GAME STORYLINES
The Wayne State University football team closes out the 2025 campaign with a road contest at Northern Michigan this Saturday in the Superior Dome.
SCOUTING NORTHERN MICHIGAN
NMU enters Saturday’s contest with a 2-8 overall record following a 47-45 non-conference quadruple-overtime win at Davenport on nov. 8.
Billy Lindquist became as the interim head coach of the Wildcats prior to the contest at DU.
Redshirt freshman Noah Dobert leads the ground attack for northern Michigan,rushing 231 times for 1,274 yards and 11 scores. Dobert earned GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week honors after toting the ball 40 times for 244 yards and three touchdowns during a 42-21 win at Roosevelt, and once more after a 243-yard performance in which he reached the end zone four times in the win over DU.
Duke Shovald (32-of-59) and Trevor Theuerkauf (33-of-69) have both completed over 30 passes, with Shovald passing for 457 yards and two touchdowns, and Theuerkauf totaling 378 yards and four scores.
Sebastian Boyea is NMU’s leading receiver, hauling in 10 passes for 164 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Isaac Olson has six receptions for 121 yards.
dobert handles kickoff returns for NMU, with 12 attempts for 240 yards. Chris Battley has returned 12 kickoffs as well for 191 yards. Ian Engstrom is back deep on punts, handling eight for 41 yards.
Jax Hertel leads the way on defense,with 89 total tackles including a team-high 14 for loss (two sacks),while adding five pass break-ups,three quarterback hurries,one forced fumble,and an interception.
Michael Karlen has punted 26 times for 1,072 yards, pinning opponents within the 20-yard line twice. karlen takes care of kicking duties as well, connecting on four-of-six field goals and all 15 of his extra-point tries.
ALL-TIME SERIES
The Wildcats hold a 20-17 advantage over WSU in the all-time series, with the Warriors claiming the last two contests. When playing in Marquette, the green and Gold is 7-10.
A BAGFUL OF M&Ms
Linebackers Martell Williams, Logan McGraw, and Max Edwards have combined for 210 tackles through the first 10 games of the season. Williams leads the way with 89 (42-47), while McGraw is second on the squad with 67 (30-37), and edwards ranks third with 54 (24-30). In addition, the trio has combined for 26.5 of WSU’s 59 tackles for loss, and four of the squad’s 12 sacks.
Williams’ 89 tackles is tied-for-third in the GLIAC, while McGraw’s 11.5 TFL rank second.
IMPACTFUL FRESHMEN
Through 10 games, the Warriors have nine touchdown receptions, with redshirt freshmen and a true freshman accounting for six of them.
Wayne State Football: Recent Highlights and Senior Recognition
Table of Contents
Wayne State football has seen several standout performances recently, with key players making important contributions on both sides of the ball.
DEFENSIVE STANDOUTS SHINE
The Warrior defense has been making waves with impressive interception returns. Elijah Fowlkes showcased his speed with a 51-yard touchdown run against wisconsin-La Crosse. Luke Johnson‘s 67-yard interception return against Davenport was the longest by a Wayne state true freshman in the last 36 years, second onyl to Jeremy Jones’ 86-yard return in 2008.
Johnson’s pick ranks as the eighth-longest in the last 36 years of WSU football and the longest as Anthony DeDamos’ 85-yard return in 2014. Jones previously equaled the WSU record with a 100-yard return in 2010 against Hillsdale.
This season, the Warriors have accumulated 161 interception return yards, matching the total from the 2019 squad. The most in a season over the last 15 years was 401 yards in 2011, led by All-American safety Jeremy jones who recorded 196 yards on nine interceptions.
TUGGLE PROVIDING EXPLOSIVE PLAYS
Justyz Tuggle has consistently been a key target in the passing game.He led the team with six receptions for 79 yards against Quincy, including catches of 27, 18, and 26 yards.
Tuggle also contributed a 21-yard reception against Michigan Tech and a 40-yard touchdown pass to Nick Ostas. He added a 25-yard reception at Ferris State and has led the team in receiving yards in three games this season. Against grand Valley State, he had five catches for 62 yards, and last week at Roosevelt, he recorded four catches for 50 yards, including a 26-yard reception.
HONORING OUR SENIORS
Prior to the home finale, Wayne State recognized its 14-member senior class. those honored included Clifton Buchanan,
PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State University Football Head Coach jake Dickert announced today the addition of 22 student-athletes to the Cougar football program. The class features a diverse group of players from across the country, representing a variety of positions and skillsets. “We’re incredibly excited to welcome these young men to the Cougar family,” said Dickert. “This is a class built on athleticism,character,and a commitment to academic excellence. We’ve addressed needs across the board and added depth to our roster.” The incoming class includes several players expected to compete for playing time immediately. Among the notable additions are Dharon Flowers, Franklin Gallagher, Kasim Gozic, Zach Green, Zaiden Hall, Drew Hickmott, Donovan Isaac, Trezelle Jenkins, Jr.,Creg Johnson,Luke Johnson,Dylan Kress,Spencer Lyons,Nahji Mabry,Jonathan Major,Marvin McCallum,Trae’vion Meadows,Blake Nelson,Johnny Nelson,and Griffin Nowak. The coaching staff focused on bolstering both offensive and defensive lines, and also adding speed and playmaking ability to the skill positions. The new class reflects a commitment to building a program that can compete at the highest level. “Our staff did an outstanding job identifying and recruiting these players,” Dickert added. “We’re confident they will make a significant impact on our program, both on and off the field.” Further details on each signee,including biographical facts and high school/junior college stats,can be found on the official WSU Athletics website: https://wsuathletics.com/sports/football/roster. The wayne State University football team is gearing up for the 2024 season with a blend of returning players and exciting newcomers. The Warriors are projected to finish sixth in the GLIAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, receiving 16 points. ROSTER BREAKDOWN The Warrior roster boasts 126 players, comprised of 53 returners – including 18 letterwinners – and a significant influx of 73 newcomers. This new class includes 49 freshmen, four mid-year transfers, and 20 summer transfers, injecting fresh talent and competition into the program. Key returners include Omar El Khatib, Sherod Green, Peyton Hatten, Devon Isaac, Trent Leicht, Kelly Matthews, Logan McGraw, Jasir Rahaman, Mar’Tavion Robinson, Josh Sekiyoba, Ashawn Sims, Braden Siri, Mikey Thomas, Darel Washington, and Martell Williams. COACHING CHANGES Alongside the player turnover, the coaching staff has also seen changes. Seven new hires have been made, including four full-time coaches and three graduate assistants. Notably, Mustafa khaleefah has been promoted to full-time Tight Ends Coach after previously serving as an Offensive Line Graduate Assistant Coach. GLIAC PRESEASON POLL The GLIAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll predicts a competitive landscape: The Wayne State University (WSU) football team is gearing up for the 2025 season with a roster comprised of 92 high school graduates, 11 junior college transfers, 17 players who transferred from other four-year colleges, and six additional student-athletes who joined the program from two or four-year institutions without competing in athletics. https://wsuathletics.com/news/2024/8/15/football-warriors-release-2024-roster.aspx The team boasts a diverse representation of players from 13 states and one Canadian province. The majority of Warriors hail from Michigan (91),followed by Ohio (10),California (7),Texas (4),Florida (2),Virginia (2),and Washington (2). Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Ontario each contribute one student-athlete to the roster. https://wsuathletics.com/news/2024/8/15/football-warriors-release-2024-roster.aspxCougars Welcome 22 Newcomers to Football Roster
Wayne State Football: A Look Ahead to the 2024 Season
Wayne State University Football: 2025 Roster & team Information
Family Connections on the Team
Wayne State football features several players with notable family ties to the sport:
* Champion and Max Edwards: Brothers playing together for the Warriors. https://wsuathletics.com/sports/football/roster/max-edwards/13384
* Malachi and matthew Evans: Twin brothers on the team. https://wsuathletics.com/sports/football/roster/matthew-evans/13466
* Devon and Donovan Isaac: Brothers representing wayne State. https://wsuathletics.com/sports/football/roster/donovan-isaac/13407
* Evan Bainbridge: Son of former offensive tackle Matthew Bainbridge. https://wsuathletics.com/sports/football/roster/evan-bainbridge/13507
* Jordan Bell: Son of Joique Bell, a Wayne State Athletics hall of Fame running back. https://wsuathletics.com/sports/football/roster/jordan-bell/13366
* Trezelle Jenkins, Jr.: Son of Trezelle Jenkins, who played college football at Michigan (1991-1994) and had a brief NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs.https://wsuathletics.com/sports/football/roster/trezelle-jenkins-jr-/13568
* Jesse Brown: Son of Gilbert Brown, a former Green Bay Packers Hall of Famer. https://wsuathletics.com/sports/football/roster/jesse-brown/13870
Broadcast Information
Wayne State football games are now broadcast through the Warrior Sports Network.Sean Baligian, a veteran Detroit broadcaster, is in his 17th season as the play-by-play announcer. Brady Beedon, a former Warrior defensive end, will provide color commentary for eight games, while Kevin Brechmacher will handle color commentary for the remaining three. Tony Ortiz will serve as the sideline reporter for