2025 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team

2025 Western Illinois Leathernecks football
2025 Western Illinois Leathernecks football
Conference	OVC–Big South Football Association
Record	0–0 (0–0 OVC–Big South)
Head coach	Joe Davis (2nd season);
Offensive coordinator	Brad Wilson (2nd season)
Defensive coordinator	Landon Fox (1st season)
Home stadium	Hanson Field
	Seasons ← 2024 2026 →

2025 OVC–Big South football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
Charleston Southern	0	–	0	0	–	0
Eastern Illinois	0	–	0	0	–	0
Gardner–Webb	0	–	0	0	–	0
Lindenwood*	0	–	0	0	–	0
Southeast Missouri State	0	–	0	0	–	0
Tennessee State	0	–	0	0	–	0
Tennessee Tech	0	–	0	0	–	0
UT Martin	0	–	0	0	–	0
Western Illinois	0	–	0	0	–	0

* – Ineligible for OVC–Big South title and FCS postseason play due to transition from NCAA Division II. As of June 13, 2025 Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2025 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team will represent Western Illinois University as a member of the OVC–Big South Football Association during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They are expected to be led by second-year head coach Joe Davis. The Leathernecks play their home games at Hanson Field in Macomb, Illinois.

Offseason

Transfers

Outgoing

Player	Position	Destination
Cameren Smith	RB	Charlotte
Ryan Merklinger	OL	Chattanooga
Elijah Aragon	WR	Coastal Carolina
Curtis Horras	WR	Grand View
Ludovick Choquette	RB	LIU
Jordan Anderson	DB	Mississippi Valley State
Dallas Parker	WR	New Mexico Highlands
Ryan Crandall	LB	Northern Iowa
Kamal Mukarram	DB	Roosevelt
Jerrod Cameron	DB	UT Permian Basin
Matthew Henry	WR	Western Kentucky
Jeremiah Piper	DB	Youngstown State
Braylen Brooks	DB	Unknown
Torrance Farmer Jr.	RB	Unknown
Noah Epley	LB	Unknown
Jayce Parsons	RB	Unknown
Mills Dawson	QB	Unknown
Isaiah Loera	DB	Unknown

Incoming

Player	Position	Previous school
Kevin Washington Jr	LB	Bethune–Cookman
Michael Forney	OL	Black Hills State
Wyatt Milkovic	LB	Boise State
Austin Young	LB	Butte
Nigel Cheeks	RB/WR	Ellsworth
Justin Richardson	DB	Georgetown (KY)
Amare Bickham	DB	Iowa
David Dunston	DL	Lackawanna
Brinston Williams	RB	Mississippi State
Esteban Guillory	DB	Murray State
David Borchers	DL	Nebraska
Keith Moko	DB	Northern Iowa
Eric Denham	WR	Portland State
Markell Holman	RB	Saint Francis (PA)
Buju Aumua-Tuisavura	DB	Saint Francis (PA)
Clement Ulale	OL	Southwest Baptist
Matthew Perry	DB	St. Francis (IL)
Steve Oberst	DL	Stetson
Fabian Baez	WR	Stetson
Jerrod Cameron	DB	UMass
LeBron Morgan	DB	UT Martin
AJ Harris	WR	Walsh
T.C. Molk	QB	Walsh
James Durand	OL	Wisconsin

Preferred Walk Ons

Player	Position	Previous school
Troy Mills	LB	California Lutheran
Luke Droegemueller	K/P	Concordia (WI)
Ernest Temple	RB	DuPage
Harlon May	DB	Missouri Southern
Carter Campbell	TE	Ohio Wesleyan
Jaylen Olokun	LB	Roosevelt
Joseph Tumilty	WR	St. Francis (IL)

^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]

Recruiting class

Name	Position	Height	Weight	Hometown	High School
Sage Yazzie	TE	6-5	215	Waukee, IA	Waukee
Cason Carswell	QB	6-3	185	Mason, MI	Mason
Tyler Sulsberger	OL	6-7	295	Hornick, IA	Westwood
Ryan McCombs	OL	6-5	280	Jacksonville, IL	Jacksonville
Morgan Quiri	WR	6-5	175	Tucson, AZ	Salpointe Catholic
Cameron Nickel	LB	6-2	218	Metamora, IL	Metamora
Joe Edwards	LB	6-3	215	Downers Grove, IL	Downers Grove North
Aa'Zoriyon Bonner	DB	6-3	180	Sandusky, OH	Sandusky
Charlie Stec	DL	6-4	225	Orland Park, IL	Brother Rice
Kacper Lobas	K	6-3	185	Summit, IL	Argo Community
Joel Salien	WR	6-0	177	Miami, FL	Immaculata-LaSalle
Luca Siamashvili	OL	6-6	335	Hawthorn Woods, IL	Adlai E. Stevenson
Donpaul Keith	DB	6-2	179	Taylor, MI	River Rouge
Joel Salien	WR	6-0	178	Miami, FL	Immaculata-LaSalle
Tommy Lamberti	OL	6-8	300	Vernon Hills, IL	Carmel Catholic
Jamesly Jean Louis	DL	6-5	246	Immokalee, FL	Immokalee
Justin Buckner	LB	6-0	205	Tinley Park, IL	St. Rita

^[5]

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV
August 29	TBA	at Illinois*	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL	TBA
September 6	TBA	at Northwestern*	Martin Stadium Evanston, IL	TBA
September 13	TBA	Valparaiso*	Hanson Field Macomb, IL	ESPN+
September 20	TBA	at Eastern Washington*	Roos Field Cheney, WA	ESPN+
September 27	TBA	Eastern Illinois	Hanson Field Macomb, IL	ESPN+
October 4	TBA	at Tennessee Tech	Tucker Stadium Cookeville, TN	ESPN+
October 11	2:00 p.m.	at UT Martin	Graham Stadium Martin, TN	ESPN+
October 18	TBA	Charleston Southern	Hanson Field Macomb, IL	ESPN+
October 25	TBA	at Tennessee State	Nissan Stadium Nashville, TN	ESPN+
November 8	TBA	Lindenwood	Hanson Field Macomb, IL	ESPN+
November 15	TBA	Southeast Missouri State	Hanson Field Macomb, IL	ESPN+
November 22	12:30 p.m.	at Gardner–Webb	Ernest W. Spangler Stadium Boiling Springs, NC	ESPN+
*Non-conference game All times are in Central time

^[6]

Game summaries

at (FBS) Illinois

Game One – Western Illinois Leathernecks (0–0) at (FBS) Illinois Fighting Illini (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Leathernecks	0	0	0	0	0
(FBS) Fighting Illini	0	0	0	0	0

at Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL

Date: Friday August 29, 2025
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	WIU	ILL
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at (FBS) Northwestern

Game Two – Western Illinois Leathernecks (0–0) at (FBS) Northwestern Wildcats (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Leathernecks	0	0	0	0	0
(FBS) Wildcats	0	0	0	0	0

at Martin Stadium • Evanston, IL

Date: Saturday September 6, 2025
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	WIU	NU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Northwestern	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. Valparaiso

Game Three – Valparaiso Beacons (0–0) at Western Illinois Leathernecks (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Beacons	0	0	0	0	0
Leathernecks	0	0	0	0	0

at Hanson Field • Macomb, IL

Date: Saturday September 13, 2025
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	VAL	WIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Valparaiso	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Western Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Eastern Washington

Game Four – Western Illinois Leathernecks (0–0) at Eastern Washington Eagles (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Leathernecks	0	0	0	0	0
Eagles	0	0	0	0	0

at Roos Field • Cheney, WA

Date: Saturday September 20, 2025
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	WIU	EWU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Eastern Washington	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. Eastern Illinois

Game Five – Eastern Illinois Panthers (0–0) at Western Illinois Leathernecks (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	0	0	0	0	0
Leathernecks	0	0	0	0	0

at Hanson Field • Macomb, IL

Date: Saturday September 27, 2025
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (ESPN+): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	EIU	WIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Eastern Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Western Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Tennessee Tech

Game Six – Western Illinois Leathernecks (0–0) at Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Leathernecks	0	0	0	0	0
Golden Eagles	0	0	0	0	0

at Tucker Stadium • Cookeville, TN

Date: Saturday October 4, 2025
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (ESPN+): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	WIU	TTU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Tennessee Tech	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at UT Martin

Game Seven – Western Illinois Leathernecks (0–0) at UT Martin Skyhawks (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Leathernecks	0	0	0	0	0
Skyhawks	0	0	0	0	0

at Graham Stadium • Martin, TN

Date: Saturday October 11, 2025
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (ESPN+): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	WIU	UTM
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
UT Martin	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. Charleston Southern

Game Eight – Charleston Southern Buccaneers (0–0) at Western Illinois Leathernecks (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Buccaneers	0	0	0	0	0
Leathernecks	0	0	0	0	0

at Hanson Field • Macomb, IL

Date: Saturday October 18, 2025
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (ESPN+): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	CSU	WIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Charleston Southern	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Western Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Tennessee State

Game Nine – Western Illinois Leathernecks (0–0) at Tennessee State Tigers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Leathernecks	0	0	0	0	0
Tigers	0	0	0	0	0

at Nissan Stadium • Nashville, TN

Date: Saturday October 25, 2025
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (ESPN+): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	WIU	TSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Tennessee State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. Lindenwood

Game Ten – Lindenwood Lions (0–0) at Western Illinois Leathernecks (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Lions	0	0	0	0	0
Leathernecks	0	0	0	0	0

at Hanson Field • Macomb, IL

Date: Saturday November 8, 2025
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (ESPN+): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	LIN	WIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Lindenwood	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Western Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. Southeast Missouri State

Game Eleven – Southeast Missouri State Redhawks (0–0) at Western Illinois Leathernecks (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Redhawks	0	0	0	0	0
Leathernecks	0	0	0	0	0

at Hanson Field • Macomb, IL

Date: Saturday August 30, 2025
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (ESPN+): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	SEMO	WIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Southeast Missouri State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Western Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Gardner–Webb

Game Twelve – Western Illinois Leathernecks (0–0) at Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Leathernecks	0	0	0	0	0
Runnin' Bulldogs	0	0	0	0	0

at Ernest W. Spangler Stadium • Boiling Springs, NC

Date: Saturday November 22, 2025
Game time: TBA
TV announcers (ESPN+): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	WIU	GWU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Gardner–Webb	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

References

^ "2025 FCS-to-FCS Transfers". herosports. December 16, 2024.
^ "2025 FBS-to-FCS Transfers". herosports. December 16, 2024.
^ "2025 FCS-to-FBS Transfers". herosports. December 14, 2024.
^ "WIU Football Adds 22 Mid-Year Signees to 2025 Roster". goleathernecks. January 16, 2025.
^ "WIU Football Signs Nine To 2025 Class On National Signing Day". goleathernecks. November 25, 2024. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
^ "2025 Western Illinois Football Schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved December 24, 2024.

[1] "2025 FCS-to-FCS Transfers". herosports. December 16, 2024.

[2] "2025 FBS-to-FCS Transfers". herosports. December 16, 2024.

[3] "2025 FCS-to-FBS Transfers". herosports. December 14, 2024.

[4] "WIU Football Adds 22 Mid-Year Signees to 2025 Roster". goleathernecks. January 16, 2025.

[5] "WIU Football Signs Nine To 2025 Class On National Signing Day". goleathernecks. November 25, 2024. Retrieved December 24, 2024.

[6] "2025 Western Illinois Football Schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved December 24, 2024.

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v t e Western Illinois Leathernecks football
Venues	Hanson Field (1950–present)
Culture & lore	Colonel Rock Rocky "We're Marching On" WIU Marching Leathernecks
People	Head coaches NFL draftees
Seasons	1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025