The 2025 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team represented Western Illinois University as a member of the Big South–OVC Football Association during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by second-year head coach Joe Davis the Leathernecks compiled an overall record of 4–8 with a mark of 3–5 in conference play, tying for sixth place in the Big South–OVC.
Schedule
Preseason Preseason poll The Big South-OVC Conference released their preseason poll on July 16, 2025. The Leathernecks were picked to finish fifth in the conference.
Game summaries at No. 12 (FBS) Illinois
Statistics WIUILL First downs 11 21 Plays–yards 56–163 61–440 Rushes–yards 26–29 37–209 Passing yards 134 231 Passing: –– 14–29–0 18–22–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 27:18 32:42 Team Category Player Statistics Western Illinois Passing Chris Irvin 14/29, 134 yards Rushing Markell Holman 12 carries, 20 yards Receiving Demari Davis 4 receptions, 65 yards Illinois Passing Luke Altmyer 17/21, 217 yards, 3 TD Rushing Aidan Laughery 9 carries, 101 yards, 2 TD Receiving Hank Beatty 5 receptions, 108 yards
at Northwestern (FBS)
Statistics WIU NU First downs 10 24 Plays–yards 50–181 70–526 Rushes–yards 23–71 41–281 Passing yards 110 245 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 12–27–1 21–29–0 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 24:06 35:54 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Illinois Passing Cason Carswell 6/8, 52 yards, TD Rushing Markell Holman 13 carries, 52 yards Receiving Demari Davis 3 receptions, 46 yardsNorthwestern Passing Preston Stone 21/29, 245 yards, 3 TD Rushing Cam Porter 12 carries, 91 yards, TD Receiving Griffin Wilde 5 receptions, 94 yards
vs. Valparaiso
Statistics VAL WIU First downs 15 29 Total yards 316 570 Rushing yards 124 306 Passing yards 192 264 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15-26-0 14-22-2 Time of possession 30:26 29:34 Team Category Player StatisticsValparaiso Passing Caron Tyler 10/16, 137 yards, 1 TD Rushing Caron Tyler 12 carries, 79 yards Receiving Chris Gundy 5 receptions, 86 yards, 1 TD Western Illinois Passing Chris Irvin 13/19, 250 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT Rushing Markell Holman 19 carries, 139 yards, 1 TD Receiving Demari Davis 4 receptions, 99 yards, 1 TD
at Eastern Washington
Statistics WIU EWU First downs 22 22 Plays–yards 82–358 71–597 Rushes–yards 39–150 42–325 Passing yards 208 272 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21-43-1 11-29-2 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 32:22 27:38 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Illinois Passing Chris Irvin 16/34, 167 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Markell Holman 28 carries, 118 yards, TD Receiving Tristin Duncan 5 receptions, 110 yardsEastern Washington Passing Nate Bell 11/29, 272 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Nate Bell 18 carries, 144 yards, 3 TD Receiving Miles Williams 3 receptions, 78 yards
vs. Eastern Illinois
Statistics EIU WIU First downs 16 23 Total yards 329 326 Rushing yards 239 124 Passing yards 90 202 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 4-10-1 27-42-0 Time of possession 24:45 35:15 Team Category Player StatisticsEastern Illinois Passing Connor Wolf 4/10, 90 yards, 1 INT Rushing Jacarre Fleming 9 carries, 111 yards, 2 TD Receiving DeAirious Smith 1 receptions, 33 yardsWestern Illinois Passing Cason Carswell 16/22, 118 yards, 2 TD Rushing Markell Holman 23 carries, 91 yards Receiving Tristrin Duncan 10 receptions, 78 yards
at No. 11 Tennessee Tech
Statistics WIU TNTC First downs 18 27 Total yards 375 618 Rushing yards 32 166 Passing yards 343 452 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 34-49-1 25-39-0 Time of possession 32:15 27:45 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Illinois Passing Cason Carswell 34/49, 343 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing Markell Holman 10 carries, 37 yards Receiving Christian Anaya 13 receptions, 132 yardsTennessee Tech Passing Kekoa Visperas 23/38, 358 yards, 4 TD Rushing Kekoa Visperas 8 carries, 73 yards Receiving Noah Robinson 7 receptions, 126 yards, 3 TD
at UT Martin
Statistics WIU UTM First downs 21 23 Total yards 403 445 Rushing yards 76 200 Passing yards 327 245 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21-30-0 20-29-0 Time of possession 23:27 36:33 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Illinois Passing Carson Carswell 21/30, 327 yards, 2 TD Rushing Markell Holman 16 carries, 59 yards, 2 TD Receiving Demari Davis 4 receptions, 109 yards, 1 TDUT Martin Passing Jase Bauer 19/28, 235 yards, 1 TD Rushing John Gentry 15 carries, 104 yards Receiving Hyatt Timosciek 4 receptions, 69 yards
vs. Charleston Southern
Statistics CHSO WIU First downs 19 24 Total yards 339 463 Rushing yards 31 88 Passing yards 262 375 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14-26-0 34-51-1 Time of possession 25:13 34:47 Team Category Player StatisticsCharleston Southern Passing Zolten Osborne 14/26, 262 yards, 4 TD Rushing Hakeem Watters 16 carries, 52 yards Receiving Rashawn Cunningham4 receptions, 95 yards, 2 TDWestern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving
at Tennessee State
Statistics WIU TNST First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving Tennessee State Passing Rushing Receiving
vs. Lindenwood
Statistics LIN WIU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsLindenwood Passing Rushing Receiving Western Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving
vs. Southeast Missouri State
Statistics SEMO WIU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsSoutheast Missouri State Passing Rushing Receiving Western Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving
at Gardner–Webb
Statistics WIU GWEB First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving Gardner–Webb Passing Rushing Receiving
Personnel Transfers Outgoing Cameren SmithRBCharlotteRyan MerklingerOLChattanoogaElijah AragonWRCoastal CarolinaCurtis HorrasWRGrand ViewLudovick ChoquetteRBLIUJordan AndersonDBMississippi Valley StateDallas ParkerWRNew Mexico HighlandsRyan CrandallLBNorthern IowaKamal MukarramDBRooseveltJerrod CameronDBUT Permian BasinMatthew HenryWRWestern KentuckyJeremiah PiperDBYoungstown StateBraylen BrooksDBUnknownTorrance Farmer Jr.RBUnknownNoah EpleyLBUnknownJayce ParsonsRBUnknownMills DawsonQBUnknownIsaiah LoeraDBUnknown
Incoming Kevin Washington JrLBBethune–CookmanMichael ForneyOLBlack Hills StateWyatt MilkovicLBBoise StateAustin YoungLBButteNigel CheeksRB/WREllsworthJustin RichardsonDBGeorgetown (KY)Amare BickhamDBIowaDavid DunstonDLLackawannaBrinston WilliamsRBMississippi StateEsteban GuilloryDBMurray StateDavid BorchersDLNebraskaKeith MokoDBNorthern IowaEric DenhamWRPortland StateMarkell HolmanRBSaint Francis (PA)Buju Aumua-TuisavuraDBSaint Francis (PA)Clement UlaleOLSouthwest BaptistMatthew PerryDBSt. Francis (IL)Steve OberstDLStetsonFabian BaezWRStetsonJerrod CameronDBUMassLeBron MorganDBUT MartinAJ HarrisWRWalshT.C. MolkQBWalshJames DurandOLWisconsin
Preferred walk-ons Troy MillsLBCalifornia LutheranLuke DroegemuellerK/PConcordia (WI)Ernest TempleRBDuPageHarlon MayDBMissouri SouthernCarter CampbellTEOhio WesleyanJaylen OlokunLBRooseveltJoseph TumiltyWRSt. Francis (IL)
Recruiting class 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 Luca Siamashvili OL 6-6 335 Hawthorn Woods, IL Adlai E. Stevenson Donpaul Keith DB 6-2 179 Taylor, MI River Rouge Joel Salien WR 6-0 178 Miami, FL Immaculata-LaSalle Tommy Lamberti OL 6-8 300 Vernon Hills, IL Carmel Catholic Jamesly Jean Louis DL 6-5 246 Immokalee, FL Immokalee Justin Buckner LB 6-0 205 Tinley Park, IL St. Rita
References