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Michigan Football: Scouting Week 1 opponent Western Michigan

By Alex Hinton

SYRACUSE, NY - SEPTEMBER 21: Head coach Tim Lester of the Western Michigan Broncos speaks with a referee during the second half against the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome on September 21, 2019 in Syracuse, New York. Syracuse defeats Western Michigan 52-33. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
SYRACUSE, NY - SEPTEMBER 21: Head coach Tim Lester of the Western Michigan Broncos speaks with a referee during the second half against the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome on September 21, 2019 in Syracuse, New York. Syracuse defeats Western Michigan 52-33. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /
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Michigan football will host Western Michigan on Sept. 4 and here is a breakdown of the Broncos ahead of Week 1.

When the Michigan football team takes the field on September 4th in front of fans for the first time since 2019, they will be doing so against a familar in-state foe.

The Western Michigan Broncos and their high-powered offense will invade the Big House for Michigan football’s season opener.

It will be Michigan’s sixth meeting with Western Michigan since 2001. The Wolverines won the previous five meetings by an average of 26.8 points.

Read on to find how Michigan football matches up with Western Michigan this year.

Team Profile: Western Michigan 

2020 record: 4-2

Key losses: WR D’Wayne Eskridge, OT Jaylon Moore, LB Treshaun Hayward

Returning starters: 19 (9 on offense and 10 on defense)

Offense 

Last season, Western Michigan had one of the most explosive offenses in the country. The Broncos were 16th in total offense last season at 479.7 yards per game and 9th in scoring at 41.7 points per game. It starts with quarterback Kaleb Eleby.

Last season, the redshirt sophomore was very impressive as a first-year starter. He completed 64.7% of his passes, threw for 1,715 yards, 18 touchdowns against 2 interceptions. Dane Brugler of The Athletic rates Eleby as his #10 draft-eligible underclassmen quarterback (subscription required).

Eleby did lose his top target from last year in D’Wayne Eskridge to the NFL, but he does return two other top targets in 5-foot-9 speedster Skyy Moore and 6-foot-4 Jaylen Hall. Moore had 25 receptions for 388 yards (15.5 yards per catch) and three TDs.

Hall was one of the most efficient touchdown makers in the country last season. He caught 12 passes and seven of them went for touchdowns. He also added 323 yards to average a whopping 26.9 yards per catch.

Former Michigan State transfer La’Darius Jefferson was the Broncos leading rusher last season with 624 yards and five touchdowns on 5.6 yards per catch. He will have some familiar faces blocking for him up front.

Western Michigan lost offensive tackle Jaylon Moore to the NFL but returns four starters from a unit that only surrendered seven sacks in six games. The star of the unit this year will be left guard Mike Caliendo. He was first-team All-MAC a season ago.

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