KALAMAZOO, MI –– Across Western Michigan Football’s history, only been three players have been donned prestigious All-American honors.
Addison West became the fourth last week.
But his honor made Bronco history.
The standout senior guard ascended into rarified air after hearing his name called during Thursday’s Home Deport College Football Awards, becoming WMU’s first-ever first team All-American in program history.
West, who also earned first team all-Mid-American Conference honors this season, started all 13 games for the Broncos and has started every single game since the 2022 season.
The 6-foot-3, 305-pound Illinois native was rated the nation’s top guard by Pro Football Focus this season after not giving up a single sack.
Entering the Broncos’ bowl game last week, West led all NCAA lineman across the board in run-blocking (94.8), pass-blocking (93.2) and overall grade (96.3) –– the only lineman in the country to earn 90.0-plus grades in each of those metrics, according to PFF.
West, who played 12 games at guard and one at center in 2024, along with Rimington Trophy finalist Jacob Gideon, helped power the Broncos in being the MAC’s top offense (29.4 points per game).
West helped the Broncos earn a trip to their first bowl game since 2021 on Saturday, a contest in which they fell, 30-23, to South Alabama.
A two-time all-state selection out of Cary-Grove High School, West set a program record for pancake blocks (48) and was a 2018 6A state champion and was also nominated for player of the year in his high school career.
West is the first WMU All-American since Chukwuma Okorafor (2017), also joining Corey Davis (2016) and Jordan White (2012) in Broncos All-American history.
The MAC was well represented on this year’s Associated Press All-American Team –– West was one of three conference selections, joining Harold Fannin (Bowling Green) and Shaun Dolac (Buffalo).
