Wayne State University Athletics

Football 8/21/2025 10:30:00 AM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

2025 WSU Football - Running Backs Preview

DETROIT -- Since we are two weeks away from the season opener, this is our next to last position preview of the 2025 Wayne State University football team. This segment is the running backs preview with head coach Tyrone Wheatley.

Last year's top two rushers return in junior quarterback Champion Edwards (570 yards) and redshirt sophomore running back XaVior Tyus (423 yards). Tyus (Portage, Mich. / Northern) recorded his first 100-yard game with 116 yards on 14 carries in the win over Northern Michigan in the 2024 season finale.

Even with losing over 500 yards to graduation in D'Marco Singleton and Jeremiah Sterling, the Warriors have reloaded with two transfers and four freshmen.

Redshirt junior Brayden McKenna (Lapeer, Mich.) is a two-year letterwinner who saw action on punt coverage in all 11 contests a year ago, as well as on kickoff return in nine games, on kickoff coverage in seven contests, and on punt return in two games. Redshirt freshman Mickey Keller (Ashburn, Va. / Independence) appeared in three contests last season.

The transfers are led by D'Vaun Bentley (Detroit, Mich. / Loyola [Lawrence Tech]) and Sterling Anderson (Detroit, Mich. / Martin Luther King [Davenport]). Bentley was a Second Team All-Mid States Football Association selection in 2024 after rushing for a team-high 984 yards and 10 touchdowns on 155 attempts for the Blue Devils. He caught 22 passes for 158 yards for LTU, while Anderson appeared in one contest over the last two years with the Panthers.

The quartet of freshmen include Kayden Forbes (West Olive, Mich. / West Ottawa), Malik Shephard (Detroit, Mich. / Henry Ford), Chase Stephens (Saranac, Mich.) and Jermiah Taylor (Detroit, Mich. / Cass Tech).

WSU has two newcomers at fullback in junior college transfer Peyton Hatten (Salinas, Calif. / Rancho San Juan [Cabrillo J.C.]) and freshman Haiden Bollini (Sandusky, Ohio / Perkins).

Hatten rushed for 848 yards and four touchdowns in six games on 148 attempts in 2024, after rushing for 1,092 yards on 201 carries with nine touchdowns in 2023.

Bollini helped the Pirates to a runner-up finish in the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Division 4 state playoffs in 2024 playing both offensive and defensive line.

Wayne State will conclude second week of fall practice this Saturday. The home and season opener will take place on Thursday, Sept. 4 with a 6 p.m. kickoff against the Tiffin Dragons. Both season and single-game tickets are available by clicking here. WSU Athletics supporters can also join the W-Club by clicking here.

Other Position Previews
Season Preview
Quarterbacks Preview
Defensive Backs Preview
Wide Receivers Preview
Linebackers Preview
Defensive Line Preview
Offensive Line Preview
Tight Ends Preview

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Players Mentioned

#2 D'Marco Singleton: RB; 6' 1"; Senior

#17 Champion Edwards: QB; 6' 1"; Junior

#22 Mickey Keller: RB; 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman

#37 Brayden McKenna: RB; 5' 11"; Redshirt Junior

#25 XaVior Tyus: RB; 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore

#20 Chase Stephens: RB; 6' 4"; Freshman

#39 Kayden Forbes: RB; 5' 9"; Freshman

#46 Haiden Bollini: FB; 6' 0"; Freshman

#3 Sterling Anderson: RB; 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore

#33 Malik Shephard: RB; 6' 0"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#2 D'Marco Singleton
: 6' 1"; Senior
: RB

#17 Champion Edwards
: 6' 1"; Junior
: QB

#22 Mickey Keller
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman
: RB

#37 Brayden McKenna
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Junior
: RB

#25 XaVior Tyus
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore
: RB

#20 Chase Stephens
: 6' 4"; Freshman
: RB

#39 Kayden Forbes
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: RB

#46 Haiden Bollini
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: FB

#3 Sterling Anderson
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore
: RB

#33 Malik Shephard
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: RB