Western Michigan's key players for 2018: No. 16 Stefan Claiborne rises to occasion at safety Enquirer counts down the 20 players projected to be most key to Western Michigan's success in 2018

Nick Buckley | Battle Creek Enquirer

Show Caption Hide Caption Western Michigan football 2018 schedule The Broncos have seven home games at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo.

Western Michigan begins fall practices on Aug. 2, and 29 days later the Broncos will kick off the season against Syracuse on Aug. 31 at Waldo Stadium.

Second-year coach Tim Lester and the Broncos are coming off a 6-6 season and will seek to recapture the Mid-American Conference title they won in 2016.

Leading up to fall camp and before the incoming freshmen class arrives, we're making an early projection at the top 20 players who will be most key to the Broncos' success in 2018:

No. 16: Stefan Claiborne

Position: Safety

Hometown (H.S.): Clinton Township (Chippewa Valley)

2017 stats: 11 games, nine starts, 64 tackles, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries, two pass breakups.

Why he's No. 16: Injuries decimated the Broncos at the safety position in 2017, with season-ending injuries to starters Justin Tranquill and Davontae Ginwright. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Claiborne was thrust into a bigger role and was up to the task, finishing fourth on the team in tackles with 64 over 11 games. A three-star recruit out of Chippewa Valley High School, he spurned offers from Iowa and other Mid-American Conference programs to come to WMU as one of the highest-rated prospects in program history. As a true freshman in 2016, he appeared in 10 games, mostly on special teams, helping the Broncos win the MAC championship. His pursuit and tackling ability make him a strong special teams player and a big contributor to a deep safety unit that is vital to WMU's attacking 4-3 defense.

Nick Buckley can be reached at nbuckley@battlecreekenquirer.com or 269-966-0652. Follow him on Twitter:@NickJBuckley

WMU TOP 20

Previously

No. 20: Drake Harris returns west

No. 19: Jaylon Moore a "hidden gem"

No. 18: Juwan Dowels battle-tested

No. 17: Ali Fayad ahead of the curve