DETROIT -- The Wayne State University football program and third-year head coach Tyrone Wheatley have announced the signing of 31 student-athletes.  The list will be updated with early enrollees, mid-year transfers, and additional signees in the coming days.

On the offensive side, this year's recruiting class includes three running backs (Kayden Forbes, Malik Shephard and Chase Stephens), five wide receivers (Karter Freeman, Connor Knapp, Joeseph Lattimore, Cecil Xavier-Smith and Bishop Thomas), three tight ends (Haiden Bollini, Marquis Meadows and Brody Videto), and four offensive linemen (Kenneth Franklin, Keathan Smith, Evan Wittman and Deshawn Wright).

Fifteen (15) defensive players have signed to the Warriors class that consists of three defensive backs (Matthew Evans, DaCari Gilkey and Jaheem Richmond), five defensive linemen (Jacob Blair, Creg Johnson, Jonathan Major, Jack McCowan and Tyler Torey), five linebackers (Micah Calhoun, Mason Conklin, Luke Johnson, Johnny Nelson, and Ryan Spate), and two star (linebacker/safety hybrid) athletes (Daylon Doe and Dharon Flowers).

In addition, specialist (place-kicker/punter) George Sanchez-Murillo has signed with the Warriors.
 

2025 Wayne State University Football Signing Class
Name	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Hometown / High School
Jacob Blair	DL	6-3	220	Roseville, Mich. / Roseville
Haiden Bollini	TE	6-2	222	Sandusky, Ohio / Perkins
Micah Calhoun	LB	6-2	234	Port Wentworth, Ga. / Garden City Groves
Mason Conklin	LB	6-1	215	Sparta, Mich. / Sparta
Daylon Doe	Star	6-3	220	Grosse Pointe, Mich. / Grosse Pointe North
Matthew Evans	DB	6-3	180	Grand Blanc, Mich. / Grand Blanc
Dharon Flowers	Star	6-0	190	Toledo, Ohio / Toledo Central Catholic
Kayden Forbes	RB	5-8	200	West Olive, Mich. / West Ottawa
Kenneth Franklin	OL	6-5	290	Harper Woods, Mich. / Harper Woods
Karter Freeman	WR	6-3	180	Tomball, Texas / Klein Oak
Dacari Gilkey	DB	5-10	180	Redford, Mich. / Redford Union
Creg Johnson	DL	6-2	265	River Rouge, Mich. / River Rouge
Luke Johnson	LB	5-11	190	Oxford, Mich. / Oxford
Connor Knapp	WR	6-0	195	Holland, Mich. / West Ottawa
Joseph Lattimore	WR	6-0	187	Linden, Mich. / Linden
Jonathan Major	DT	6-2	275	McKinney, Texas / Parish Episcopal
Jack McCowan	DE	6-3	235	Harrisburg, N.C. / Hickory Ridge
Marquis Meadows	TE	6-7	215	River Rouge, Mich. / River Rouge
Johnny Nelson	LB	5-11	225	Harper Woods, Mich. / Harper Woods
Andrew Pazuchowski	DE/OT	6-4	225	Grosse Pointe, Mich. / Grosse Pointe South
Jaheem Richmond	DB	5-11	170	River Rouge, Mich. / River Rouge
George Sanchez-Murillo	PK/P	5-11	160	Lincoln Park, Mich. / Cass Tech
Malik Shephard	RB	5-11	185	Detroit, Mich. / Detroit Henry Ford
Cecil Xavier-Smith	WR	5-9	175	Lakewood, Calif. / Lakewood
Keathan Smith	OL	6-5	340	Argyle, Texas / Liberty Christian
Ryan Spate	LB	6-1	230	Boyne Falls, Mich. / Boyne City
Chase Stephens	RB	6-3	195	Saranac, Mich. / Saranac
Bishop Thomas	WR	6-4	160	Mount Clemens, Mich. / Mount Clemens
Tyler Torey	DL	6-1	240	Macomb, Mich. / Macomb Dakota
Brody Videto	TE	6-3	235	Parma, Mich. / Parma Western
Evan Wittmann	OL	6-4	285	Houston, Texas / St. Pius X
Deshawn Wright	OL	6-3	265	River Rouge, Mich. / River Rouge

Stay tuned to WSUathletics.com for bios on all the newcomers.

Mason Conklin, LB, 6-1, 215, Sparta, Mich. / Sparta
High School:  Will be a 2025 graduate of Sparta High School ... was a two-year letterwinner for coach Mark Chapman and the Spartans ... selected to the 2024 Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Division 3 First Team All-Region ... finished senior year with 85 tackles, including 13 for loss ... blocked two kicks and recovered one fumble ... five of his game-high 19 tackles vs. Lowell were behind the line of scrimmage ... also blocked a field goal in that contest ... saw action at tight end, guard and defensive end ... earned two letters in basketball and one in track ... attended Byron Center his first two years.

Personal:  Full name -- Mason I. Conklin ... born on June 20, 2006, in Grand Rapids, Mich. ... son of Chad and Dana Conklin ... mother played softball at Ferris State and was a three-year All-GLIAC performer as well as Academic All-GLIAC (2002-03-04) ... has a younger brother, Carson, and a younger sister, Sienna ... plans to major in Exercise Science.

High School Highlights

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Daylon Doe, Star, 6-3, 220, Grosse Pointe, Mich. / Grosse Pointe North
High School:  Will be a 2025 graduate of Grosse Pointe North High School ... was a three-year letterwinner for head coach Joe Drouin and the Norsemen ... selected to the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association (MHSFCA) Division 3 All-State First Team after receiving First Team All-Region recognition ... received Detroit Free Press All-East Second Team honors ... voted to the All-Macomb Area Conference (MAC) First Team ... earned team MVP honors with five interceptions, four taken back for touchdowns, 90 total tackles and eight touchdowns as a wide receiver ... served as a football team captain ... also lettered in basketball and track & field ... competed in the high jump at the 2023 MHSAA Division 1 regional track meet ... was a three-time Scholar Athlete.

Personal:  Full name -- Daylon D. Doe ... born on January 6, 2007, in Detroit ... son of Thomas and Shannon Walker ... has four brothers, Deon, Thomas, William and Tyler, and two sisters, Madisyn and Dallas ... plans to major in Sport Management.

High School Highlights

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Matthew Evans, DB, 6-3, 180, Grand Blanc, Mich. / Grand Blanc
High School:  Will be a 2025 graduate of Grand Blanc High School ... was a two-year varsity letterwinner for the Bobcats and coach Kaleb Forr ... helped GBHS to a 9-3 record as a senior and a district title ... totaled 33 tackles and three interceptions ... also had 30 receptions for 502 yards and six touchdowns ... recorded two touchdown catches in a win over Lapeer in 2024 ... received Flint Area Dream Team honors as a wide receiver ... voted to the All-Saginaw Valley League (SVL) Second Team ... was a top-three finalist for Genesee County Player of the Year ... served as a football team captain as a senior ... also earned three letters in basketball and two in track ... garnered Honorable Mention All-SVL recognition in track ... competed in the high jump (5-2), 200m dash (25.22) and 400m dash (54.60) as well as the 4x400m relay as a junior ... earned Academic honors.

Personal:  Full name -- Matthew M. Evans ... born on December 12, 2006, in Flint, Mich. ... son of Cassandra Avance and Dion Evans ... has a twin brother, Malachi and a younger brother, Prince ... has two sisters, Brooke and Bella ... plans to major in Business.

High School Highlights

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Kenneth Franklin, OL, 6-5, 290, Harper Woods, Mich. / Harper Woods
High School:  Will be a 2025 graduate of Harper Woods High School ... was a three-year varsity member for head coach Rod Oden .. saw action at both offensive and defensive tackle ... helped HWHS to a 9-4 record as a senior and a berth in the state semifinals ... assisted the Pioneers to an 11-3 mark in 2023 and a Division 4 33-27 state title game win over Grand Rapids South Christian ... defensive line coach at HWHS was former Warrior Mike Booker (2009).

Personal:  Full name -- Kenneth D. Franklin ... born on February 18, 2007, in Detroit ... son of Kenneth and Robin Franklin ... has a younger brother, Kobie ... plans to major in Secondary Education.

High School Highlights

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Karter Freeman, WR, 6-3, 180, Tomball, Texas / Klein Oak
High School:  Will be a 2025 graduate of Klein Oak High School ... was a two-year varsity letterwinner for the Panthers ... twice received Academic All-District recognition.

Personal:  Full name -- Karter J. Freeman ... born on November 17, 2006, in Spring, Texas ... son of Kevin and Karyl Freeman ... uncle James Freeman was a three-year (1990-92) letterwinner at quarterback at the University of Louisiana Lafayette ... plans to major in Sport Management.

High School Highlights

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Dacari Gilkey, DB, 5-10, 180, Redford, Mich. / Redford Union
High School:  Will be a 2025 graduate of Redford Union High School ... earned four varsity letters ... helped the Panthers to an 8-2 mark in 2004, including eight consecutive wins (both losses were to Harper Woods) ... finished senior season with 40 tackles plus three pass break-ups ... served as a football team captain in 2024 ... earned Honorable Mention All-Detroit High Schools as a junior "athlete" by the Detroit News as well as being selected to the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Division 2 All-Region 4 team as a defensive back ... named to the 2023 Detroit Free Press All-Detroit Honorable Mention team as a running back ... was a two-year (2022, 2023) track letterwinner at UDJ ... primarily competed in the 100m dash running a personal-best time of 11.81 vs. Brother Rice in 2023 ... attended the University of Detroit Jesuit (2021-2024).

Personal:  Full name -- Dacari K. Gilkey ... born on September 24, 2006, in Detroit ... son of Ronald Gilkey and Vanessa Dahl ... plans to major in Sport Management ... name is pronounced is DUH-car-ri.

High School Highlights

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Luke Johnson, LB, 5-11, 190, Oxford, Mich. / Oxford
High School:  Will be a 2025 graduate of Oxford High School ... was a four-year varsity letterwinner for coach Zach Line ... helped the Wildcats to a 7-4 mark as a senior and the  Oakland Activities Association (OAA) Red Division title ... totaled 117 tackles, including three sacks plus an interception ... rushed for 16 touchdowns and finished with 1,364 total yards to earn Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Division 1 First Team All-Region and Detroit Free Press Division 1 All-State First Team honors ... credited with 110 tackles as a junior to earn All-Region recognition ... rushed for 977 yards and finished with 1,103 total yards in 2023 ... earned All-OAA honors each of his last three seasons ... saw action at running back and as a long snapper ... also competed in wrestling for four years and track and field for two seasons ... was a two-time state qualifier in wrestling placing third in the 157-pound division as a junior ... was a three-time county champion ... received Academic All-State accolades ... served as a team captain in football as a senior and for three years in wrestling.

Personal:  Full name -- Luke L. Johnson ... born on February 10, 2007, in Rochester Hills, Mich. ... son of Derek and Kristina Johnson ... has two younger brothers, Landon and Leo, and two sisters, LeeAnn and Lana ... plans to major in Exercise Science.

High School Highlights

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Joseph Lattimore, WR, 6-0, 187, Linden, Mich. / Linden
High School:  Will be a 2025 graduate of Linden High School ... was a two-year varsity letterwinner (one each at LHS and Grand Blanc) ... earned Second Team All-Flint Metro League honors as a senior ... caught a 54-yard touchdown pass in a district championship game vs. Mason in 2024 ... also competed in track ... was a member of the 4x100m relay that participated at the 2022 MHSAA Division 1 regional track meet, then helped the quartet place eighth at the 2023 state meet ... also competed in 2024 in the 4x100m relay at the Division 1 state finals as well as the 4x200m relay ... ran a personal-best time of 11.23 for 100m and 23.36 for 200m ... spent first three seasons at Grand Blanc.

Personal:  Full name -- Joseph D. Lattimore ... born on September 14, 2007, in Peoria, Ill. ... son of Harry Lattimore and Leteia Hughley ... has two brothers, Xavier and Hosea ... plans to major in Exercise Science.

High School Highlights

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Jonathan Major, DT, 6-2, 280, McKinney, Texas / Parish Episcopal
High School:  Will be a 2025 graduate of Dallas Episcopal Parish High School ... was a three-year varsity letterwinner, including final two seasons at DEHS ... helped the Panthers to a 2023 TAPPS (Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools) Division I state championship for coach Dan Novakov with a 10-3 record, which included nine consecutive wins ... spent first two years at Melissa High School in Melissa, Texas.

Personal:  Full name -- Jonathan K. Major ... born on April 19, 2007, in Sanford, Fla. ... son of Matt and Michelle Major ... has an older brother, Jaysun ... is undecided on academic major.

High School Highlights

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Jack McCowan, DL, 6-3, 235, Harrisburg, N.C. / Hickory Ridge
High School:  Will be a 2025 graduate of Hickory Ridge High School ... earned four varsity letters for coach Jupiter Wilson ... totaled 55 tackles as a senior (24 solo, 31 assisted), including four sacks ... was credited with 12 quarterback pressures and recorded one interception ... served as a football team captain for the Ragin' Bulls in 2024 ... selected to play in the Hawaii Tiki Bowl ... was a three-year wrestling letterwinner ... advanced to regionals all three years as a wrestler ... maintained a cumulative 3.85 GPA.

Personal:  Full name -- Jack M. McCowan ... born on December 22, 2006, in Austin, Texas ... son of Travis and Allison McCowan ... has a younger sister, Maggie ... plans to major in Marketing.

High School Highlights

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Marquis Meadows, TE, 6-7, 215, River Rouge, Mich. / River Rouge
High School:  Will be a 2025 graduate of River Rouge High School ... was a two-year varsity letterwinner for coach Eric Pettway ... top individual performance was nine catches for 250 yards and three touchdowns in one game ... also had three receptions, including a game-winning touchdown catch in another contest ... also played basketball for the Panthers ... served as a team captain as a senior in basketball ... earned a spot on the Academic honor roll all four years.

Personal:  Full name -- Marquis D. Meadows ... born on April 14, 2007, in Farmington, Mich. ... son of Lynne Meadows and Jarmane Meadows ... has one brother, Marshawn, and one sister, Markeyta ... plans to major in Mechanical Engineering.

High School Highlights

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Andrew Pazuchowski, DE/OT, 6-4, 225, Grosse Pointe, Mich. / Grosse Pointe South
High School:  Will be a  2025 graduate of Grosse Pointe South High School ... was a two-year varsity letterwinner for coach Chad Hepner ... helped the Blue Devils to a 10-1 mark in 2024, including a Macomb Area Conference (MAC) White Division title with a 5-0 mark ... recorded 42 tackles (22 solo, 20 assisted) as a senior, including 11 for loss (five sacks) ... was a First Team All-MAC White Division honoree as a senior after receiving Second Team accolades in 2023 ... was a two-way player (starting offensive tackle) ... served as a team captain ... earned Academic All-State recognition ... also competed in track and field (400m dash as a sophomore; shot put and discus as a senior) ... maintained a 3.6 cumulative GPA.

Personal:  Full name -- Andrew Pazuchowski ... born on July 28, 2007, in Detroit, Mich. ... son of Andrew and Rebecca Pazuchowski ... has an older sister, Ella ... is related to WSU swim coach Sean Peters ... plans to major in Business ... last name is pronounced PAZA-how-ski.

High School Highlights

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Ryan Spate, LB, 6-1, 230, Boyne City, Mich. / Boyne City
High School:  Will be a 2025 graduate of Boyne City High School ... was a three-year varsity player for head coach Dave Suttle ... helped the Ramblers to a 10-3 record as a senior ... selected to the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Division 6 First Team All-State as a running back ... also earned First Team All-State recognition from the Michigan Sportswriters ... rushed for a school record 2,015 yards as a senior, while scoring 25 total touchdowns ... totaled 107 tackles as a linebacker, including 11 for loss (two sacks) ... connected on 31-of-35 extra points and made a 34-yard field goal in the 23-20 conference championship game win over Traverse City St. Francis ... also lettered in basketball where he was named Honorable Mention All-Northern Shores Conference ... was a two-year team captain in football and one year in basketball ... maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.61.

Personal:  Full name -- Ryan J. Spate ... born on August 13, 2007, in Petoskey, Mich. ... son of Kevin and Jennifer Spate ... has two older brothers, Joey and Matt ... is undecided on academic major.

High School Highlights

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Chase Stephens, RB, 6-3, 195, Saranac, Mich. / Saranac
High School:  Will be a 2025 graduate of Saranac High School ... was a three-year varsity letterwinner for coach Kirk Jackson ... finished senior season with 1,869 all-purpose yards and 20 touchdowns, which included 1,015 rushing yards (13 TDs), 280 receiving yards (4 TDs), and 574 return yards (3 TDs) ... twice earned Second Team All-Central Michigan Athletic Conference honors ... selected Team MVP in 2024 ... named to the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Division 7 All-Region First Team as a senior ... best individual performances included 367 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns vs. Clio, 262 all-purpose yards and three scores against Pewamo-Westphalia, and 220 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns versus Laingsburg ... served as a football team captain in 2024 ... also lettered in baseball and track for the RedHawks ... competed at the 2024 MHSAA Division 3 regional track meet in the long jump, 4x100m and 4x400m relay ... posted a personal-best mark of 19-05 in the long jump was a member of the Academic Honor Roll.

Personal:  Full name -- Chase J. Stephens ... born on January 14, 2007, in Grand Rapids, Mich. ... son of Beau and Angie Stephens ... has an older sister, Alyssa ... plans to major in Business ... last name is pronounced STEFF-ens.

High School Highlights

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Bishop Thomas, WR, 6-4, 160, Mount Clemens, Mich. / Mount Clemens
High School:  Will be a 2025 graduate of Mount Clemens High School ... was a two-year letterwinner for head coach Marcus Steen ... helped the the Battling Bathers to a 6-4 mark as a senior ... earned First Team All-County honors ... recorded 200 receiving yards in a single game ... served as a team captain ... also lettered on the basketball court where he was named Second Team All-County ... competed on the track squad as a junior in the 4x100m relay and high jump (6-0) ... attended Anchor Bay High School ... maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.8.

Personal:  Full name -- Bishop J. Thomas ... born on June 19, 2006, in Detroit ... son of Akeisha Seymore and Jeffrey Thomas ... has an older brother, Jarhem, and an older sister, Kejanae ... is undecided on academic major.

High School Highlights

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Tyler Torey, DL, 6-1, 240, Macomb, Mich. / Dakota
High School:  Will be a 2025 graduate of Macomb Dakota High School ... was a three-year varsity letterwinners for the Cougars ... helped MDHS to a 10-2 mark, a conference title as well as a district championship in 2024 ... recorded 44 stops (14 solo, 30 assisted) as a senior, including 19.5 for loss (8.5 sacks) ... recovered two fumbles and forced one, while garnering 15 quarterback pressures in 2024 ... totaled 53 tackles (27 solo, 26 assisted) as a junior, including 13 for loss (10 sacks) with four quarterback pressures ... selected to the First Team All-Region, First Team Dream Team and First Team All-County in both 2023 and 2024 ... served as a team captain as a senior ... received Academic All-State recognition in 2024 ... earned Academic All-Macomb Area Conference accolades in both 2023 and 2024.

Personal:  Full name -- Tyler S. Torey ... born on June 12, 2007, in Macomb, Mich. ... son of Steve and Andrea Torey ... father played football at Ferris State ... has two younger sisters, Anna and Ava ... cousin Matt Torey played football at Michigan (2019-21) ... plans to major in either Business or Engineering. 

High School Highlights

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