A rather significant piece of Western Michigan’s ground game puzzle the past two will not so unexpectedly be available this upcoming after all.
As the Broncos took to the field for their first practice of the spring, the school confirmed that running back Dareyon Chance “won his appeal to receive a fifth year of eligibility” and will play in 2014. Chance missed all but the first three games of the 2011 season because of injury, leading to the decision to grant him a medical hardship waiver.
“He’s got a lot of charisma about himself and I think a lot of the teammates really like him and they look up to him,” head coach P.J. Fleck said according to mlive.com. “I think what he’s done is that he’s shown that he’s such a little guy and how tough he is and he’s been able to take those shots and get in there. They see the toughness and I think that’s what we want to be able to create for this upcoming year.”
The 5-5, 169-pound back led the Broncos in rushing yards last season with 692. In fact, it was the second consecutive season the fifth-year senior had done just that as his 947 yards led the team in 2012.
Chance is the only WMU player currently listed as a running back and will see the field in 2014 who has recorded a carry at the collegiate level.