(Photo Credit: Icon Sportswire/Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
QB Kaleb Eleby, RB La’Darius Jefferson, RB Sean Tyler, WR Jaylen Hall, WR Skyy Moore, OC Mike Caliendo, OG Dylan Deatherage, OT Mark Brooks, DE Ali Fayad, DE Marshawn Kneeland, DT Braden Fiske, NT Ralph Holley, LB Corvin Moment, LB Harrison Taylor, CB Calin Crawford, CB Keith Jones, FS A.J. Thomas, SS Bricen Garner, PR DaShon Bussell, PK Thiago Kapps, and PT Nick Mihalic.
Key Players Departing:
WR/KR D’Wayne Eskridge, OT Jaylon Moore, DE Kailien Guillory, LB Treshaun Hayward, and FS Davontae Ginwright.
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: OT Brandon Honorable (Detroit, Michigan), DE Elijah Hawk (Pickerington, Ohio), ATH Henry Wilson (Chicago, Illinois), TE Corey Walker (Normal, Illinois), OT Carson Briggs (Traverse City, Michigan), S Jaali Parker (Chicago, Illinois), ATH Zach Vode (Hobart, Indiana), OG Dalton Dueweke (Utica, Michigan), DT Hozey Haji-Badri (East Carolina transfer), and WR Tyren Mason (Elkhart, Indiana).
2020 Results:
G01 at Akron W 58-13
G02 TOLEDO W 41-38
G03 at Central Michigan W 52-44
G04 NORTHERN ILLINOIS W 30-27
G05 EASTERN MICHIGAN L 42-53
G06 at Ball State L 27-30
Team Info:
2020 Overall: 4-2 (2nd in MAC West)
Home: 2-1
Away: 2-1
Neutral: 0-0
MAC: 4-2
Non-MAC: 0-0
Head Coach: Tim Lester
Western Michigan: 24-20
Career: 54-43
Bowls: 0-2
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Kaleb Elerby (98-152, 1699 yards, 64.5%, 11.2 avg., 18 TD, 2 INT)
Rushing: La’Darius Jefferson (112 car., 624 yards, 5.6 avg., 5 TD)
Receiving: Skyy Moore (25 rec., 388 yards, 15.5 avg., 3 TD)
TD’s Scored: Jaylen Hall (7)
Sacks: Ali Fayad (4)
Tackles: Treshaun Hayward (59)
Interceptions: Harrison Taylor/A.J. Thomas (1)
Pass Deflections: Bricen Garner (4)
Tackles For Loss: Ralph Holley/A.J. Thomas (9)
Forced Fumbles: 4 Tied (1)
Kick Returns: Ryan Kilburg (2 ret., 26 yards, 13.0 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: DaShon Bussell (4 ret., 24 yard, 6.0 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Thiago Kapps (4-7 fg/fga., 57%, 23-26 xp/xpa., 35 pts.)
Punting: Nick Mihalic (18 punts, 767 yards, 42.6 avg., 6 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 5 Kaleb Eleby (RS SO)
RB: 3 La’Darius Jefferson (JR/TR)
WR: 19 Bryce Nunnelly (SR/TR)
WR: 24 Skyy Moore (SO)
WR: 1 Jaylen Hall (RS JR)
TE: 89 Breyy Borske (RS SR)
LT: 66 Wesley French (RS SR)
LG: 75 Addison West (RS FR)
OC: 61 Mike Caliendo (RS SR)
RG: 72 Dylan Deatherage (RS JR)
RT: 60 Mark Brooks (RS SR)
KR: 7 Jaxson Kincaide (GR/TR)
PK: 16 Thiago Kapps (SR/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 1 Ali Fayad (RS SR)
DT: 93 Will McCabe (RS SO)
NT: 8 Ralph Holley (RS SR)
DE: 5 Andre Carter (RS SO)
LB: 13 Harrison Taylor (RS JR)
LB: 20 Corvin Moment (RS JR)
LB: 27 Ryan Selig (RS SO)
CB: 15 Keith Jones (RS FR)
CB: 7 Therran Coleman (GR/TR)
FS: 6 A.J. Thomas (RS SR)
SS: 2 Bricen Garner (GR/TR)
PR: 00 DaShon Bussell (RS SO)
PT: 39 Nick Mihalic (JR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: A
Running Backs: A
Wide Receivers: B
Offensive Line: A
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: C
Secondary: B
Special Teams:
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: B
Punters: B
Schedule:
09/04 at Michigan Wolverines | Western Michigan trails the series 0-7. The Broncos are 0-2 since 2011, and they lost (3-49) the last meeting between schools in 2018.
09/11 ILLINOIS STATE REDBIRDS | Western Michigan leads the series 7-1. The Broncos won (48-7) the last meeting between schools in 2001.
09/18 at Pittsburgh Panthers | First meeting between schools.
09/25 SAN JOSE STATE SPARTANS | First meeting between schools.
10/02 at Buffalo Bulls | Western Michigan leads the series 7-2. The Broncos won (71-68 OT) the last meeting between schools in 2017.
10/09 BALL STATE CARDINALS | Western Michigan leads the series 26-21. The Broncos are 6-4 since 2011, and their last series win (35-31) was in 2019.
10/16 KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES | Western Michigan leads the series 35-20-1. The Broncos won (48-20) the last meeting between schools in 2017.
10/23 at Toledo Rockets | Western Michigan trails the series 31-44. The Broncos are 3-7 since 2011, and their last series loss (24-31) was in 2019.
11/03 CENTRAL MICHIGAN CHIPPEWAS | Western Michigan leads the series 51-38-2. The Broncos are 8-2 since 2011, and their last series loss (28-35) was in 2017.
11/09 AKRON ZIPS | Western Michigan leads the series 15-5. The Broncos are 3-1 since 2011, and their last series loss (13-14) was in 2017.
11/16 at Eastern Michigan Eagles | Western Michigan leads the series 34-20-2. The Broncos are 5-5 since 2011, and their last series win (27-24) was in 2018.
11/23 at Northern Illinois Huskies | Western Michigan leads the series 26-20. The Broncos are 3-7 since 2011, and their last series loss (14-17) was in 2019.
Predictions:
Home: 6-0
Away: 2-4
Neutral: 0-0
CUSA: 6-2
Non-CUSA: 2-2
Overall: 8-4 (2nd in MAC West)
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