year's season finale.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
As a squad, WSU ranks seventh in the nation in kickoff return defense, allowing just 14.5 yards per return.  The Green and Gold defense has produced a pair of touchdowns, which is the tied-for-28th in the country, while the seven fumbles recovered rank 52nd.  Additionally, Wayne State is generating six tackles for loss per game, which is good enough for 65th in Division 2.

Individually, Logan McGraw's 0.33 forced fumbles per contest is 13th in the country, while Spencer Lyons' two fumble recoveries is 17th, with both leading the GLIAC.  Martell Williams' 9.3 tackles per game is the 25th-most in the nation, while McGraw's 1.28 tackles for loss per game is 35th.

ONSIDE KICK SUCCESS
Wayne State successfully executed an onside kick at Saginaw Valley State, marking the second straight year WSU has achieved that feat.  
In 2024, the Warriors had a successful onside kick vs. Findlay, which was the first time that was accomplished since 2019 against Slippery Rock.

WENDELL SMITH MAKING PLAYS
WSU redshirt freshman Wendell Smith made two impact plays at Saginaw Valley State two weeks ago.  He had an interception just before halftime keeping the deficit at 14-0.  Late in the fourth quarter, Smith recovered WSU's onside kick attempt.

In the contest against Grand Valley State, the redshirt freshman tallied his second interception of the season late in the third quarter.

A PAIR OF PICK SIXES
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 was the 13th-longest in the last 36 years of Wayne State football. 

Just two weeks later, in the second stanza of the loss to Davenport, Luke Johnson picked off a D'Wan Mathis pass, returning it 67 yards to put WSU on the board.  The 67 yards is the longest return by a Wayne State true freshman in at least the last 36 years and is the second-longest by a freshman since Jeremy Jones had an 86-yard return during his redshirt freshman campaign on October 18, 2008, at Ferris State.  

Johnson's pick is the eighth-longest in the last 36 years of WSU football and is the longest since Anthony DeDamos' 85-yard return against Hillsdale on November 15, 2014.  

Jones equaled the WSU record with a 100-yard return in a 14-9 win over No. 6-ranked Hillsdale on October 23, 2010.

The Warriors have 161 interception return yards this season, which is the most since the 2019 squad also had 161 interception return yards.  The most interception return yards in a season in the last 15 years was 401 by the 2011 team, when All-American safety Jeremy Jones had nine picks for 196 yards in 16 games.

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.

In the loss at Ferris State, Tuggle added a 25-yard reception in the second quarter.  He has led the squad in receiving yards in three contests.

While hosting No. 25-Grand Valley State, the redshirt senior caught five passes for 62 yards, both of which were team-highs.

HONORING OUR SENIORS
Prior to last Saturday's home finale, Wayne State honored its 14-member senior class.  

Being recognized were Clifton Buchanan, Angel Carrillo, Elijah Fowlkes, Ethan Gates, Chris Gillam, Colby Horn, Devon Isaac, Jayden Lewin, Brayden McKenna, Nick Ostas, Quincy Salter, Josh Sekiyoba, Justyz Tuggle, and Martell Williams.

WARRIOR DEBUTS
Through nine games, ninety-three (93) different student-athletes have seen action for Wayne State.

Twenty (20) have made their WSU debut after playing at a previous school, while 36 different players have made their collegiate debut.

Making their collegiate debuts this year are:  Jordan Bell, Lance Blakely, Haiden Bollini, Liam Distelzweig, Daylon Doe, Dove Eitzen, Matthew Evans, Dharon Flowers, Franklin Gallagher, Zach Green, Zaiden Hall, Drew Hickmott, Donovan Isaac, Trezelle Jenkins, Jr., Creg Johnson, Luke Johnson, Dylan Kress, Spencer Lyons, Nahji Mabry, Jonathan Major, Marvin McCallum, Trae'vion Meadows, Blake Nelson, Griffin Nowak, Mikey O'Brien, Drew Rankin, Jaheem Richmond, Cecil Xavier Smith, Keathan Smith, Wendell Smith, Ryan Spate, Joe Tate, Bishop Thomas, Tyler Torey, Gavin Troy and Evan Wittmann.

Donning the Green and Gold for this first time this year were:  Sterling Anderson, Justhin Austin, D'Vaun Bentley, Angel Carrillo, Carson Creehan, Omar El Khatib, Sherod Green, Peyton Hatten, Devon Isaac, Trent Leicht, Kelly Matthews, Logan McGraw, Jasir Rahaman, Mar'Tavion Robinson, Josh Sekiyoba, Ashawn Sims, Braden Siri, Mikey Thomas, Darel Washington and Martell Williams.

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 are facing yet another tall task during the 2025 campaign.  WSU's past 2025 opponents have a cumulative record of 48-20 (.706), which is the toughest in D2.  The Warriors' future foes hold a 2-15 ledger (.118), while the composite record of 50-35 (.588) is sixth 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.

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.

DON'T MISS ANY OF THE ACTION
Wayne State has entered 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 with the broadcast of home games being via The PreP for the third consecutive year.