Nov. 9, 2005

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Nine members of the 2005 Wayne State University football team earned All-GLIAC accolades as announced by the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference league office on Wednesday following voting by the league's head coaches.

Senior defensive end Leo Wells (Detroit, Mich./Hamtramck) was named to the All-GLIAC First Team after receiving second team honors his first three seasons. He finished tied-for-fifth in the conference in sacks per game (0.80/8.00 sacks in 10 games), while ranking third in the GLIAC in tackles for loss with 15.5. Wells is WSU's first All-GLIAC First Team defensive lineman since Daishawn Franklin in 1998.

Named to the All-GLIAC Second Team were junior running back Chris Middlebrooks (Romulus, Mich.), junior wide receiver Nick Body (Ortonville, Mich./Our Lady of the Lakes) and junior defensive back Derrion Fuqua (Detroit, Mich./Henry Ford).

Middlebrooks rushed for 1,029 in only 10 games to become just the fifth running back in school history to have a 1,000-yard season. A durable runner, his 239 carries ranked second in the GLIAC while his 122.2 all-purpose yards was sixth in the league.

Body recorded 67 catches, the second most in a year by a WSU player behind his 73 receptions in 2003. His 6.7 catches per game was second in the GLIAC while his 80.9 receiving yards per game was fifth in the conference.

Fuqua, the son of former Pittsburgh Steeler running back Frenchy Fuqua, finished seventh in the league in passes defended (interceptions + pass break-ups) per game (0.90). He led the Warriors with three interceptions and tied for team-high honors with six pass break-ups.

Receiving Honorable Mention All-GLIAC honors were senior defensive lineman Michael Hall (Inkster, Mich./Belleville), junior defensive end Alan Clay (Ypsilanti, Mich./Willow Run), junior defensive tackle/linebacker Chris Smilo (Canton, Mich./Plymouth Canton), sophomore linebacker Alan Guy (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams) and sophomore center Frank Lietke (Walled Lake, Mich./Central).

Hall led the Warriors with 41 solo tackles and 69 total tackles despite playing in only nine games. He also tied for team-high honors with two fumble recoveries. His seven tackles for loss tied-for-third on the squad.

Clay appeared in all 10 games while starting five. His 3.5 sacks was second on the squad, while his 29 tackles was third among Warrior defensive linemen (behind Wells and Hall).

Smilo played in the first six games, starting five times, before suffering a season-ending injury in practice. He would have been third in the conference in fumble recoveries per game (0.33) had he played enough games to qualify. A versatile performer, Smilo saw playing time both on the defensive line and at linebacker, sometimes on consecutive plays. He averaged over a tackle for loss per game (7.0 in six games) while contributing 26 tackles including 18 solo in his six contests.

Guy led the squad with 30 assisted tackles while ranking second in total tackles (68) and tackles for loss (8.5). He was tied-for-second in solo tackles (38) despite seeing very limited action the first two games due to a pre-season injury. His two forced fumbles led WSU, while his three quarterback hurries was tied-for-second on the team. Guy also contributed two pass break-ups and interception and three sacks.

Lietke started all nine games he played at center. A durable performer, he played every down in all nine games and helped WSU have a 1,000-yard rushed in only 10 games. The only two games WSU did not rush for at least 100 yards was the game Lietke missed due to an injury and the mud pit field at Ashland.

Wayne State is slated to return 43 of its 51 2005 letterwinners for the 2006 campaign. The Warriors open the season on Sept. 2 at Michigan Tech with the home opener slated for the following Saturday against St. Joseph's.