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WOU FOOTBALL PREVIEW WEEK
Offense: Wednesday
MONMOUTH, Oregon --- It's game week for Western Oregon football! Each day before game day we are previewing a part of the Wolves' squad for the 2022 season - which started with special teams Monday, defense Tuesday (find the links to those stories above and concludes with the offense today.
OFFENSE
The Western Oregon offense averaged 22.4 points per game and 353.3 yards per contest a year ago as the Wolves will look to expand on those numbers in 2022.
Getting the start at quarterback this season is
Gannon Winker (6-6, 215). The redshirt sophomore saw action at quarterback in four games a year ago, going 19-for-33 for 323 yards, five touchdowns and one interception while rushing for another 99 yards and three scores. Against Lincoln to end the season a year ago, he went 10-for-15 for 164 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for another two scores.
Redshirt freshman
Kainoa Jones will start the season as the backup at quarterback with fellow freshmen
Aiden Tyler and
Mikey Gibson battling it out for the No. 3 spot.
Joining Winker in the backfield at running back will be 2018, 2019 and 2021 team rushing leading rusherÂ
Omari Dixon-Land (5-11, 185). The senior rushed for 947 yards and 10 touchdowns  in 2021 - giving him 2,749 yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground in his career, good for third on the all-time rushing list (97 yards behind No. 2 Jason Taroli and 423 yards behind the all-time leader Bill Volk) and tied for No. 8 on the rushing touchdowns list (Volk holds the school record with 37). Dixon-Land also caught 14 passes for 85 yards and another score in 2021.
Also getting time in the backfield will be fellow senior
Andrew Valladares (5-11, 185 - 299 yards rushing, 202 yards receiving, 2 TDs), sophomore
Dominique Loggins (5-11, 178 - 133 yards rushing, TD) and junior transfer
Armaad Hubbard (5-9, 195). Redshirt freshman
Justin Girod (6-3, 240) will act as the team's fullback.
Leading receiver
Thomas Wright (6-6, 195) returns as the senior led the team with 36 receptions, 541 yards and four touchdowns in 2021. Junior
Damon Hickok (6-1, 190) returns as he was second on the team with 31 catches and 335 yards to go along with a touchdowns as does senior
Marquis Sampson (5-7, 155 - 20 catches, 163 yards) and
London Smalley (eight catches, 69 yards, one TD). Also look for redshirt freshmanÂ
Keyvaun Eady (6-3, 190), junior
Shaw Jerome (6-1, 175) and senior
Logan Reese (5-11, 170) along a host of others to see time at receiver.
At tight end, sophomoreÂ
Kade Hustler (6-3, 245) will get the start after catching six passes for 24 yards and a score as a freshman. Redshirt freshmen
Aden Murphy (6-3, 225) and
Jaxon Rozewski (6-5, 205) will also be in the mix at tight end for the Wolves.
On the offensive line at left tackle senior
Edward Taufa'asau (6-6, 310) or redshirt freshman
Emilio Castaneda )6-2, 255) will get the start, sophomore
Keating Hinkley (6-4, 345) will start at left guard, junior
Fernando Salazar (6-1, 270) will start at center, sophomore
Josh McKey (6-6, 330) will get the start at right guard and sophomore
Tommy McKedy (6-5, 315) will get the call at right tackle. Also in the mix will be sophomore
Travis Fenton (6-2, 260), sophomore
Zach Zumwalt (6-1, 295) and freshman
Nick Weber (6-4, 305).