2020 Western Michigan Broncos season

2020 Western Michigan Broncos
Conference	Mid-American Conference West Division
2020 record	12-1 (9-0 MAC)
Head coach	Jieret (2nd year)
Offensive scheme	Pistol
Base defense	4-3
Captain	Chase Sims, QB Sean Taylor, CB Leo Coy, P
Home stadium	Waldo Stadium (Capacity: 30,200)
Seasons « 2019 2021 »

2020 MAC football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
East
Ohio x		7	–	2					9	–	5
Akron		6	–	2					9	–	4
Buffalo		5	–	3					10	–	3
Kent State		5	–	3					6	–	7
Miami (OH)		4	–	4					8	–	5
Bowling Green		1	–	7					2	–	10
West
#9 Western Michigan x†		9	–	0					12	–	2
Toledo		5	–	3					8	–	5
Eastern Michigan		3	–	5					4	–	8
Central Michigan		2	–	6					2	–	10
Northern Illinois		1	–	7					2	–	10
Ball State		1	–	7					1	–	11
MAC Championship Game: Ohio 30 vs. Western Michigan 34
† – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions Rankings from Coaches Poll

Schedule

Regular Season

Date	Time	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result
1	Friday Night	at Northern Illinois		Huskie Stadium • DeKalb, IL	W 21-14
2	Sat. Morning	at Duke*		Wallace Wade Stadium • Durham, NC	L 30-33 (2 OT)
3		Bye
4	Sat. Morning	at Navy*		Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium • Annapolis, MD	W 24-13
5	Sat. Afternoon	San Diego State*		Waldo Stadium • Kalamazoo, MI	W 44-14
6	Sat. Evening	at Buffalo		University at Buffalo Stadium • Buffalo, NY	W 24-13
7		Bye
8	Fri. Night	at Kent State		Waldo Stadium • Kalamazoo, MI	W 41-23
9		Bye
10	Sat. Morning	at Georgia State*		Georgia State Stadium • Atlanta, GA	W 23-20
11	Sat. Afternoon	Central Michigan		Waldo Stadium • Kalamazoo, MI	W 20-17
12	Sat. Evening	Akron	#23	Waldo Stadium • Kalamazoo, MI	W 38-16
13	Sat. Evening	at Toledo	#18	Glass Bowl • Toledo, OH	W 30-16
14		Bye	#17
15	Sat. Afternoon	at Ball State	#16	Waldo Stadium • Kalamazoo, MI	W 40-10
16	Sat. Morning	at Eastern Michigan	#15	Rynearson Stadium • Ypsilanti, MI	W 28-14
Conf. Championship	Wed. Evening	Ohio	#11	Paul Brown Stadium • Cincinnati, OH	W 34-30
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game.

Post-season

Date	Time	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result
CFB Quarterfinals	Thursday, October 12th, 2017	vs. #3 Pittsburgh Panthers*	#9	AT&T Stadium • Arlington, TX	L 23-24
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game.

Personnel

Key Personnel

Name	Position	Season at Western Michigan	Season in current role
Jieret	Head Coach	2nd	2nd
Chase Sims	Quarterback	3rd	2nd
DeSean Madison	Running Back	2nd	1st
Kareem Boykin	Inside Linebacker	2nd	2nd
Sean Taylor	Cornerback	4th	3rd
Jaylin McQueen	Cornerback	3rd	3rd
Donovan Jackson	Free Safety	3rd	3rd

Position key

Back	B		Center	C		Cornerback	CB		Defensive back	DB
Defensive end	DE		Defensive lineman	DL		Defensive tackle	DT		End	E
Fullback	FB		Guard	G		Halfback	HB		Kicker	K
Kickoff returner	KR		Offensive tackle	OT		Offensive lineman	OL		Linebacker	LB
Long snapper	LS		Punter	P		Punt returner	PR		Quarterback	QB
Running back	RB		Safety	S		Tight end	TE		Wide receiver	WR

Pre-Season Roster

2020 Western Michigan Broncos football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. Name Class QB Sims, ChaseChase Sims 4.0 !RSo QB Gruber, BraydenBrayden Gruber 6.0 !RJr QB Whitten, DominicDominic Whitten 4.0 !RSo QB Carl, RyderRyder Carl 4.0 !RSo QB Hawkins, AjaniAjani Hawkins 57.0 !Sr QB Jordan, JoshuaJoshua Jordan 3.0 !So QB Schneider, AlexAlex Schneider 1.0 !Fr RB Madison, DeSeanDeSean Madison 2.0 !RFr RB Irving, JamelJamel Irving  4.5 !Sr RB Miller, ChrisChris Miller 8.0 !RSr FB McQueen, MarquiseMarquise McQueen 57.0 !Sr FB Jorgensen, AbrahamAbraham Jorgensen  4.5 !Sr FB Clements, KennethKenneth Clements 5.0 !Jr WR Whitt, JoshJosh Whitt 4.0 !RSo WR Stevens, CharlesCharles Stevens 8.0 !RSr WR Harris, MessiahMessiah Harris 5.0 !Jr WR Jack, AadenAaden Jack 4.0 !RSo WR Dasilva, LucasLucas Dasilva 5.0 !Jr WR Reaves, MarioMario Reaves 57.0 !Sr WR Easley, AmariAmari Easley 3.0 !So WR Waters, BryceBryce Waters 1.0 !Fr TE Vargas, CarlosCarlos Vargas 6.0 !RJr TE Terrell, TroyTroy Terrell 57.0 !Sr TE Kelsey, EthanEthan Kelsey 57.0 !Sr TE Brand, JulianJulian Brand 6.0 !RJr TE Stallings, HunterHunter Stallings 4.0 !RSo TE Collins, FranklinFranklin Collins 57.0 !Sr TE Bolton, ThomasThomas Bolton  1.5 !Fr TE Roberts, LanceLance Roberts 1.0 !Fr OT Allen, MarcMarc Allen 6.0 !RJr OT Schmidt, LukaLuka Schmidt 2.0 !RFr OT Curley, AveryAvery Curley 1.0 !Fr OT Arnold, OliverOliver Arnold 57.0 !Sr OT Mataafa, TauaTaua Mataafa  1.5 !Fr OT Haines, RussellRussell Haines 1.0 !Fr OG Westbrook, AlexAlex Westbrook 4.0 !RSo OG Keith, HarryHarry Keith 6.0 !RJr OG Broughton, ChristopherChristopher Broughton 57.0 !Sr ATH Umaga, KualiiKualii Umaga  1.5 !Fr C O'Connell, BradyBrady O'Connell 57.0 !Sr C Gilman, ElliotElliot Gilman 6.0 !RJr C Langston, OttoOtto Langston 4.0 !RSo C Schumacher, LorenLoren Schumacher 8.0 !RSr C Caldwell, CameronCameron Caldwell 2.0 !RFr C Lockwood, MarshallMarshall Lockwood 1.0 !Fr	Defense Pos. Name Class DE McKinney, MichaelMichael McKinney 57.0 !Sr DE Borden, ConnorConnor Borden 57.0 !Sr DE Crowe, JosephJoseph Crowe  3.5 !Jr DE Roberson, VictorVictor Roberson  1.5 !Fr DE Thomas, AmariAmari Thomas 1.0 !Fr DE Alonso, EddyEddy Alonso 5.0 !Jr DT Gifford, RoccoRocco Gifford 4.0 !RSo DT Booker, SilasSilas Booker 2.0 !RFr DT Blair, AlexAlex Blair 6.0 !RJr DT Clarke, ChristopherChristopher Clarke 8.0 !RSr DT Goodwi, JamariJamari Goodwi 57.0 !Sr DT Lesa, IraIra Lesa 2.0 !RFr DT Pope, KevinKevin Pope  1.5 !Fr ILB Boykin, KareemKareem Boykin 6.0 !RJr ILB Holbrook, EricEric Holbrook 4.0 !RSo ILB Denson, MalachiMalachi Denson 57.0 !Sr ILB Wilkins, JoshuaJoshua Wilkins 1.0 !Fr OLB Kenney, ShiaShia Kenney 57.0 !Sr OLB McGregor, WalterWalter McGregor 6.0 !RJr OLB Woods, AydenAyden Woods 5.0 !Jr CB Taylor, SeanSean Taylor 6.0 !RJr CB McQueen, JaylinJaylin McQueen 5.0 !Jr CB Faulk, EmmanuelEmmanuel Faulk 6.0 !RJr CB Dupuis, JohnJohn Dupuis 8.0 !RSr CB Griffin, OmarOmar Griffin 57.0 !Sr CB Dixon, AbdulAbdul Dixon 1.0 !Fr FS Jackson, DonovanDonovan Jackson 5.0 !Jr FS Wells, MohamedMohamed Wells 6.0 !RJr FS McGhee, DwayneDwayne McGhee 57.0 !Sr FS Bock, PetePete Bock 2.0 !RFr FS Hines, AlexanderAlexander Hines 1.0 !Fr SS Hinds, JaylinJaylin Hinds 4.0 !RSo SS Pickett, JosiahJosiah Pickett 57.0 !Sr SS Huber, AntonioAntonio Huber 3.0 !So SS McAfee, LardariusLardarius McAfee  1.5 !Fr	Special teams Pos. Name Class K DeMarco, HarryHarry DeMarco 2.0 !RFr K McKenna, EliEli McKenna 5.0 !Jr P Coy, LeoLeo Coy 57.0 !Sr P Wyatt, MatteoMatteo Wyatt  1.5 !Fr LS Ballard, WillyWilly Ballard 1.0 !Fr	Head coach Jieret Coordinators/assistant coaches None Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt

Depth chart

Defense FS Donovan Jackson Mohamed Walls WLB MLB SLB Shia Kenney Kareem Boykin Walter McGregor Eric Holbrook Malachi Denson Eric Holbrook SS Jaylin Hinds Josiah Pickett CB Sean Taylor Emmanuel Faulk DE DT DT DE Connor Borden Rocco Gifford Silas Booker Michael McKinney Victor Roberson Jamari Goodwin Alex Blair Joseph Crowe CB Jaylin McQueen Emmanuel Faulk Offense WR Josh Whitt Messiah Harris LT LG C RG RT Marc Allen Alex Westbrook Brady O'Connell Harry Keith Avery Curley Oliver Arnold Christopher Broughton Otto Langston Christopher Broughton Luka Schmidt TE Carlos Vargas Ethan Kelsey WR Charles Stevens Lucas Dasilva QB Chase Sims Brayden Gruber RB DeSean Madison Chris Miller FB Marquise McQueen Kenneth Clements Special Teams PK Harry DeMarco P Leo Coy KR Sean Taylor, Josh Whitt PR Sean Taylor, Josh Whitt LS Willy Ballard H Brayden Gruber

Recruiting

Western Michigan ended up with the 57th-ranked recruiting class for the 2020 season, headlined by convincing 5-star linebacker Christian Reese to come north to Kalamazoo from Florida.

High School

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	Commit date
Christian Reese OLB	Port St. Lucie, FL	Port St. Lucie HS	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	219 lb (99 kg)	Week 8
	Skill:   Potential:
Kayden Soriano DE	Maple City, MI	Glen Lake HS	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	271 lb (123 kg)	Week 10
	Skill:   Potential:
Miles Bradford CB	Stevens Point, WI	Pacelli HS	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)	171 lb (78 kg)	Week 10
	Skill:   Potential:
Misu Curtis QB	Holland, MI	Holland Christian HS	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	188 lb (85 kg)	Week 9
	Skill:   Potential:
Tony Post P	River Grove, IL	Holy Cross HS	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	184 lb (83 kg)	Week 12
	Skill:   Potential:
Tony Ackerman OLB	Elizabeth, IL	River Ridge HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	233 lb (106 kg)	Week 4
	Skill:   Potential:
Nazir Blue RB	Bellevue, MI	Bellevue HS	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	197 lb (89 kg)	Week 5
	Skill:   Potential:
Jeffrey Schultz WR	Jupiter, FL	Jupiter HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	225 lb (102 kg)	Week 14
	Skill:   Potential:
Chase Rhoads ILB	Flushing, MI	Flushing HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	233 lb (106 kg)	Week 5
	Skill:   Potential:
Olivier Ruff FS	Gainesville, GA	North Hall HS	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	214 lb (97 kg)	Week 6
	Skill:   Potential:
Jesse Hancock FB	Mosinee, WI	Mosinee HS	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)	204 lb (93 kg)	Week 9
	Skill:   Potential:
Ethan Joyner OG	Greenville, GA	Greenville HS	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	284 lb (129 kg)	Week 12
	Skill:   Potential:
Mason Helm OG	Cumming, GA	North Forsyth HS	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	316 lb (143 kg)	Week 14
	Skill:   Potential:
Hudson Baum DT	Atlanta, GA	Druid Hills HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	280 lb (130 kg)	Week 12
	Skill:   Potential:
Dante Gorman OLB	Tunnel Hill, GA	Northwest Whitfield HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	239 lb (108 kg)	Week 14
	Skill:   Potential:
Reginald Richard CB	Gainesville, GA	North Hall HS	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	Week 15
	Skill:   Potential:
Ryan Torres WR	Cheboygan, MI	Cheboygan Area HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	Week 13
	Skill:   Potential:
Jeffrey Fulton FS	Lizton, IN	Tri-West Hendricks HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	192 lb (87 kg)	Week 15
	Skill:   Potential:
Ryan Sutherland WR	Elyria, OH	Elyria Catholic HS	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	213 lb (97 kg)	Week 15
	Skill:   Potential:
Kameron Huntley ILB	East Peoria, IL	East Peoria Community HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	229 lb (104 kg)	Week 15
	Skill:   Potential:
Ronald Pineda OLB	Van Buren, OH	Van Buren HS	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	Week 15
	Skill:   Potential:
Ashton Pearson CB	Canton, IL	Canton HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	187 lb (85 kg)	Week 15
	Skill:   Potential:
Overall recruiting rankings:
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.