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2025 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team

2025 Western Illinois Leathernecks football
ConferenceOVC–Big South Football Association
Record0–0 (0–0 OVC–Big South)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorBrad Wilson (2nd season)
Defensive coordinatorLandon Fox (1st season)
Home stadiumHanson Field
Seasons
← 2024
2026 →
2025 OVC–Big South football standings
Conf Overall
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  
  • Note: Lindenwood ineligible for OVC–Big South title and FCS postseason play due to transition from NCAA Division II.
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

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Transfers

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Outgoing

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Player Position Destination
Ryan Merklinger OL Chattanooga
Curtis Horras WR Grand View
Ludovick Choquette RB LIU
Matthew Henry WR Western Kentucky
Jeremiah Piper DB Unknown
Kamal Mukarram DB Unknown
Ryan Crandall LB Unknown
Braylen Brooks DB Unknown

Incoming

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Player Position Previous school
Austin Young LB Butte CC
Troy Mills LB California Lutheran
Luke Droegemueller K/P Concordia University Wisconsin
Ernest Temple RB DuPage CC
Nigel Cheeks RB/WR Ellsworth CC
Harlon May DB Missouri Southern
Keith Moko DB Northern Iowa
Matthew Perry DB St. Francis
Steve Oberst DL Stetson
Fabian Baez WR Stetson
LeBron Morgan DB UT Martin
AJ Harris WR Walsh
T.C. Molk QB Walsh

[1][2][3]

Recruiting class

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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

[4]

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteTVResult
August 30at Illinois*
TBA
September 6at Northwestern*
TBA
September 13Valparaiso*
TBA
September 20at Eastern Washington*
TBA
  • *Non-conference game

[5]

Game summaries

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at (FBS) Illinois

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See also: 2025 Illinois Fighting Illini football team
Game One – Western Illinois Leathernecks (0–0) at (FBS) Illinois Fighting Illini (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Leathernecks 0 0 000
(FBS) Fighting Illini 0 0 000

at Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL

  • Date: Saturday August 30, 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

[edit]
See also: 2025 Northwestern Wildcats football team
Game Two – Western Illinois Leathernecks (0–0) at (FBS) Northwestern Wildcats (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Leathernecks 0 0 000
(FBS) Wildcats 0 0 000

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

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Game Three – Valparaiso Beacons (0–0) at Western Illinois Leathernecks (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Beacons 0 0 000
Leathernecks 0 0 000

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

[edit]
Game Four – Western Illinois Leathernecks (0–0) at Eastern Washington Eagles (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Leathernecks 0 0 000
Eagles 0 0 000

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

References

[edit]
  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 Signs Nine To 2025 Class On National Signing Day". goleathernecks. November 25, 2024. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  5. ^ "2025 Western Illinois Football Schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved December 24, 2024.