Western Michigan 2018 Roster | Western Michigan 2018 Media Guide | Western Michigan 2018 Schedule
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan ended last season with a sour taste after ending the regular season with losses at Northern Illinois and Toledo to finish with a 6-6 overall record, 4-4 in the MAC. While the Broncos were bowl eligible in 2017, following the program’s historic run in 2016 to the Goodyear Cotton Bowl, Western Michigan did not receive a bowl invitation and were one of three FBS programs that were bowl eligible yet missed out participating in a bowl game.
Perhaps the final two weeks from last year will be a lesson learned for the program, as second year Head Coach Tim Lester will look to guide his Broncos to challenge for the West Division title, a MAC football championship and another bowl invitation.
Western Michigan returns 29 lettermen from last year’s team, including 14 starters (9 offense, 4 defense, 1 special teams). Western Michigan opens the season with a home game at Waldo Stadium against Syracuse from the ACC on Aug. 31, before heading to Michigan on Sept. 8. The Broncos conclude the non-conference portion of the schedule with a home game vs. Delaware State on Sept. 15 and a road game at Georgia State on Sept. 22.
Offensively the Broncos have the luxury of returning four starters on the offensive line for second-year starting quarterback Jon Wassink and running back tandem of Jamauri Bogan and LeVante Bellamy. Left guard Make Caliendo (10 games), right guard Luke Juriga (12 games), center John Keenoy (12 games) and right tackle Zach Novoselsky (12 games) are solid up front. Junior quarterback Jon Wassink started eight games last year before missing the last month of the season due to injury and threw for 1,411 yards and 14 touchdowns. Senior running back Jamauri Bogan posted 589 yards and three touchdowns, while junior LeVonte Bellamy addd 394 yards and three scores.
Defensively, Western Michigan will count on defensive end Eric Assoua (18 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss) and Antonio Balabani (33 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks) will anchor the line, while defensive backs Stefan Claiborne (64 tackles) and Justin Tranquill (13 tackles) will lead the secondary.
August
31 Syracuse, 6:00 pm ET (CBS Sports Network)
September
8 at Michigan, Noon ET (FS1)
15 Delaware State, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN+)
22 at Georgia State
29 *at Miami, 3:30 pm ET
October
6 *Eastern Michigan, Noon ET (TBA)
13 *at Bowling Green, 3:00 pm ET (ESPN+)
20 *at Central Michigan, 3:00 pm ET (ESPN+)
25 *Toledo, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN2/CBS Sports Network)
November
1 *Ohio, 7:00 pm ET (ESPNU/CBS Sports Network)
13 *at Ball State, 6:00 pm ET (ESPN2)
20 *NIU, 7:00 pm ET (ESPNU/ESPN+)
