Ruben Mendoza Head Strength and Conditioning Coach | Wayne State University Athletics Website
Ruben Mendoza Head Strength and Conditioning Coach | Wayne State University Athletics Website
DETROIT -- Over the next three weeks, each position on the 2024 Wayne State University football team will be previewed with insights from respective position coaches. This segment focuses on the offensive line, led by coach Rosco Byrd, who is in his second year as offensive line coach and added run-game coordinator duties this past spring.
The offensive line is one of the most experienced groups for the Warriors in 2024, featuring two returning starters: redshirt junior Aidan Tweedy and redshirt senior Charles Wesley. Tweedy has 12 career starts, including the last 11 games at center, while Wesley has 15 career starts across three different positions. Additionally, five other student-athletes with starting experience return: redshirt sophomores Tomi Bisiriyu (two starts at left tackle), Will Edwards (three starts at right guard), Ethan Gates (one start at right tackle), redshirt junior Owen Salingue (one start at right guard), and redshirt senior Tyler Schompert (12 career starts).
Tweedy was a Second Team All-GLIAC selection in 2023 and played every offensive snap in eight games last season. Wesley was named WSU's Offensive Most Valuable Player last fall and earned Honorable Mention All-GLIAC recognition. He is also WSU's nominee for the AFCA Good Works Team based on community service.
With these additional players, the total number of career starts for this group reaches 46. Schompert is the most seasoned among them with action in 19 contests and starting nine times at left tackle and three times at left guard. Salingue enters his fourth year in the program, while Bisiriyu, Edwards, and Gates all begin their third year with the Warriors.
Other returnees vying for playing time include redshirt sophomore Jayden Lewin and redshirt freshmen Isaac Dawkins, Jon Haygood, Will O'Brien, and Noah Thomas.
New additions to the WSU offensive line this fall are freshmen Karl Brooks (Muskegon, Mich.), Mikey O'Brien (Toledo, Ohio / Whitmer), and Richardo Wourman (Livonia, Mich. / Livonia Stevenson). Transfers Sherod Green and Lisalvy Infante also join to add depth to the position; Green played two seasons at Fullerton Community College before redshirting at Davenport in 2023 while Infante spent the last two seasons with Hudson Valley Community College.
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