Trey Swick Student Manager (Linebackers and Recruiting) | Wayne State University Athletics Website
Trey Swick Student Manager (Linebackers and Recruiting) | Wayne State University Athletics Website
DETROIT -- Over the next four weeks, Wayne State University will continue previewing each position on the 2024 football team, with each position coach highlighting their respective units. This segment focuses on the defensive backs, guided by coach Antwon Robinson.
Despite having no returning starters from last season, there is still experience within the secondary. Departed players include Shavez Hawkins (11 starts), Dalen Peeks (eight starts), Gamon Howard (six starts), Jace Parrish (four starts), Hayden Loya (two starts), and Chidibere Anaele (one start). These six players accounted for 32 of the 44 starts last season. However, five letterwinners are returning to the secondary.
Redshirt senior safety Brayden Vredeveld has played in 16 games over the past two seasons, making three starts at safety and totaling 38 career tackles. Junior Elijah Fowlkes may transition to safety after spending his first two seasons at cornerback.
Dontez Hicks, Josiah Buford, Rashad Boyd Jr., Jaydon Bush, and Chris Gillam all redshirted last year. Hicks, Buford, and Bush each played in three contests in 2023 to retain freshman eligibility. Gillam played in five games as a true freshman in 2022 but missed all of 2023 due to injury. Boyd appeared in two games last year.
Redshirt junior Draven Wilson dressed for all 11 games last season and saw action in nine contests primarily on special teams. Torrence Greene played in three contests a season ago but is expected to miss all of 2024 due to an injury sustained during the spring game.
Four recruits and one transfer will add depth and compete for playing time at safety. The freshmen are Amarion Brownlee, Max Edwards, Kaleb Jefferson, and Da'Carion Taylor. Kaleb Coleman is a graduate transfer from Morgan State who played in 30 games over the past three seasons.
The most experienced cornerback is sophomore Anthony Walk, selected as the squad's Defensive Rookie of the Year for 2023 after appearing in the final ten games and starting four contests.
Kejuan Houston redshirted as a true freshman in 2023. The other eleven cornerbacks are new to WSU's program, including eight freshmen: Phil Cato, Kam Coleman, Amauri Haller, Amire Harris, Jasir Rahaman, Omari Rotilu, Joseph Stephens, and DeCarlos White. The three transfers are Clifton Buchanan, Shamilyn Joppy and Jonathan Tillman.
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