Wayne State senior running back Dawson Forgy and senior tight end Dane Petersen were named to the D2Football.com Elite 100 2026 Watch List revealed Wednesday evening by the football website.  Forgy was listed on the First Team Offensive unit while Petersen was a Second Team Offense selection.  The list was selected by the staff of D2Football.com with input from numerous sitting head coaches and professional football scout Josh Buchanan.
            Forgy, a 5-11, 205-pound redshirt senior from Winterset, Iowa (Winterset HS), was voted NSIC South Division Preseason Offensive Player of the Year last week following a record-breaking junior season.  He gained a single-season school record 1,400 yards rushing on 241 carries (5.8 avg) and scored 19 rushing TD's and had 21 total touchdowns, both school records.  Forgy tied a school record with seven 100-yard games and led the NSIC and ranked third nationally in rushing at 127.3 yards per game and was sixth nationally in all-purpose yards per game at 163.4. 
            Last season, Forgy was named All-NSIC First Team, D2CCA All-Super Region 3 First Team, D2Football.com Elite 100 and Don Hansen Division II All-American honorable mention while also being named one of 36 nominees for the 2025 Harlon Hill Trophy. 
            Petersen, a 6-4, 250-pound senior tight end from Elkhorn (Elkhorn HS), was Wayne State's leading receiver last season with 38 receptions for 436 yards and five touchdowns averaging 11.5 yards per catch.  He had at least one catch in all 11 games, highlighted by six catches for 94 yards and two touchdowns vs. Nebraska-Kearney.  Petersen was an All-NSIC First Team selection last season.   
            Wayne State opens the 2026 football season on Thursday, August 27^th visiting Nebraska-Kearney in a 6 p.m. game.   The 'Cats play their first home game of the year Saturday, September 12^th hosting Minnesota Duluth at 1 p.m. at Bob Cunningham Field in Wayne.