Western Michigan hires Lance Taylor to lead program

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KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Western Michigan has hired Louisville offensive coordinator Lance Taylor to lead its  program.

Athletic director Dan Bartholomae made the announcement.

The 41-year-old Taylor coached running backs for three seasons each at Notre Dame and Stanford. He was also an assistant at Appalachian State and with the NFL’s Carolina Panthers and New York Jets.

Alabama coach Nick Saban gave Taylor his start in coaching as a graduate assistant in 2007. Taylor walked on the Crimson Tide’s team in 1999 and later earned a scholarship as a receiver and special teams captain for former coach Mike Shula.

Taylor, who is from Mount Vernon, Alabama, played professionally in the Arena Football League for the Colorado Crush and Columbus Destroyers.

No. 15 Michigan State sputters in 35-13 win over W. Michigan

Matthew Dae Smith/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
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EAST LANSING, Mich. – Payton Thorne capped three straight drives with touchdown passes in the first half and threw for a fourth score in the final quarter to help No. 15 Michigan State pull away and beat Western Michigan 35-13 on Friday night.

The Spartans played well in spurts, but also struggled for long stretches against the Broncos in the opener. After taking a 21-3 lead early in the second quarter, they allowed an average Mid-American Conference team to pull within eight points late in the third quarter.

Michigan State was fortunate Thorne’s uneven performance included four touchdowns to match his career high. He finished 12 of 24 for 233 yards with an interception.

Wisconsin transfer Jalen Berger ran for a career-high 120 yards and a touchdown that gave the Spartans a 28-13 lead with 6:28 remaining. Thorne’s fourth touchdown, a 43-yard pass to Tre Mosley, on the next drive ended any doubt about the outcome.

After a slow start, Thorne threw a short pass to freshman Germie Bernard, whose speed turned the play into a 44-yard touchdown late in the first quarter. Illinois transfer Daniel Barker used only his right hand to catch a 13-yard pass for a score and Keon Coleman ran under a 41-yard pass to put Michigan State ahead 21-3 early in the second quarter.

Western Michigan pulled within 11 points midway through the third quarter, when it converted a fourth-and-1 at its 42 and Sean Tyler ran for a 4-yard touchdown a snap after picking up 45 yards on the ground.

The Broncos made it 21-13 late in the third when Palmer Domschke made a 42-yard kick, but they couldn’t make enough plays on both sides of the ball in the fourth quarter and fell to 1-30 against ranked teams.

INJURY REPORT

Michigan State’s defense took a hit in the first half, losing linebacker Darius Snow and safety Xavier Henderson after both appeared to have injured their right legs.

THE TAKEAWAY

Western Michigan: Jack Salopek had an encouraging first start, completing 21 of 36 passes for 193 yards and running for 61 yards on a draw.

Michigan State: If Snow and Henderson are injured significantly, that will hurt the team’s chances to improve a defense that ranked last against the pass in FBS in 2021.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

The Spartans likely will slip a little in the poll after a lackluster performance in a game they were favored to win by three touchdowns.

UP NEXT

Western Michigan: Plays at Ball State on Sept. 10 and hosts No. 17 Pittsburgh the following week.

Michigan State: Hosts Akron on Sept. 10 and goes on the road to play Washington in a night game on Sept. 17.

U.S. Army-All American Bowl NCAA Alumni

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The U.S. Army Bowl, the premier high school All-American game, takes place Saturday, January 7, 2017 at the Alamodome. Played in San Antonio, the game brings together 90 of the nation’s top high school football players in a rivalry of East vs. West.

The U.S. Army Bowl boasts an alumni class of Heisman Trophy winners and some the nation’s most elite NCAA players across its 17-year history and tradition. Take a look at the hundreds of players from the Bowl Game that are at the collegiate level right now.

The U.S. Army All-American Bowl will be live on NBC and the NBC Sports App at 1:00 p.m. ET.

ACC
Clemson        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Travis Blanks CB 2012
Deon Cain WR 2015
Tavien Feaster RB 2016
Mark Fields CB 2015 Father Mark Fields played in the NFL
Jake Fruhmorgen OL 2015
Albert Huggins DL 2015
Mitch Hyatt OL 2015
Xavier Kelly DE 2016
Dexter Lawrence DT 2016
Trayvon Mullen CB 2016
Dorian O’Daniel LB 2013
Scott Pagano DT 2013
Artavis Scott WR 2014
John Simpson OT 2016
Chad Smith LB 2015
Carlos Watkins DT 2012
 Richard Yeargin III  DE/LB 2014
Duke        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Ben Humphreys LB 2015
TJ Rahming WR 2015
Florida State        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Josh Ball OT 2016
Calvin Brewton DB 2015
Josh Brown LB 2016
Keith Bryant DT 2013
Brian Burns DE 2016
Sh’Mar Kilby-Lane LB 2015
Tarvarus McFadden CB 2015
Derrick Nnadi DL 2014
Janarius Robinson DE 2016
Justin Shanks DT 2012
Louisville
NAME POS class NOTES
Josh Harvey-Clemons S 2012 Transfer from Georgia
James Quick WR 2013 Late 2014: Suspended Indefintely
Jawon Pass QB 2016
Miami        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Lawrence Cager WR 2015
Jaquan Johnson S 2015
Shaquille Quarterman LB 2016
Ahmmon Richards WR 2016
Malek Young CB 2016
North Carolina        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Corbin Daly P 2014 Walk-on (2014)
Elijah Hood RB 2014
Freeman Jones K 2014
Bentley Spain OT 2014
North Carolina State        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Johnny Frasier RB 2015
Kentavius Street DE 2014
Virginia        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Taquan Mizzell RB 2013
Kwontie Moore LB 2012
Virginia Tech        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Wyatt Teller OT 2013
 American Conference
Cincinnati        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Jamil Kamara WR 2014
Gunner Kiel QB 2012 Transfer from Notre Dame
Kevin Mouhon LB 2014 Brother, Silverberry, also at Cincy
Connecticut        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
E.J. Levenberry LB 2013 Transfer from FSU
East Carolina        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Tim Irivin DB 2015
Houston        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Kyle Allen QB 2014
Tren'Davian Dickson WR 2016
Southern Methodist        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Trey Quinn WR 2014
South Florida        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Asiantii Woulard QB 2013
Temple        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Kareem Ali Jr. CB 2015
Greg Webb DT 2013
   Big Ten
Illinois        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Nick Allegretti OL 2014
Iowa        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Ryan Ward OL 2012
Maryland        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Jesse Aniebonam DE 2014
 Caleb Henderson  QB 2014
Michigan        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Devin Asiasi TE 2016
Jake Butt TE 2013
Mason Cole OL 2014
Dylan Crawford WR 2016
Lavert Hill CB 2016
Kyle Kalis OT 2012
Jourdan Lewis CB 2013
David Long CB 2016
Erik Magnuson OT 2012
Michael Onwenu OG 2016
Brandon Peters QB 2016
Dymonte Thomas S 2013
Michigan State        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Brian Allen OL 2014
Cameron Chambers WR 2016
Donnie Corley WR 2016
Josh King DE 2016
Malik McDowell DL 2014
Montae Nicholson DB 2014
Brandon Randle LB 2016
Demetric Vance WR 2016
Minnesota        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Carter Coughlin LB 2016
Connor Mayes OL 2014
Nebraska        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Josh Banderas LB 2013
Matt Farniok OT 2016
Charles Jackson CB 2011
John Raridon OG 2016
Ohio State        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Jerome Baker LB 2015
Dante Booker Jr. LB 2014
Matthew Burrell OL 2015
Drue Chrisman P 2016
Jonathon Cooper DE 2016
Johnnie Dixon WR 2014
Jordan Fuller S 2016
Jake Hausmann TE 2016
K.J. Hill WR 2015
Michael Hill DT 2013
Justin Hilliard LB 2015
Jalyn Holmes DE 2014
Dre’Mont Jones DL 2015
Michael Jordan OT 2016
Demetrius Knox OL 2014
Marshon Lattimore CB 2014
Evan Lisle OT 2013
Austin Mack WR 2016
Demario McCall RB 2016
Liam McCullough LS 2015
Isaiah Prince OL 2015
Curtis Samuel WR 2014
Erick Smith S 2014
Damon Webb CB 2014
Mike Weber RB 2015
 Binjimen Victor  WR 2016
Penn State        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Brendan Mahon OL 2013
Connor McGovern OG 2016
John Reid DB 2015
Garrett Sickels DE 2013
Rutgers        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Darius Hamilton DL 2012
Chris Muller OG 2012
Hayden Rettig QB 2013 Transferred from LSU
Wisconsin        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Vince Biegel LB 2012
Jaden Gault OT 2014 -Did not play 2014
-Remains on roster entering 2015
Garrett Rand DT 2016
Cole Van Lanen OT 2016
 Big 12
Baylor        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
KD Cannon WR 2014
Davion Hall S 2014
Blake Lynch WR 2015
Iowa State
NAME POS CLASS
Brian Bobek OL 2011
Jake Campos OT 2013
Allen Lazard WR 2014
Jacob Park QB 2014
Oklahoma
NAME POS class NOTES
Mark Andrews WR 2014
Ricky DeBerry LB 2015
Neville Gallimore DT 2015 First ever Canadian USAAAB selection
Mark Jackson Jr. DE 2016
Caleb Kelly LB 2016
Joe Mixon RB 2014 Suspended 2014
Chanse Sylvie CB 2016
Oklahoma State        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Barry Sanders Jr. RB 2012
Texas        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Kris Boyd CB 2015
Timothy Cole LB 2012
Terrell Cuney C 2014
Antwuan Davis CB 2013
Jordan Elliott DT 2016
Erick Fowler LB 2016
Jerrod Heard QB 2014
Jake Oliver WR 2013
Kent Perkins OT 2013
Kyle Porter RB 2016
Tyrone Swoopes QB 2013
Chris Warren RB 2015
Texas Christian        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Ross Blacklock DT 2016
John Diarse WR 2013
Derrick Green RB 2013
Sewo Olonilua RB 2016
Texas Tech
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Clayton Hatfield K 2014
Tony Morales OG 2011
Ondre Pipkins DT 2012
 
West Virginia
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Brendan Ferns LB 2016
Will Grier QB 2014
 PAC-12        
Arizona State        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
D.J. Calhoun LB 2014
Connor Humphreys DE 2014
Jason Lewis RB 2015
Chase Lucas RB 2016
Brady White QB 2015
Joseph Wicker DE 2015
Cal        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Devante Downs LB 2014
Jason Gibson LB 2011 08/2014: retired (injuries)
Demetris Robertson WR 2016
Melquise Stovall WR 2016
Colorado        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Shane Callahan OL 2012
Oregon        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Jalen Brown WR 2014
Tanner Carew LS 2014
Royce Freeman RB 2014
Taj Griffin RB 2015
Travis Jonsen [Waller] QB 2015
Zach Okun OG 2015
Torrodney Prevot DE 2013
Dwayne Stanford WR 2012
Stanford        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Ryan Burns QB 2013
K.J. Costello QB 2016
Simi Fehoko WR 2016 Signed wth Stanford; currently serving mission in Korea
Peter Kalambayi LB 2013
Luke Kaumatule LB 2012
Christian McCaffrey RB 2014
Curtis Robinson LB 2016
Brandon Simmons S 2014
Solomon Thomas DE 2014
Clark Yarbrough OT 2016
UCLA        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Ishmael Adams CB 2012
Breland Brandt DE 2016
Johnny Den Bleyker LS 2016
Tahaan Goodman S 2013
Mique Juarez LB 2016
Keisean Lucier-South DE 2015
JJ Molson K 2016
Austin Roberts WR 2014
Nathan Starks RB 2014
Ainuu Taua DT 2014
Jaleel Wadood CB 2014
Kenny Young LB 2014
USC        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Zach Banner OL 2012
Kenny Bigelow DT 2013
Max Browne QB 2013
Jamel Cook DB 2016
Jacob Daniel DT 2015
Sam Darnold QB 2015
Justin Davis RB 2013
Chuma Edoga OT 2015
Nico Falah OT 2013
Porter Gustin LB 2015
Chris Hawkins CB 2013
Michael Hutchings LB 2013
Jack Jones CB 2016
Isaiah Langley CB 2015
Toa Lobendahn OG 2014
Damien Mama OG 2014
Vavae Malepeai RB 2016
Frank Martin OT 2016
Osa Masina LB 2015
Steven Mitchell WR 2013
Michael Pittman WR 2016
Christian Rector DL 2015
Khaliel Rodgers G/C 2013
Ykili Ross DB 2015
Trevon Sidney WR 2016
Viane Talamaivao OG 2014
Marvell Tell DB 2015
Tyle Vaughns WR 2016
Utah        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES  
Kylie Fitts DE 2013 08/2014: transfer from UCLA
Washington        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Budda Baker DB 2014
Brandon Beaver DB 2012
Camilo Eifler LB 2016
Joe Mathis DL 2013
Byron Murphy CB 2016
Henry Roberts OL 2015
Luke Wattenberg OT 2016
 SEC        
               
Alabama        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Jonathan Allen DL 2013
Mekhi Brown DL 2015
Raekwon Davis DT 2016
Josh Frazier DT 2014
Shaun Hamilton LB 2014
Elisha Shaw DT 2014 Medical scholarship; may never play again
Dallas Warmack OG 2015
Arkansas        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Bijhon Jackson DT 2014
Blake Johnson P 2015
Jake Raulerson C 2013
Ricky Town QB 2016
Brian Wallace OT 2014
Auburn        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Derrick Brown DT 2016
Daniel Carlson K 2013
Chandler Cox FB 2015
Austin Golson OL 2013
Antwuan Jackson DT 2016
Jeremy Johnson QB 2013
Kaleb Kim C 2015
Tray Matthews S 2013 Transfer from Georgia
Deon Mix OL 2013
Nick Ruffin DB 2014
Darius Slayton WR 2015
Tony Stevens WR 2013
Florida        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Khairi Clark DL 2014
Jordan Cronkrite RB 2015
Ahmad Fulwood WR 2013
Feleipe Franks QB 2016
Martez Ivey OT 2015
CeCe Jefferson DE 2015
Jordan Scarlett RB 2015
David Sharpe OT 2014
Jordan Sherit DE 2013
Johnny Townsend K 2013
Tommy Townsend P 2015
Nick Washington S 2013
Georgia        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Sterling Bailey DE 2011
Deandre Baker DB 2015
Rodrigo Blankenship K 2015
Nick Chubb RB 2014
Ben Cleveland OT 2016
Jacob Eason QB 2016
Mecole Hardman Jr. CB 2016
Brandon Kublanow C 2013
Jaleel Laguins LB 2016
Marshall Long P 2016
Rico McGraw DB 2015
Sony Michel RB 2014
Isaac Nauta TE 2016
Johnny O’Neal LB 2013
Malkom Parrish CB 2014
Natrez Patrick DL 2015
Julian Rochester DT 2016
Dyshon Sims OT 2014
Trenton Thompson DT 2015
D’Andre Walker DE 2015
Isaiah Wynn OG 2014
Kentucky        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Drew Barker QB 2014
Eli Brown LB 2015
Kash Daniel LB 2016
Matt Elam DT 2014
Drake Jackson C 2016
Marcelys Jones OL 2014
Landon Young OT 2016
LSU        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Josh Boutte OL 2013
John Diarse WR 2013
Derrick Dillon WR 2015
Blake Ferguson LS 2015
Clifton Garrett LB 2014
Davon Godchaux DE 2014
Derrius Guice RB 2015
Frank Herron DT 2013
Trey Lealaimatafao DT 2014
Xavier Lewis CB 2015
Trey Quinn WR 2014
Ed Paris Jr. S 2014
DeSean Smith TE 2013
Sione Teuhema DE 2014
Travonte Valentine DT 2014
Chidi Valentine-Okeke OT 2015
Tre’Davious White CB 2013
Mississippi State        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Malik Dear WR 2015
Jamal Peters S 2015
Jeffery Simmons DE 2016
Missouri        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Drew Lock QB 2015
Ole Miss        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
C.J. Hampton S 2014
Van Jefferson WR 2015
D.K. Metcalf WR 2016
Markell Pack WR 2014
Javon Patterson OT 2015
Shea Patterson QB 2016
South Carolina        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Bryson Allen-Williams LB 2014
Larenz Bryant LB 2013
Bryan Edwards WR 2016
Chris Lammons DB 2014
Dante Sawyer DE 2014 2014: academically ineligible, enrolled at East Miss. C.C. for fall ’14
05/2015: set to enroll at South Carolina
Donell Stanley OL 2014
Tennessee        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Tyler Byrd WR 2016
Marquez Callaway WR 2016
Jalen Hurd RB 2014
Todd Kelly DB 2014
Darrin Kirkland Jr. LB 2015
Josh Malone WR 2014
Kahlil McKenzie DT 2015
Kyle Phillips DE 2015
Nigel Warrior S 2016
Texas A&M        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Trevor Elbert OL 2015
Nick Harvey CB 2014
Frank Iheanacho WR 2014
James Lockhart DE 2015
Justin Madubuike DE 2016
Charles Oliver CB 2016
Edward Pope WR 2012
Ricky Seals-Jones WR 2013
Keaton Sutherland OL 2015
Vanderbilt        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Nifae Lealao DL 2014
Josh Smith LB 2015
 Independents        
Brigham Young        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Harvey Langi RB 2011 -Going on LDS mission (07/2012)
-Will return 2014
-Transfer from Utah (2014)
 Skyler Southam  K 2016 Redshirt freshman
New Mexico State        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Tyler Matthews QB 2012
Notre Dame        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Josh Barajas LB 2015
Asmar Bilal LB 2015
Nicco Fertitta S 2015
Daelin Hayes LB 2016
Tristen Hoge C 2015
Torii Hunter Jr. WR 2013
Alize Jones TE 2015
Jarron Jones OL 2012
Tony Jones Jr. RB 2016
Tommy Kraemer OT 2016
Javon McKinley WR 2016
John Montelus OL 2013
Nyles Morgan LB 2014
Quenton Nelson OL 2014
Avery Sebastian S 2011 2015 graduate transfer from Cal
John Shannon LS 2016
Jerry Tillery OL 2015
Nic Weishar TE 2014
 Big Sky        
Montana State        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Naijiel Hale DB 2014
 Conference USA        
UTEP        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Kent Taylor TE 2012
 Ivy        
Harvard        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Zach Schmid K 2014
 Mid-American        
Western Michigan        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Wyatt Pfeifer LS 2014
Mid-Eastern (MEAC)        
Norfolk State        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Joel Caleb WR 2012        
       
 Missouri Valley        
Indiana State        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Antonio Allen S 2013    
         
South Dakota        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Miles Bergner P 2013
 Mountain West        
Boise State        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Kam Miles S 2013 -Originally enrolled at Texas A&M
-Transferred to Butler C.C.
-11/2014: Signed with Boise State
     Northeast  
Wagner      
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Jim Cooper K 2013
Ohio Valley        
Eastern Kentucky        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Dwight Williams LB 2014
 SWAC        
Texas Southern        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Derrick Griffin WR 2013
Sun Belt
Arkansas State        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Chad Voytik QB 2012
 Community College/Junior College
Arizona Western C.C.        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Clifton Garrett LB 2014 Transfer from LSU
Demarre Kitt WR 2014 Transfer from Clemson
Trey Lealaimatafao DT 2014 Transfer from LSU
Pima        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Natrell Curtis DL 2014 Previously committed to Oklahoma
Independence        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Tramonda Moore OT 2016 Previously signed to OK State
Jones County        
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Javon Kinlaw DE 2016 Previously committed to South Carolina
DeSherrius Flowers RB 2015
Iowa Western C.C.
NAME POS CLASS NOTES
Zach Whitley LB 2014