2026 GLIAC Preseason Poll

[GLIAC2MAC]

Not just JUCO, but keeping up relationships with guys that may not have panned out at other schools. Basketball has been able to do that and get solid contributors (now they just need to get over the .500 hump). I also have a gut feeling some bridges got burned probably post-2019 and never got mended with Wheatley. Looking over at The D Zone, it seems like these guys have already made an emphasis on getting local/Michigan guys to verbally commit early. Maybe there's been an effort to rebuild those relations and show that WSU is a great place to be at. Hopefully, they can keep these guys on signing day.

Wheatley made a lot of enemies at WSU and mostly with the guys he coached. Something tells me there are going to be former players at some Big 10 games this fall letting him know exactly how they feel about him.

Based on the fact that WSU had absolutely no representation during the NFL draft leads me to believe he burned a lot of bridges there too.

I should have known when Derrick Alexander didn't stick around to coach alongside his former teammate something was amiss.

[WayneStatesman]

Plan on being an eye doctor or pharmacist after football? FSU would like to have a word.

BTW, Wayne State has both a medical school and a school of pharmacy.

[GLIAC2MAC]

BTW, Wayne State has both a medical school and a school of pharmacy.

Medical school is actually the reason my son chose WSU over most other D2 Schools.

[NewEraWarrior]

I don’t think you can build your program around JUCO transfers, but they’re obviously going to have a role in filling out your roster.

Personally, I believe WSU should focus on the strategy you mentioned, and that’s heavily recruiting the rich talent pool of metro Detroit. There are a ton of great football players who will it be at a Big Ten or MAC school who need a place to land, this should be WSU’s bread and butter. Then fill out what you need every year from the pool of JUCO transfers.

Northwood left the GLIAC, and that has a lot to do with their recent success. But they’ve also created an identity and in the meantime take a bite out of SVSUs apple. They heavily recruit the tri-cities and are very involved in the thumb region finding really good players that otherwise get overlooked because of where they play and the size of the schools. I can tell you as part of an HS football coaching staff in the thumb that Northwood has become very highly regarded as a place to steer our athletes and they’re always around.

Now of course, the problem for WSU is that Ferris and Grand Valley are also sniffing around Detroit. But there’s enough talent to go around that it should be the foundation for WSU. Something tells me a lot of area High School coaches are telling kids to avoid the program. Any new coaching staff should be mending fences with area high school staffs.

I would agree here. JUCO transfers are something you focus later on in the process of building a program. Once you've gotten your program's culture solidified with players who have been there 2-3 years, and your team is showing competitive growth (aka. constructive winning seasons), THEN you should look at JUCO or D1 fringe players to top off your talent and push you over the top to reach a playoff berth. Relying on JUCOs and/or other transfers too early is like putting a bandaid on, its a quick fix that will fizzle out fast. Especially at the D2 level, you need multi year buy-in players who are well regarded in your recruiting circles to establish pipelines with well respected HS programs. Obviously talent comes from all over but if I was the new coaching staff, I'd put an emphasis on targeting top tier MI HS Programs and getting solid players from there as they will arrive with the mindset of knowing what it takes to win.

[mtsax305]

The D Zone has at least 6 guys with verbal commits to WSU so far. Gotta believe there's some mending going on.