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 Warriors Offense The Warrior offense could be described in one word in 2000: awesome. WSU averaged 455.1 total yards per game and 310 passing yards per contest, which was seventh in both categories in NCAA Division II football. Wayne State also led the GLIAC in passing offense and total offense. Individually the Warriors had the leading rusher, leading receiver in yards per game and all-purpose yards leader in the conference last season. With nine players returning on offense in 2001, Kazor believes Wayne State could be as good or better at moving the football this season. “We have a good balance between our running game and our passing game,” said Kazor. “We also have an outstanding audible system which will dictate what we will do at times.” Wide Receivers “Both Browns are excellent athletes who make our passing game great,” said Kazor. “Pierre is one of the best receivers in the nation. He has amazing speed and can run the deep routes. Brandon Brown is tall and can catch balls over defensive backs. They complement each other well.” Kazor also believes sophomores Roger White (Sterling Heights, Mich.) and Sterling Walker (Detroit, Mich./Redford) also will contribute at the receiver position. White was a backup to Brett Warkientien at wingback last season, while Walker will be making the switch from defensive back to wide receiver. Running Backs “We have added some depth at the running back position,” said Kazor. “Pat Harwood (Romeo, Mich.) is an outstanding running back who is one of the fastest players on the team. He will see time this season. Junior Jeff Roeschke (Lindon, Mich.) is an extremely versatile back who brings a lot to the table. He has great hands and good speed that makes him a valuable commodity.” Offensive Line
“We have the talent on the line, but we just have to find the right spots for guys,” Kazor said. "We did a lot of experimenting in the spring and I feel there is a little tweaking we need to do before we step on the field in 2001.” “Ken Kern (New Baltimore, Mich./Anchor Bay) emerged as solid player in the spring as well as Chris Rinehart (Casco, Mich./Richmond). We have a lot of young players coming up and it will just be a matter of who is playing well at the right time.” Quarterbacks
Tight Ends “Right now things at the tight end position are really wide open,” said Kazor. “We will really miss Julian and Finkbeiner from last season, but I feel we could get some quality play from our younger players. Mike Johnson (Battle Creek, Mich./Bellevue) is a player who came out of spring football with a great session. Johnson has great versatility and has done a great job coming off a broken leg. He has great size and is a good run blocker.” “Frank Hess (Harper Woods, Mich.) is also a possibility at tight end,” said Kazor. “Don Slankster (Novi, Mich./Central) is another possibility at tight end.” Special Teams Sterling Walker established himself as one of the best returners in the GLIAC. Walker returned only six punts but averaged 28.3 yard per return. In a single contest against Indianapolis Oct. 28, Walker had three punt returns for 145 yards, including a GLIAC and WSU record 91-yard punt return for a touchdown. Walker was named GLIAC Player of the Week for his performance.
Roger White and Thabiti Williamson will maintain their duties as kickoff returners. White returned eight kickoffs for 142 yards, averaging 17.8 yards per return. Williamson was one of the best returners in the GLIAC, bringing back 27 kickoffs for 601 yards and averaging 22.3 yards per return. Jeff Roeschke has established himself as a solid punter. Last season Roeschke punted 54 times for 1,798 yards, averaging 33.3 yards per punt. He had four fair catches and eight punts landed inside the twenty-yard line. The Warriors will search for a new kicker this season. Heading into the season Kazor has his sights set on incoming freshman Stephen Wayne (Farmington, Mich.) who was an excellent kicker in high school. Wayne converted on 77.2 percent of his field goal attempts as a prepster, converting 17 of 22 attempts. Mike Johnson will be the long snapper once again this season after having the duties in 2000. Tim Steele (Sterling Heights, Mich./Stevenson) will remain the holder. |
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The Warriors return two outstanding receivers from last season. Senior Pierre Brown (West Bloomfield, Mich.), pictured at right, was one of the best receivers in the nation, catching 66 passes for 1,492 yards and 18 touchdowns. A Third Team AP All-America selection last season and 2001 Harlon Hill Candidate this year, Brown led the nation in receiving yards per contest. Senior wideout Brandon Brown (Compton, Calif.) had 28 catches for 542 yards and four touchdowns last season. Both of these players are expected to perform at a high level this season as well.
The Warriors had the top running back in the GLIAC last season in junior Thabiti Williamson (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron). The First Team All-GLIAC and Second Team All-Northeast Regional player led the GLIAC with 204 carries for 1,266 yards and five touchdowns. He also was second in the nation and led the GLIAC in all-purpose yards (2,128 yards). Besides Williamson, shown in the photo above, Kazor also is quite pleased with the progress of some of the younger backs.
The Warriors had two quarterbacks battle for playing time last season as Jason Charron (Clinton Township, Mich./Clintondale) and Dan Gray (Belle River, Ontario/District) both saw action. Charron, a senior pictured at right, was WSU’s leading passer in 2000, throwing for 2,385 yards and 21 touchdowns. Charron set a WSU Stadium record against Findlay on Sept. 30 when he threw for 425 yards and four touchdowns. Gray, also a senior, completed 38 of 113 passes for 683 yards and six touchdowns. Charron did not compete in the spring due to knee surgery, so Gray took most of the snaps during the spring session. But Kazor will make his final decision on a starter when the season starts.
“I think we will see both quarterbacks get time this season,” said Kazor. “Gray (shown in the photo at left) had a solid spring, but Charron had a strong year last season. We will have the two battle during double sessions to see who will be the starter.”
