Behind the Numbers: #81-90
Behind the Numbers #81
The ninth edition of the Behind the Numbers series begins with #81. A number that is dominated by receivers as 20 of the 28 players were split out wide catching the ball. The first 12 players to wear number 81 were receivers with the first being Carl Schiller in 1947.
With all of the receivers the overall statistics reached new heights. The players combined had 317 receptions, 3,828 yards and 33 touchdowns. It's no surprise that the best player to wear number 81 would be a receiver.
Juan Nunez (2007-2010) during his career had 190 receptions, 2,337 yards and 24 touchdowns. Nunez racked up multiple individual awards with First Team All-MAC in 2010 and Third Team All-MAC in 2008-2009. He is top five in career receptions (190), touchdowns (24) and top 10 in career yards (2,337).
He is top 10 in single season receptions (91), yards (1,032) and touchdowns (10). He is top 10 in receptions in a single game (14 vs. Central Michigan, 2010), yards in a single game (192 vs. Akron, 2010) and touchdowns in a game (3 vs. Akron, 2010)
Red shirt freshman receiver Mike Howey will be wearing number 81 for WMU this year. Howey is from Saint Mary's Catholic Central High School, Mich.
Behind the Numbers #82
As number 81 was dominated by receiver, #82 was dominated by tight end. The last 14 players to wear number 82, nine were splitting up defenses at tight end. The first player to wear number 82 was wide receiver Everett Barger in 1942.
With all of the receivers and tight ends, the overall statistics show they recorded 231 receptions, 2,858 yards and 34 touchdowns. The number 82 is dominated by tight ends, the best player to wear this number was one of the best tight ends in WMU history.
Branden Ledbetter (2004-2008) is one of the best tight ends to play at WMU. Ledbetter compiled 131 catches, 1,513 yards and 20 touchdowns during his career. He is top 10 in career touchdowns and was Third Team All-MAC in 2007. He was Second Team All-MAC in 2006 and 2008.
He has the most single season touchdowns by a tight end (20), second most receiving yards by a tight end in a single season (1,515) and third most recepetions in a single season by a tight end (131).
Shouldering the number 82 for the Broncos this season is junior receiver Josh Schaffer. Schaffer had 19 catches, 241 yards and two touchdowns last season.
Behind the Numbers #83
If there was ever a debate to figure out who the best player in WMU history was, #83 would be apart of that discussion. Before going to the best, it was receiver Rudy Bartel in 1941 who wore the first number 83.
Number 83 which runs wild with wide receivers all together compiled 507 receptions, 6,712 yards and 41 touchdowns. These numbers are enormous due to the part of the best player who made a great career catching and scoring touchdowns.
Jordan White (2006-2011) is certaintly considered one of the best wide receivers in WMU history. White compiled record-breaking stats with 306 catches, 4,187 yards and 32 touchdowns. He is a name that is written all-over the WMU record book.
He holds the record for career receptions (306), yards (4,187), which are MAC records and top three for career touchdowns (32). He holds records for single season receptions (140), yards (1,911) and touchdowns (17). He holds the records for single game receptions (16 vs. Toledo, 2011), single game yards (265 vs. Purdue, Litte Caesars Pizza Bowl, 2011). He is top 3 in single game touchdowns (3 vs. Toledo, 2011).
With the number of records White compiled, he compiled just as many awards. He was a two-time First Team All-MAC (2010, 2011), AFCA First Team, Walter Camp Second Team, Associated Press Third Team, Sports Illustrated Second Team, Phil Steele's Third Team All-America and was WMU's first consensus All-American. He was drafted 244th in the seventh round by the New York Jets in the 2012 NFL Draft.
Freshman receiver Michael Henry will be wearing the legendary number 83 this season for the Broncos. Henry is from Northwestern Prep. Academy in Flint, Mich. In 2010 he was the Football offense MVP for his team.
Behind the Numbers #84
There are 84 keys on a piano keyboard and at WMU, #84 has been making sweet sounds ever since 1943 with wide receiver Caroll Kyser.
With all of the players wearing number 84, the stats are evidence that there were some great players. Number 84 compiled 264 receptions, 2,108 yards and 28 touchdowns. For the second straight time, the best player is not only a receiver but a tight end.
Jake Moreland (1996-1999) can also be considered one of the best tight ends in WMU history. Moreland throughout his career showed statistical success recording 143 catches most by a tight end, 1,414 yards and 13 touchdowns. He was First Team All-MAC in 1998 and the following year was Second Team All-MAC.. He is apart of the WMU All-Century team.
Moreland went on to play for the New York Jets and the Cleveland Browns in the NFL before returning to WMU as a coach (2005-2011).
Former WMU basketball player Flenard Whitfield will strap on the shoulder pads with number 84 this season for the Broncos. Whitefield was a two-time All-MAC selection during his basketball career and became the 35th member of the 1,000-point club.
Behind the Numbers #85
In the NFL, the reconizable #85 is Chad Johnson who is outspoken and a playermaker on the field. The number 85 at WMU has been home to more than just one playmaker. The first playmaker was wide receiver Joe Lynd in 1941.
Since 1941, the number 85 has compiled 195 catches, 2,012 yards, 18 touchdowns and suprisingly 65 tackles. While the stats are impressive, most of the statistics are compiled from the best player to wear number 85. Yet again, it's a tight end.
Tony Scheffler (2001-2005) has had much success at WMU and in the NFL as well. During his WMU career Scheffler recorded 117 receptions, 1,345 yards, which are fourth most by a tight end and 13 touchdowns.
He has a pleather of individual awards like being a two-time First Team All-MAC (2004,2005). In 2004 and 2005 he was Academic All-District and Academic All-MAC. He also was Collegefootballnews.com All-America honorable mention. He is apart of the WMU All-Century team.
Scheffler was the 61st pick in the second round by the Denver Broncos in the 2006 NFL Draft and is now a member of the Detroit Lions. During his NFL career, he has racked up 209 receptions, 2621 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Senior tight end Blake Hammond will dawn the number 85 this season for the Broncos. Hammond has 25 catches, 225 yards and 5 touchdowns in his career.
Behind the Numbers #86
In 1986 the movie company Pixar made it's first movie. Since then, it has been coming out with better and better movies. For #86 at WMU, every year since 1941 and receiver Jack Matheson, the number 86 statistically keeps getting better and better.
Through all the years number 86 has compiled 204 catches, 2,006 yards and 15 touchdowns. For the fourth straight time in this Behind the Numbers series collection, a tight end is chosen as the best player.
Mobolaji Afariogun (1998-2002) not only has one of the coolest names in WMU history, he also recorded some impressive numbers while at WMU. Afariogun recorded 105 catches, 1,079 yards and 11 touchdowns in his career. He was Second Team All-MAC in 2001 and was a two-time First Team All-MAC (2000,2002). He is apart of the WMU All-Century team.
Senior receiver Eric Monette is wearing number 86 for the Broncos this season. Monette will be a big part of the WMU offense this season as last year he had 29 catches for 306 yards and one touchdown.
Behind the Numbers #87
Since 1941 there have been 41 players to wear #87. Receiver Jack Matheson was the first player to wear number 87 and there has been excellence on the field ever since
Through all of the years number 87 has compiled 54 catches, 722 yards, 11 touchdowns and 342 tackles. Although the offensive and defensive side of the ball took over the stats, it's special team and the kicking game that take over the best player position.
Brad Selent (1998-2000) is one of the best kickers to ever kick at WMU. Selent throughout his career made 50 of 57 field goals and racked up 307 career points, which is second most in WMU history. He is second in career field goals made (50) and P.A.T. (157). He is top 10 in single season points (94), top three in single season P.A.T. (47), and is second in season field goals made (18). He is tied for longest field goal in WMU history (56 vs. Central Michigan, 1998).
Selent was 1998 Special Teams Player of the Year in the MAC and was First Team All-MAC. He is apart of the WMU All-Century team.
Junior tight end Matt Cutler will wear number 87 for the Broncos this season. Cutler last year had one receptions, for one yard and a touchdown.
Behind the Numbers #88
The double eight symbolizes the double directions of the infinity of the universe For #88 and the Broncos the players that have been around since what seems like infanity and have been producing success on the field.
In 1941, receiver Robert Metzer was the first to wear number 88. Since that time, players have been compiling out of this world stats with 271 tackles, 81 catches, 990 yards and eight touchdowns. For the second straight time, though the offensive and defensive sides of the ball get the limelight, it's the kicking game that gets crowned the best player.
Todd Rawsthorne (1990-1991) was a key part of the Broncos success in the kicking game during his career. Rawsthorne made 89 punts, and racked up 3,628 punt yards. He is second in career punt yard average (40.8), top five in single season punt average (42.9) and top 10 in single game punt yard average (50.5 vs. Akron). He was Second Team All-MAC in 1990.
Redshirt freshman receiver Jack Stevens will make his way onto the field wearing number 88 for the Broncos in 2012. Stevens is from Traverse City Central High School, Mich.
Behind the Numbers #89
This Behind the Numbers series collection has been dominated by receivers and tight ends. But #89 had the most defensive players in the ninth edition of the Behind the Numbers series. There have been seven defensive players out of the receivers and tight ends.
Allen Dow back in 1944 was the first player to wear number 89 and since then players have been succeeding on the field. The number 89 has compiled 527 tackles, 67 sacks, four interceptions, seven receptions, 65 yards and one touchdown. The best player to wear number 89 is the first defensive player in this collection.
Joel Smeenge (1986-1989) was a dominating force at linebacker for the Broncos throughout his career. Smeenge compiled 212 tackles, 34 sacks and one interceptions while spear-heading the vaunted WMU defense. Not only did he occupy the defense for WMU, but he also occupies much of the WMU record book as well.
He is second in career sacks (34), tackles for loss (66) and is first in career forced fumbles (18). He is top five in single season sacks (14), tackles for loss (23) and tied for first in single season forced fumbles (6). He was a three-time First Team All-MAC (1987,88,89). He is apart of the WMU All-Century team.
Redshirt freshman wide receiver Eric Boyden will wear number 89 for the Broncos this year. Boyden was First Team All-Conference at Notre Dame High School, N.J.
Behind the Numbers #90
The last installment of this Behind the Numbers collection ends with #90. The number 90 has is the youngest jersey in this collection. Defensive end Garent Parent was the first player to wear number 90 back in 1966.
Since 1966, number 90 has compiled impressive defensive stats with 397 tackles, 34 sacks and three interceptions. There have only been three offensive players to wear number 90, so it's no surprise that the best player is a defensive player.
Zach Davidson (2005-2008) was a defensive end that terrozied offensive lineman during his time at WMU. Davidson amassed 174 tackles, 19.5 sacks and two interceptions. He was a two-time Second Team All-MAC (2007-08).
