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Wayne State University Athletics

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Football Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

WSU Football - 2026 Defensive Line

DETROIT -- As we continue previewing each position on the 2026 Wayne State University football team with each position coach highlighting their respective units.  This segment is the defensive line preview with coach Gabe Brown.

Since Brown inherited just three letterwinners at defensive tackle and only one at defensive end, building up depth at all four positions became imperative.  Needless to say, the Warriors added quite a few transfers along the defensive line, plus a few freshmen to go with six returning redshirt freshmen.

Leading the defensive ends will be two-year letterwinner and redshirt senior Joe Clark, Jr. (Pontiac, Mich. / West Bloomfield), who made four starts a season ago, while appearing in all 11 contests.

The returning redshirt freshmen at defensive end include Andrew Pazuchowski (Grosse Pointe, Mich. / Grosse Pointe South), Zach Green (Clinton Township, Mich. / U. of Detroit Jesuit), and Franklin Gallagher (Grosse Pointe Park, Mich. / Grosse Pointe South).  Senior Ashawn Sims Cleveland, Ohio / Cleveland Heights [Colgate]) appeared in the first four games of 2025 as a back-up defensive lineman.

Nic Sturgill (Flat Rock, Mich. / Woodhaven [DuPage / Va.-Wise]) came to WSU in January, while two other transfers - Keyuandre Watkins and JonChevi Butler (Dallas, Texas / Spruce [Nelson University]) - became Warriors earlier this month.  Freshman Brandon Bartolucci (Plymouth, Mich. / Detroit Catholic Central) signed with Wayne State back in February.

There is plenty of competition for playing time at the two defensive tackle positions with three one-time letterwinners in the fold in redshirt sophomore Tanielu Ah-Loe (University Place, Wash. / Bellarmine Prep), along with seniors Justhin Austin (Cleveland, Ohio / Cleveland Heights [Erie C.C. / Defiance]) and Mikey Thomas (Salinas, Calif. / Marina [Cabrillo C.C.]).

Four other players also return in redshirt freshmen Tyler Torey (Macomb, Mich. / Dakota), Mason Conklin (Sparta, Mich.), and Creg Johnson (River Rouge, Mich.), plus redshirt sophomore Jesse Brown (Belleville, Mich. / New Boston Huron [Lincoln, Mo.]).

Newcomers at the defensive tackle position include freshman JaQuan McMiller and transfers Samuel Arrey, Victor Santana and Zy'Kerion Tucker.  William Burns will redshirt this fall after coming to WSU in January.

Other Position Previews
Season Preview
Quarterbacks Preview
Running Backs Preview
Defensive Coordinator
Special Teams
Linebackers Preview

 
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Players Mentioned

Tanielu Ah-Loe

#95 Tanielu Ah-Loe

DT
6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
Justhin Austin

#98 Justhin Austin

DT
6' 1"
Senior
Jesse Brown

#62 Jesse Brown

DT
6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
Joe Clark, Jr.

#90 Joe Clark, Jr.

DE
6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
Mason Conklin

#53 Mason Conklin

DE
6' 3"
Redshirt Freshman
Franklin Gallagher

#69 Franklin Gallagher

DE
6' 4"
Redshirt Freshman
Zach Green

#66 Zach Green

DE
6' 4"
Redshirt Freshman
Creg Johnson

#63 Creg Johnson

DT
6' 1"
Redshirt Freshman
Andrew Pazuchowski

#64 Andrew Pazuchowski

DE
6' 5"
Redshirt Freshman
Ashawn Sims

#99 Ashawn Sims

DE
6' 3"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Tanielu Ah-Loe

#95 Tanielu Ah-Loe

6' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
DT
Justhin Austin

#98 Justhin Austin

6' 1"
Senior
DT
Jesse Brown

#62 Jesse Brown

6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
DT
Joe Clark, Jr.

#90 Joe Clark, Jr.

6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
DE
Mason Conklin

#53 Mason Conklin

6' 3"
Redshirt Freshman
DE
Franklin Gallagher

#69 Franklin Gallagher

6' 4"
Redshirt Freshman
DE
Zach Green

#66 Zach Green

6' 4"
Redshirt Freshman
DE
Creg Johnson

#63 Creg Johnson

6' 1"
Redshirt Freshman
DT
Andrew Pazuchowski

#64 Andrew Pazuchowski

6' 5"
Redshirt Freshman
DE
Ashawn Sims

#99 Ashawn Sims

6' 3"
Senior
DE