Western Mich Broncos

Head Coach

Bill Cubit	3rd year
07-08	5-7
MAC	3-4
FCR	79

Previous Season Wins

Head Coach - Bill Cubit will enter his 4th season and hopes are high that the Broncos have a team that will contend for the MAC crown. Seventeen starters return to a 5-7 team that will be solid on both sides of the ball. One of the keys to the season will be to win the turnover game, accomplish that and the West title is theirs for the taking.

Quarterback - Junior Tim Hiller returns for the Broncos at quarterback, the junior threw for 3,021 yards and 20 TD’s with 15 interceptions while leading the team to five wins. Hiller has shown the ability to escape pressure and sees the field well but will need to cut down his interceptions or he could be pushed by xxx for the stating assignment.

Running Backs - Brandon West will start at running back, last year the junior rushed for 848 yards and 4 TD’s and 45 receptions , he finished the year with 2,119 all-purpose yards. Behind West will be junior Glenis Thompson who’ll often get the tough yards, incoming freshman Aaron Winchester has blazing speed and could be in the mix right from the start.

Receivers - At wide receiver senior Jamarko Simmons was last season leading receiver with 84 catches for 980 yards and six TD’s, Simmons is a big receiver who runs over opponents after the catch.. Look for sophomore Jordan White and senior Schneider Julien to be in the rotation on the outside. At tight end senior Branden Ledbetter will catch the ball over the middle, he had 38 catches for 550 yards, an excellent 14.5 yards per catch.

Offensive Line - Western Michigan must replace three starters upfront, returning starters are right tackle senior Rob Johnson and at left guard sophomore Phillip Swanson. Stepping in and being asked to protect Hillers’ blindside will be redshirt freshman Anthony Parker at left tackle, other newcomers will be sophomore Nick Clemens at right guard and at center sophomore Nick Mitchell.

Defensive Line - The front four is returns intact, at defensive end are seniors Greg Marshall and Zach Davidson and on the inside are junior Cody Cielenski at tackle and on the nose senior Nick Varcadipane. On the outside both Marshall and Davidson are excellent edge rushers as each had 6 ½ last season, on the inside Varcadipane is solid against the run.

Linebackers - In the middle Dustin Duclo returns, the senior had 71 tackles and was the team Defensive Player of the Year. Returning on the weakside is Boston McCornell and junior Austin Pritchard will man the strongside. McCornell recorded 99 tackles last year, if Pritchard is 100 % following surgery this will be among the elite linebacking units in the MAC.

Defensive Backs - This is a unit with four returning senior starters in E.J. Biggers and Londen Fryar at the corners, Louis Delmas will be the free safety and C.J. Wilson will be at the strong safety position. Delmas is the leader and will be playing on Sundays next year, look for all four to be in line for postseason honors.

Special Teams - The placekicking will be handled by junior Chris Kelly and redshirt freshman Ben Armer appears to be the frontrunner to handle the punting. The returns are in good as both Brandon West and Schneider Julien return.

Schedule - They should be 2-2 entering conference play at worst, they must play at Central and Ball St and those appear to be the make or break games. Better than average talent, they’ll be in contention and look for Western to win 7+ games this year.