Western Michigan
Broncos

Western Michigan Team Report

Updated: February 06, 2012 10:48 EST

It's no secret: Whether a team plays at the highest level of college football or at the mid-major level such as the Mid-American Conference, a major change in the game recently has been the proliferation of passing offenses.

Western Michigan had trouble stopping the passing game last year, giving up 63 points to Toledo and 51 to Northern Illinois while losing to the two best teams in the MAC West Division.

The Broncos went into the recruiting period this year trying to find pass rushers up front and cover people in the back end of the defense who could make plays with their athleticism.

They believed they filled the needs with four signings in particular: safeties David Reed and Treyvon Johnson, and ends Roosevelt Donaldson and Mikhail Dubose.

Coach Bill Cubit likes the explosiveness of Reed and Johnson.

"That's what we need when you look at it and the teams you have to go after," Cubit said. "We've had a little trouble with Toledo and Northern (Illinois) finding personnel groups that can beat those guys. That's what we're doing. We're getting guys that can operate in space with a little speed."

Western Michigan was able to hang on to Dubose and Donaldson as other schools made heavy pushes to lure them late in the recruiting season.

TOP OF THE CLASS

--S Demetris Ates is a highly skilled and athletic player who will add length and size in the back of the defense. He had an offer to run track at a Big Ten school.

--OLB Terry Eason provides a different type of athlete for the Broncos than they have had at that position. He's big at 6-2, 230 pounds, and runs particularly well.

--WR Jamie Wilson was perhaps the most coveted of all the Broncos' recruits. He's a highly skilled receiver whose coach in high school was Jessie Hester, who played 12 years for the Oakland Raiders. Wilson also was tutored by Reidel Anthony, who played in the NFL five seasons.

--Western Michigan is the most connected Mid-American Conference school in the football hotbed of Florida. The Broncos signed 12 of their 27 players from the Sunshine State

--The Broncos will have a big hole in their passing attack despite the return of QB Alex Carder. Jordan White, Chleb Ravenell and Robert Arnheim are gone. They combined to produce 267 catches, 3,459 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2011.

SPRING SNAPSHOT:

Practice begins/ends: March 16/April 14

Practice priorities: The Broncos have to develop pass receiving threats to make up for the huge loss of Mid-American Conference all-time yardage leader Jordan White. The Broncos also need something of an overhaul on defense, especially on the line and at linebacker.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We always start up north. We start in Michigan and we work ourselves over to Illinois and Wisconsin and Indiana. Then, if we can't find the guys we need, we move down south. That's kind of been our philosophy ever since we've been here. We're really fortunate." -- WMU Coach Bill Cubit on his recruiting philosophy

KEY LOSSES: Western Michigan lost two huge performers from the 2011 season. WR Jordan White owns nearly all of the school's receiving records, and he became the Mid-American Conference career (4,187) and single-season (1,911) leader in receiving yards. The Broncos also lost a major force on defense in DT Drew Nowak, the MAC defensive player of the year in 2011.

PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2012:

--QB Alex Carder was the most dangerous passer in the MAC last year. He produced a school-record 3,725 yards through the air during his junior season, including four games with more than 400 yards.

--Broncos coaches have expected TB Tevin Drake to be a productive player, but he hasn't reached that level yet. He led the team in rushing last year with 586 yards, but he needs a breakout year as a junior in 2012 to take some pressure off the passing game.

--With the top three receivers from 2011 gone, a great opportunity for senior WR Eric Monette to be an important playmaker will be available. He had 29 catches for 306 yards last year in a backup role.

--The Broncos like DT Demetrius Anderson, who will be a sophomore, but he has big shoes to fill. He's the top candidate to replace Drew Nowak, the MAC's defensive player of the year in 2011.

PLAYER NOTES

--Backup QB Mike Perish will transfer to Indiana State for an opportunity to play right away next season. The sophomore was well behind Alex Carder and Tyler Van Tubbergen on Western Michigan's depth chart.

--The status of senior DE Woody Legrier for 2012 is uncertain after he was suspended for not completing his first semester academic requirements.