Sept. 25, 2007

The Wayne State University football team is ranked fourth nationally in kickoff return average (32.53) after returning two kickoffs last Saturday for touchdowns against Findlay.

WSU is one of two schools in the nation with two kickoff returns for touchdowns this year (Newberry is the other institution). The Warriors have the most kickoff returns (19) of any school ranked in the top 10.

Wayne State is also ranked nationally in:

Sacks - 15th at 3.5 per game

Rushing offense - 23rd at 212.0 yards per game

Fumbles lost - 33rd with 3

Scoring offense - 37th at 33.5 points per game

Kickoff return defense - 42nd at 18.18 yards allowed per return

Punt return average - 43rd at 11.2 yards per return

Punt return defense - 47th at 6.5 yards allowed per return

In terms of individual national rankings, sophomore running back Joique Bell (Benton Harbor, Mich.) is 10th in rushing yards per game (146.0), third in scoring (15.0 points per game), seventh in all-purpose yards per game (188.3) and 11th in total rushing yards (584).

Other individuals with top 50 rankings include:

Daryl Graham (Detroit, Mich./St. Martin de Porres) - 47th in rushing yards per game (92.0).

Stan Thornton (Cincinnati, Ohio/Withrow) - 5th in kickoff return average (40.4 yards per return); 28th in passes defended per game (1.5).

Dante Dunn (Lansing, Mich./Waverly) - 7th in kickoff return average (37.0 yards per return) and has the most returns (7) of anyone ranked in the top nine; 36th in interceptions per game (0.5).

Steve Wisniewski (Madison Hts., Mich./Lamphere) - 14th in tackles per game (11.0); 47th in solo tackles per game (5.3).

Alan Guy (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams) - 37th in tackles per game (9.8); 15th in solo tackles per game (6.3).

Brandon Cooper (Detroit, Mich./St. Martin de Porres) - 15th in solo tackles per game (6.3).

Tristan Black (Toronto, Ont./Vanier Prep) - 31st in solo tackles per game (5.5).

James Cook (Farmington Hills, Mich./Harrison) - 16th in sacks per game (1.0).

The Warriors, after suffering back-to-back overtime losses, travel to Comstock Park, Mich., this Saturday for a contest against top-ranked Grand Valley at Fifth Third Ballpark, home of the West Michigan Whitecaps.