College football is in the air, and our Broncos get to show the world what kind of team they are tonight at 9pm. The game will be shown to a national audience on FS1. With new offensive and defensive coordinators in year number two of the Lance Taylor era, there will be a lot to look for on Friday as far as scheme and how players will be used.
As for personnel, there will be many familiar names returning to action from the very young 2023 squad. QB Hayden Wolff is back at the helm for one more season in Kalamazoo. He will be throwing the ball to veterans Anthony Sambucci and Kenneth Womack, the former of which lead the MAC in receptions as year ago. Running backs Jalen Buckley and Zahir Abdus-Salem return in the backfield. Buckley was MAC freshman of the year last season. Up front, Addison West, Jacob Gideon, and Jack Sherwin lead the way for a group that should be one of the MACs best. Starting TE Blake Bosma is also back.
Defensively, WMU returns starters Aaron Wofford, Bilhal Kone, and Tate Halik, in the secondary and will be tested Friday with Wisconsin’s new spread attack. Another player with unquestioned talent who is trying to stay healthy for a change is Dashon Bussell, a once prized recruit from early in the Tim Lester era, who has had multiple season-ending injuries. He has played in only 7 games over the past 3 seasons despite always being one of the more talented players on the roster. He is entering 7th year in the program. Donald Willis, Jacob Wahberg, Damari Robinson, Boone Bonnema, and Corey Walker lead a talented front seven group.
With all the known names returning, in the end, the Broncos were 4-8 with these players last year. Plus, they lost Marshawn Kneeland to the Dallas Cowboys and ball-hawk Keni-h Lovely to the Buffalo Bills. So, returning talent is wonderful, but only if that talent has improved by way of experience, training, and strength. There is bound to be plenty of this, but just how much will determine how improved this team will be.
To me, the bigger factor may be players brought in to complement and compete with the returnees. And there is a lot to be excited about. Below is a list of players brought into the program via the transfer portal that simultaneously failed to take any of the above-mentioned Broncos. Enjoy the season, Broncos Nation!
Rodney McGraw DE from Louisville- Four Star Recruit out of H.S. with great size and versatility
Bugs Mortimer WR from LA Monroe- Four Star Recruit out of H.S with top-end speed
Anterio Thompson DT from Iowa- Power of a starting Big Ten DT
Jaden Nixon-RB from Oklahoma St – honorable mention All-Big 12 in 2022 with elite speed
Popeye Williams DE from Louisville – the Cardinals top rated recruit in 2022
Domanick Moon LB from Purdue- former 3-star recruit with multiple power conference offers
Chris Toudle TE from NC State – a pass catching TE with a lot of playing experience in the ACC
Quinn Murphy OT from Notre Dame – appeared in 6 games last season for the Irish as a depth piece
Broc Lowry QB from Indiana – Will be a freshman this season and the future of the Broncos QB room
Jordin Parker WR from New Mexico State – a good kick returner with great speed
Armani Adams Safety from FAU – experienced player and all-conference at FAU in 2022. Was hurt last year
-Jason Welser