(UPDATED 12/25/2018) -- Cheyne Lacanaria joined the Wayne State University football staff in the summer of 2017 and has served as the offensive graduate assistant the last two seasons, primarily working with the tight ends.
In his inaugural year with the Warriors, Lacanaria had four of his tight ends receive Academic All-GLIAC recognition, including two (Preston Pelham and Logan Smith) who earned All-Academic Excellence honors. The blocking by tight ends helped WSU rank 29th nationally in fewest tackles for loss allowed (4.82 per game), and 33rd in Division II in fewest sacks allowed (1.36 per game).
At the end of the 2018 campaign, Pelham was voted to the All-GLIAC Second Team as well as WSU's Ron Solack Memorial "#35" Award recipient. Wayne State was 28th nationally in fewest tackles for loss allowed (5.09). In addition, the tight end corps contributed 16 receptions for 281 yards and three touchdowns.
Lacanaria was a four-year member of the Ohio Wesleyan University football team (2013-16) playing at both quarterback and receiver. He helped the Battling Bishops to a 6-4 mark in 2016, by recording at least two receptions in each game, while also serving as one of the team captains. He had a season-high 11 catches vs. Wabash on October 29th, along with a season-best 85 receiving yards. Lacanaria finished his senior campaign with 57 receptions, which ranked eighth in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC), for 407 yards and one touchdown (October 15 vs. Hiram).
After playing in one game as a true freshman (completed 2-of-4 passes for nine yards), he appeared in eight games in 2014 and completed 46-of-83 passes for 502 yards and four touchdowns. As a junior, Lacanaria participated in all 10 contests and passed for 368 yards and one touchdown on 28-of-55. In addition, he was ninth in the league with 47 receptions for 405 yards and two touchdowns.
His 13 catches vs. DePauw on October 24, 2015, is tied for third most in school history.
He earned a bachelor's degree in health and human kinetics in December of 2016 and is currently pursuing a master's degree in sports administration from WSU.
The Farmington native was a two-year state champion at Brother Rice, including serving as a team captain during his senior campaign of 2012. He was the starting quarterback in the 2011 MHSAA Division 2 state championship game win over Lowell, then tossed a 16-yard scoring strike to his brother to open the scoring in the 2012 State championship game win over Muskegon.
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