Wayne State University Athletics

Football 8/7/2026 12:11:00 PM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

WSU Football - 2026 Linebackers

DETROIT -- As we continue previewing each position on the 2026 Wayne State University football team, this segment is the linebackers preview with coach Marc Hull.

Between the "Mike", "Will" and "Sam" linebacking spots, first-year linebackers coach Marc Hull has 10 returnees from last season.

The Will linebacker position features four returnees in sophomore Luke Johnson (Oxford, Mich.), redshirt junior CJ Gordon (Benton Harbor, Mich. / Berrien Springs), redshirt senior Nahji Mabry (Flushing, Mich.), and redshirt freshman Marvin McCallum (Detroit, Mich. / Cass Tech).

Johnson was voted as the WSU Defensive Rookie of the Year award recipient a season ago. He appeared in all 11 games and served as a team captain for six contests. Gordon has played in 23 games in three seasons with the Warriors, making three starts. He was selected as the squad's Special Teams Most Valuable Player in 2025.

Mabry returned to WSU in the summer of 2025 and was named to the GLIAC All-Academic Team after appearing in seven games. McCallum appeared in three games last season and saw action on kickoff return and punt return in all three games played.

Newcomers at Will include transfer George Massaquoi (Windsor, Ont. / Herman Academy [Eastern Michigan]), along with freshmen Jeffery Love (Austin, Texas / Hyde Park) and Dante' Toliver (Romulus, Mich.).

The Mike linebacker position also features four returnees from a season ago in redshirt sophomore Max Edwards (Los Angeles, Calif. / American Fork HS in Utah), sophomore Ryan Spate (Boyne Falls, Mich. / Boyne City), along with redshirt freshmen Johnny Nelson (Detroit, Mich. / Harper Woods) and Kasim Gozic (Hamtramck, Mich. / U. of Detroit Jesuit).

Edwards made seven starts while appearing in all 11 contests in 2025. He finished third on the squad in tackles (54) and assisted tackles (30), while ranking fourth in tackles for loss (6.5). Spate played in all 11 games, including seven with time at linebacker while also seeing significant playing time on special teams. Nelson played in both games dressed and recorded a tackle for loss at Northern Michigan. Gozic appeared in the final two games of 2025 seeing action on kickoff coverage, kickoff return, and punt return.

Newcomers include senior Emmanuel Ajayi (Saint Paul, Minn. / North Saint Paul [(]Sierra CC / PennWest Clarion]) and three true freshmen in Matthew Hoban (Ann Arbor, Mich. / Father Gabriel Richard), Reece Pippin (Novi, Mich.) and Keith McKenzie, Jr. (Detroit, Mich. / Southfield A&T).

The Sam position features redshirt sophomores Amarion Brownlee (Mount Clemens, Mich. / L'Anse Creuse) and Gavin Troy (Port Huron, Mich.) and newcomers Kymani Fenika (Herald, Calif. / Liberty Ranch [Sacramento City College]) and Javon Glaspie.

Brownlee has played in 10 career games, making 15 tackles (12-3), while Troy saw action in the 2025 season opener against Tiffin on the kickoff return team. Fenika appeared in 15 games over the last two seasons for Sacramento City College.

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

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Players Mentioned

#26 Amarion Brownlee: S; 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore

#33 Max Edwards: LB; 6' 0"; Redshirt Sophomore

#50 CJ Gordon: LB; 6' 2"; Redshirt Junior

#48 Kasim Gozic: LB; 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman

#52 Luke Johnson: LB; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#51 Nahji Mabry: LB; 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior

#58 Marvin McCallum: LB; 5' 11"; Redshirt Freshman

#46 Johnny Nelson: LB; 5' 10"; Redshirt Freshman

#57 Ryan Spate: LB; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#45 Gavin Troy: S; 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#26 Amarion Brownlee
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore
: S

#33 Max Edwards
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Sophomore
: LB

#50 CJ Gordon
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Junior
: LB

#48 Kasim Gozic
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman
: LB

#52 Luke Johnson
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: LB

#51 Nahji Mabry
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior
: LB

#58 Marvin McCallum
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Freshman
: LB

#46 Johnny Nelson
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Freshman
: LB

#57 Ryan Spate
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: LB

#45 Gavin Troy
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore
: S