MACOMB, Ill.- Western Illinois Football strengthened its roster, adding 20 mid-year transfers

"We are very excited to welcome this new group of Leathernecks to the WIU campus and community"  WIU coach Joe Davis said. "Our coaching and support staff did an outstanding job of identifying and vetting these student athletes that very much want to help take WIU to the next level. There is an incredible amount of optimism around our football program right now and this collection of players will be key pieces to us taking another positive step towards an OVC championship." 

The group features players from FBS, FCS, Division II, NAIA, Junior College and the Prep School ranks.

Name | Position | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | High School/Previous School

Fabo ​​Báez | Wide Receiver | 6-3 | 215 | Jr. | Chicago, Illinois | Schaumburg High School/Stetson University

Báez was a standout receiver at Stetson, making an impact as a redshirt sophomore with 41 receptions for 514 yards across 10 games. 

His standout performance came against Warner University, where he had 9 catches for 164 yards, including three touchdowns and a 45 yard reception.

Amare Bickham | Defensive Back | 6-1 | 185 | So. |Fulshear, Texas | Fulshear High School/University of Iowa

Bickham had an impressive senior year at Fulshear High School, recording 2 interceptions and breaking up 13 passes, which earned him a spot at the University of Iowa.

Jerrod Cameron | Defensive Back | 5-9 | 160 | Jr. | Miami, Florida | St. Thomas Aquinas High School/Coastal Carolina University/University of Massachusetts Amherst

Rated a three-star recruit by ESPN, Rivals, On3, and 247Sports for the Class of 2022, Cameron was ranked the No. 98 cornerback in the nation by ESPN. He helped lead the Raiders to three straight state championships and finished his senior season with 35 tackles, eight passes defended, one interception, and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown.

Cameron initially committed to Coastal Carolina University, where he redshirted his freshman year before transferring to the University of Massachusetts. During his two years at UMass, he recorded 23 tackles and forced 2 fumbles.

James Durand | Offensive Line | 6-5 | 300 | So. | Gilbert, Arizona | Basha High School/University of Wisconsin

A four-star recruit by Rivals and 247Sports, and a three-star recruit by ESPN, Durand earned all-state honors in his sophomore, junior, and senior years. After his senior season, he received an invite to the Under Armour Bowl before committing to the University of Wisconsin and ultimately becoming a Leatherneck.

Michael Forney | Offensive Line | 6-4 | 290 | So. | Santa Clara, California | Archbishop Mitty High School/ Black Hills State University

Forney started 11 games last season on the offensive line at D2 BHSU. As a senior at Archbishop, Fornery recorded 27 tackles, two sacks, and two pass breakups. He participated in both the Polynesian All-American Bowl and the Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star Game in 2023, earning First Team All-League honors. 

Esteban Guillory | Defensive Back | 6-2 | 205 | Jr. | San Antonio, Texas | Cornerstone Christian Schools/Murray State University 

Guillory was a 2 star recruit by 247 Sports and originally committed to Army out of HS while being a  member of the National Honor Society. Guillory also played for the Defcon Texas 7v7 club team for 5 years, winning 2 championships.

His one year at Murray State, Guillory totaled 32 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 pass deflection, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 block.

AJ Harris | Wide Receiver | 6-1 | 195 | Jr. | Chicago, Illinois | Niles North High School/Walsh University 

The Chicago native was a standout on the field at Niles North High School, earning All-Conference honors in both his junior and senior years. Harris

In his freshman year at Walsh University, Harris played in 11 games, recording 35 receptions for 610 yards and 2 touchdowns, earning GMAC Freshman of the Year and 2nd Team All-Conference honors. As a sophomore, he played 8 games, tallying 21 receptions for 397 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Wyatt Milkovic | Linebacker | 6-0 | 227 | Jr. | Fort Myers, Florida | Basha High School/Boise State University 

3 star prospect as rated by 247 sports, Milkovic earned 1st Team All-Defense honors during his junior year with 110 tackles and was named 1st Team All-Defense again as a senior, finishing with 144 tackles. He was named Defensive Player of the Year, led his team to the Arizona Open State Championship, and was an Ed Doughty Nominee (the high school version of the Heisman). He also earned Defensive Player of the Game honors in a victory over the #10 team in the country on ESPN. With a 3.66 GPA, he received academic honors.

During his time at Boise State University, Milkovic contributed to back-to-back Mountain West Championships. As a sophomore, he attended the Fiesta Bowl as part of the CFP.


Keith Moko | Defensive Back | 6-1 | 175 | Jr. | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Newton High School/University of Northern Iowa 

2 star prospect by 247 Sports, his junior year saw him earn 1st Team All-District and 3rd Team All-State honors. As a senior, he was named 1st Team All-State and ranked among the top 200 Cornerbacks in Iowa by 247Sports. He made his collegiate debut at Southern Illinois, though he recorded no statistics.During his tenure at the University of Northern Iowa, he appeared in eight games, recording 13 total tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, and one pass deflection

TC Molk | Quarterback | 6-1 | 185 | Jr. | Dover, Ohio | Dover High School/Walsh University

In high school, Molk's junior year saw him earn All-Ohio and All-District honors, while tying a game record with 7 passing touchdowns. As a senior, he again earned All-Ohio and All-District honors, leading Dover to an undefeated regular season and their only loss in the regional finals. He was named Cleveland Browns Game of the Week MVP.

At Walsh University, Molk finished #1 in the GMAC and #11 nationally in passing efficiency as a sophomore, setting a school record with 1,926 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns, and 3 rushing touchdowns, while completing 65.9% of his passes. He also set school records for passing yards in a game (436) and passing touchdowns in a game (6).

LeBron Morgan | Defensive Back | 6-1 | 200 | Jr. | Atlanta, Georgia | Johns Creek High School/University of Tennesse - Martin

During his junior year, Morgan recorded 46 tackles, 9 pass breakups, 3 tackles for loss, and 1 forced fumble, earning 2nd Team All-Region honors. As a senior, he posted 74 tackles, 5 pass breakups, 1 interception, 6 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries, and 3 sacks, earning GHSA Honorable Mention honors. He was part of the best team in Johns Creek history, advancing to the GHSA 6A State Quarterfinals, while he also participated in the O-D Nike All-American Game.

Morgan was named a 2023 NJCAA Academic All-American at his JUCO. At UT-Martin, Morgan played one year, recording 20 tackles, 3 pass breakups, 1 tackle for loss, and 2 quarterback hurries.
 

Jalen Nicolas | Defensive End | 6-3 | 224 | Fr. | Jersey City, New Jersey | St. Thomas More School 

During his senior year, Nicolas recorded 28 total tackles, averaging 2.8 tackles per game. Nicolas defended 2 passes and forced one hurried pass, and rounded off the season with 2.5 sacks. Ending the season with 2.5 sacks saw Nicolas ranked number 30 in Division Non-Public Group A football list. 

Steven Oberst | Defensive Line | 6-4 | 290 | So. | Jupiter, Florida | Jupiter High School/Stetson University

In high school, during his senior year, Oberst recorded 40 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and 8 sacks, earning Defensive Player of the Year honors. He was also selected to the Palm Beach County All-Star Team.

At Stetson, Oberst played in all 11 games as a freshman, recording 8 solo tackles and assisting on 15 others. His season-high was 5 tackles in a game against Presbyterian.

Matthew Perry | Defensive Back | 6-3 | 210 | Sr. | Country Club Hills, Illinois | Mount Carmel High School/Trinity International University/University of St. Francis (Ill.) 

Perry began his college career at Trinity International University, where he played in eight games, recording 31 tackles (25 solo, 6 assists), 1 tackle for loss, 2 interceptions for 12 yards, and 6 pass breakups. He then transferred to the University of St. Francis (Ill.), where as a sophomore, he tallied 57 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 7 pass breakups, earning Second Team All-Conference honors. In his junior year, he posted 78 tackles, 3 pass breakups, and 0.5 sacks, again earning Second Team All-Conference recognition.

Austin Young | Linebacker | 6-2 | 230 |Jr. | Queen Creek, Arizona | Casteel High School/Butte Community College 

In high school, Young earned a 3rd place finish at the state wrestling championships in 2022 and 2023, and was named an All-American in 2023. On the football field, he was a 1st Team All-Region selection in his senior year.

At Butte Community College, he played in 11 games during his sophomore year, recording 82 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 1 interception, and 1 forced fumble. He was unanimously recognized as the best linebacker in the conference and earned unanimous 1st Team All-State linebacker honors.

The following players will join the Leathernecks as preferred walk ons:

Carter Campbell | Tight End | 6-4 | 230 | Jr. | Portsmouth, Ohio | Notre Dame High School/Ohio Wesleyan University 

Campbell earned Honorable Mention All-Ohio and 1st Team All-District honors as a sophomore in high school, along with 2nd Team All-SOC (Conference). As a junior, he was named 2nd Team All-Ohio, 1st Team All-District, and 1st Team All-SOC. In his senior year, he received 1st Team All-Ohio, 1st Team All-District, and 1st Team All-SOC honors. His senior season stats included 70 tackles, 9 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, and 20 tackles for loss, along with 12 receptions for 174 yards and 4 touchdowns. At Ohio Wesleyan University, he played tight end and saw action in 1 game, recording 7 receptions for 62 yards.

Luke Droegemueller | Punter | 6-1 | 180 | Jr. | Cumming, Georgia | East Forsyth High School/Concordia University Wisconsin 

At Concordia University Wisconsin, Droegemueller appeared in 19 games, punting 71 times for an average of 37.8 yards, totaling 2,681 yards with a long of 69 yards. He was also named 1st Team All-Conference, 2nd Team All-Region, and Special Teams Player of the Year.

Joseph Tumilty | Wide Receiver | 5-10 | 190 | Jr. | Villa Park, Illinois | Willowbrook High School/University of St. Francis(Ill.)

In high school, Tumilty was recognized for his academic achievements with Dean's List honors and membership in the Honor Society. On the field, he earned All-Area honors as a junior and All-Conference honors as a senior.

At the University of St. Francis (Ill.), Tumilty was a unit, playing in 19 games. As a running back, he totaled 30 carries for 186 yards, 4 touchdowns, and a long of 22 yards. As a wide receiver, he recorded 100 receptions for 1,562 yards, 15 touchdowns, a long of 73 yards, and averaged 15.6 yards per catch. He was also named All-Conference in both his freshman and sophomore years of college.

Troy Mills | Linebacker | 6-0 | 235 | So. | Anaheim, California | Canyon High School/California Lutheran University 

Mills was a force to be reckoned with in high school. He recorded 3 tackles as a freshman on varsity and followed up with 33 tackles as a sophomore, earning 1st Team All-North Hills League honors and the Mitchell Cook Character Award. As a junior, he racked up 101 tackles, was named 1st Team All-North Hills League, and was awarded Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) while serving as a captain. His senior year saw him post 194 tackles, earning All-State, All-Orange County, and All-CIF honors, along with 1st Team All-North Hills League and DPOY honors again, while also being named a captain and Scholar-Athlete.

At California Lutheran University, he played in 7 games as a freshman, starting 4, and recorded 27 tackles, including 2 tackles for loss. As a sophomore, he redshirted but still contributed with 3 tackles.

Harlon May | Defensive Back | 6-1 | 190 | Fr. | Waukegan, Illinois | Carmel Catholic High School/Missouri Southern State University 

In his junior year of high school, May recorded 35 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 5 interceptions, and 12 pass breakups. He was named an ESCC All-Conference selection and earned Honorable Mention honors on both the Lake County All-Area Team and the News-Sun All-Area Team.

May's Senior year was a continuation to the one prior, he totaled 70 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 4 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery, and 16 pass breakups, finishing with 12 career interceptions—second-most in school history. He was named First Team All-Area DB by both the Lake County All-Area Team and the News-Sun All-Area Team.
 

Ernest Temple | Running Back | 6-1 | 210 | Jr. | Chicago, Illinois | Thornton Fractional South High School/College of Dupage 

College of DuPage running back Ernest Temple has been a standout performer for the Chaparrals, earning second-team NJCAA All-American honors in 2024 after an exceptional season. In 2023, he appeared in all 12 games for the NJCAA champions, finishing second on the team in rushing yards (480) and carries (71), while leading the team with 6.7 yards per carry. He also tallied 5 receptions for 56 yards, including a long of 31 yards. Notably, Temple rushed for 160 yards and 2 touchdowns in a dominant 48-19 victory over Aurora JV and earned NJCAA Offensive Player of the Week honors after a strong performance against Division I Iowa Central.

His 2024 season did not lack in production, leading all of Division III with 13 total touchdowns (10 rushing, 2 receiving, 1 fumble return) and finishing second on the team and sixth in D3 in rushing yards (420). His clutch performance in the NJCAA title game included 51 rushing yards and 69 receiving yards, highlighted by a 50-yard reception that sealed the championship for College of DuPage. Temple earned NJCAA Special Teams Player of the Week honors for his 8-yard touchdown on a blocked punt in a 70-6 win over Hocking. 

Jaylen Olokun | Linebacker | 5-10 | 220 | Sr. | Chicago, Illinois | Homewood Flossmoor High School/Roosevelt University 

During his junior year of high school, Olokun led the team in tackles,  tackles for loss, was the leader in sacks, and finished number five in all time tackles. Olokun started his college career at Upper Iowa University playing 4 games securing 8 tackles.

Olokun transferred to Roosevelt University where he saw success. He played 20 games totaling 153 tackles and 24 tackles for loss. Olokun recovered two fumbles, defended three passes and collected one sack. He earned all conference both years at Roosevelt.  

FOLLOW THE LEATHERNECKS 

For all the latest information on Leatherneck Football, please visit GoLeathernecks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Leathernecks on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.