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Wayne State University Athletics

2026 Football Transfers 3

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

Football Bolsters Roster With Three More Transfers

DETROIT -- With the first practice of fall camp a week from today, we will continue doing articles on the newcomers.  This third batch of transfers include cornerback Dereon Foster (Romeo, Mich. [Davenport / Lawrence Tech]), quarterback Eric Franklin (Zion, Ill. / Zion-Benton [Ottawa University / North Central College]), and cornerback Elijay Hayward (Ypsilanti, Mich. / Ann Arbor Huron [Adrian]).

Dereon Foster, CB, 5-11, 180, R-So., Romeo, Mich. / Romeo (Davenport / Lawrence Tech)
2025:  Played in nine games for Lawrence Tech and was credited with nine tackles (7-2), two pass break-ups (vs. Saint Xavier [IL] and Taylor), plus had an interception against Taylor ... recorded season-bests in solo tackles (3) and total tackles (4) at Indiana Wesleyan in first career start.

2024:  Redshirted at Davenport.

High School:  A 2024 graduate of Romeo High School ... was a letterwinner for coach Curt Rienas ... helped the Bulldogs to the 2023 state playoffs ... earned All-Macomb Area Conference Red Division honors as a senior ... notched two interceptions in a 20-14 win against Utica Eisenhower ... also competed in track his last two years for RHS ... placed fourth at the 2024 MAC Red Championships in the long jump and third in the 110m hurdles (16.19) ... qualified for the 2024 MHSAA Division 1 state finals in the 110m hurdles (16.01) after placing second in the regional meet (15.44) ... ran a personal-best 15.22 for 110m hurdles at the Macomb County Championships to place fourth ... posted a personal-best 300m hurdles time of 42.17 at the 2024 MHSAA regional meet ... garnered a personal-best mark of 20-08 in the long jump at the 2024 Saline Golden Triangle.

Personal:  Full name -- Dereon A. Foster ... born on July 6, 2006, in Detroit ... son of Durell Foster and Nicole Brooks ... plans to major in Business Administration. 

Eric Franklin, QB, 6-0, 190, Gr., Zion, Ill. / Zion-Benton (Ottawa University / North Central College)
2023-25:  Attended North Central College an NCAA Division III school in Naperville, Ill., for three years ... but was only a member of the Cardinals football squad in 2023 and 2024 ... graduated in 2026 from NCC with a bachelor's degree in Sports Management and a minor in Psychology.

2022:  Took a gap year.

2021:  Redshirted at Ottawa University, an NAIA school in Ottawa, Kansas.

High School:  A 2021 graduate of Zion-Benton High School ... was a three-year letterwinner for coaches Robert Moynihan and Cristo Garza ... helped lead the Zee-Bees to the Illinois 8A playoffs in 2018 ... served as a football team captain for two seasons ... ran track for ZBHS helping the squad win the 4x200m relay at the 2019 North Suburban Conference (NSC) meet ... also competed in the 100m and 200m dash, along with the 4x100m relay and 4x400m relay.

Personal:  Full name -- Eric N. Franklin ... born on August 28, 2003, in Zion, Ill. ... son of Troy and Catina Franklin ... has an older brother, TJ, and a younger sister, Kyla ... currently pursuing a master's degree in Sports Administration.

Elijah Hayward, CB, 6-2, 185, Jr., Ypsilanti, Mich. / Ann Arbor Huron (Adrian)
2025:  Appeared in eight contests for Division 3 Adrian College ... finished the campaign with 10 tackles (4 solo, 6 assisted) ... notched an interception vs. Thiel ... credited with a pass break-up vs. Thiel and Albion ... made a season-best five tackles (1-4) at Calvin.

2024:  Played in four games for Adrian College ... totaled 12 tackles (9 solo, 3 assisted) with one interception (vs. Olivet) ... recorded two pass break-ups at Franklin ... made a season-high nine stops (7-2) at Franklin ... first career tackle was an assisted stop vs. Elmhurst ... competed in three track meets for the Bulldogs as a sprinter.

High School:  A 2024 graduate of Ann Arbor Huron High School ... also competed in basketball and track for the River Rats ... participated in the long jump as a sophomore and was a sprinter in both 2022 and 2024 ... ran a personal-best 11.20 in the 100m dash at the 2024 MHSAA Division 1 regional track meet at Ypsilanti Lincoln ... that same day ran a personal-best 22.60 in the finals of the 200m dash ... ran the anchor leg on the 4x100m relay which placed sixth at the 2024 MHSAA Division 1 state meet ... was a member of the 4x200m relay that competed at the 2024 state meet.

Personal:  Full name -- Elijah Hayward ... born on January 16, 2006, in Ypsilanti, Mich. ... son of Trevor and Andrea Hayward ... has a brother, Jackson, and a younger sister, Taylor ... plans to major in Sport Management.

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Players Mentioned

Elijah Hayward

Elijah Hayward

CB
6' 2"
Junior
Dereon Foster

Dereon Foster

CB
5' 11"
Redshirt Sophomore
Eric Franklin

Eric Franklin

QB
6' 0"
Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

Elijah Hayward

Elijah Hayward

6' 2"
Junior
CB
Dereon Foster

Dereon Foster

5' 11"
Redshirt Sophomore
CB
Eric Franklin

Eric Franklin

6' 0"
Graduate Student
QB