After a rash of injuries late in the year helped to cut the Mustangs season shorter than the purple and white faithful would have liked, the team returns to the field in 2015 looking to rebound after last year's exit in the OUA Semi-Finals.
 
Luckily for the Mustangs, for the second straight year the bulk of the team's high-powered offence is returning, and will once again be led by fourth-year quarterback Will Finch. The 2013 OUA MVP earned OUA Second Team All-Star status last season, throwing for 1,762 yards and 14 touchdowns, while rushing for 409 yards and another five majors. Despite good numbers and all-star status, his season didn't end on a positive note, as injuries sidelined him for one regular season game and both of Western's playoff contests.
 
Joining Finch in the backfield will be a talented cadre of running backs, led by fellow fourth-year Yannick Harou. The St. Andrew's College product led the nation's number one rushing attack last season with 680 yards, all while averaging 85 yards per game and 8.1 per carry. Alex Taylor and Adam Sinclair are both back for another season and should be key pieces of the Mustangs ground attack, and don't be surprised if rookie Cedric Joseph gets into the mix as well. A CEGEP Division 1 MVP, Joseph is considered by many to be the nation's top running back recruit and could see the field more often than a typical first-year back.
 
Despite the departure of Brian Marshall, the Mustangs receiving corps is made up of mostly veterans in 2015, including fifth-year slot Matt Uren, fourth-years Justin Sanvido and George Johnson, and transfer Jamal Kett, who joins the Mustangs after playing the past three seasons for Simon Fraser in NCAA Division II. A talented group with a good mix of speed, size, and good hands, Finch should have no shortage of options when looking downfield this season.
 
Defensively, the departures of Daryl Waud and Rory Connop to the CFL means the defensive line will have a different look this season, although it will continue to be anchored by 2014 CIS All-Canadian Ricky Osei-Kusi at defensive end. Already a key member of the line last season, Rupert Butcher will have an increased role in 2015, as he becomes the team's most experienced defensive tackle.
 
Much like the defensive line there have been a few changes to the team's linebackers, including starter Phil N'Djore who played out his fifth season of eligibility in 2014. Despite a few changes, the group will be led by a familiar face in 2014 OUA All-Star and Hamilton Tiger-Cats draft pick Preston Huggins who led all Mustangs players with 33 tackles last season. Also back is 2014 OUA All-Rookie Team member Jean-Gabriel Poulin, who showed flashes of brilliance in his debut season before injuries sidelined him for the latter portions of the year.
 
While there are changes on both the line and at linebacker, the Mustangs defensive backfield returns largely intact for the coming season. CIS All-Canadian Josh Woodman and OUA All-Star Kalvin Johnson headline a group of defensive backs that also includes former OUA All-Rookie Team members Jordan Beaulieu and Jesse McNair.

Quote from head coach: Greg Marshall
 
"I think we've got a good team this year with a lot of experience and a good group of young players as well," said Mustangs head coach Greg Marshall. "This will be the third straight year that the majority of our offence is back and playing together and we've got depth at nearly every position. Defensively we've got a number of all-stars returning at a number of different positions, and we're very deep at both linebacker and defensive back.
"We've got a good team here and we're excited to get the season started. Last year didn't end the way we wanted, but going through those struggles will make us a better team this year and we'll build off of that to be competitive again this season."
 
Head Coach: Greg Marshall
 
- Number of seasons as head coach with team (including 2015): 9
- Number of seasons as head coach in CIS (including 2015): 16
- Career regular season record with team: 50-14
- Career regular season record in CIS: 92-26-2
- Career overall record with team (reg. season & playoffs only): 65-22
- Career overall record in CIS (reg. season & playoffs only): 118-40-2

OFFENCE

Number of returning starters: 10
 
Key returning players:
 
Will Finch – QB (OUA Second Team All-Star)
 
Although injuries cut his 2014 campaign short, Finch is back and aiming to continue the stellar play that's earned him OUA MVP, OUA All-Star, and CIS All-Canadian honours over the past three years. Boasting the OUA's single-season record for passing yards with 3,057, Finch will have no shortage of weapons to choose from with the depth of the talent at both running back and receiver on this year's Mustangs squad.
 
Yannick Harou – RB (OUA First Team All-Star)
 
The leading rusher on the nation's best running team last season, Yannick Harou returns after putting up 680 yards and averaging 8.1 yards per carry in 2014. The Gatineau, Que., native earned OUA First Team All-Star honours after helping the Mustangs lead the CIS with 2,730 yards rushing, averaging 341.3 per game.
 
Eddie Meredith – OL (OUA First Team All-Star, CIS First Team All-Canadian)
 
A two-time OUA All-Star (2013, 2014) and a CIS First Team All-Canadian in 2014, Meredith heads into his CFL Draft year looking to continue his success as he plays a key role on a veteran Mustangs offensive line.
 
Sean Jamieson – OL (OUA First Team All-Star, CIS First Team All-Canadian)
 
With three years of Mustang football behind him, Sean Jamieson shows no signs of slowing down as he enters his CFL draft year. Steadily increasing his time on the field over the last few seasons he put everything he had into the 2014 season to earn the first post-season honours of his CIS career, earning OUA First Team-All Star and CIS First Team-All Canadian acknowledgements.
 
Matt Van Praet – C (OUA Second Team All-Star)
 
Serving as the Mustangs starting centre for the past two seasons, Van Praet has finished each of the last two years by earning OUA post season honours with and OUA First Team All-Star nod in 2013 and a Second Team selection last year. Back for another year as starter, he'll once again play a key role on the Mustangs line. 

Key recruits or transfers:

Cedric Joseph – RB (CFC Top 100, CEGEP Division 1 MVP)
 
Considered by many to be the nation's top running back recruit, Cedric Joseph comes to the Mustangs from Champlain Cougars as a CFC Top 100 recruit, and CEGEP Division 1 MVP.
 
Anthony Joyal – RB (CFC Top 100)
 
Anthony Joyal joined the Mustangs alongside teammate and fellow running back Cedric Joseph. Joyal previously competed for the Champlain Cougars where he earned a spot on CFC's Top 100 recruit list.
 
Nick Pinelli – OL (CFC Top 100)
 
A CFC Top 100 recruit, a 2014 OFSAA Champion and a TVRA Tier A All-Star, Nick Pinelli comes joins his hometown Mustangs from the Lucas Vikings.
 
Brett Ellerman – REC (CFC Top 100)
 
One of Alberta's top receiver, Brett Ellerman joins the Mustangs from Calgary's St. Francis Browns and is a CFC Top 100 recruit and Calgary Division 1 All-Star.
 
Dylan Giffen – OL (CFC Top 100)
 
Hailing from Strathroy, Ont., Dylan Giffen previously played for the London Jr. Mustangs and the Strathroy Saints before donning the purple and white for Western. Earning a spot on the CFC Top 100 list, he also is a former member of both Team Ontario and Team Canada. 
 
Jamal Kett – REC (Transfer from Simon Fraser University, NCAA Division II)
 
Spending the last three seasons at Simon Fraser University in NCAA Division II, Kett brings with him the title of Simon Fraser Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2012, as well as a Great Northwest Athletic Conference First Team All-Conference nod that same season, while also earning Second Team honours in 2013.
 
Key losses:
 
Brian Marshall – REC
 
One of the top receivers in Mustangs history, Brian Marshall is Second only to Hec Crighton winner Andy Fantuz on the Mustangs all-time career receiving list, with 2,607 yards and 22 touchdowns. The veteran leader finished his Western career as the team's leading receiver in 2014, recording 657 yards on 40 catches with four touchdowns.
 
Garret Sanvido – RB
 
Garret Sanvido closed out his time with the Mustangs by recording 87 rushes for 586 yards and six touchdowns in the eight games of the 2014 regular season. Throughout the two games of playoffs he added seven more rushes for 33 yards. Across his four year purple and white career, Sanvido has amassed 353 rushing attempts for 2403 yards and 26 touchdowns.
 
DEFENCE

Number of returning starters: 8
 
Key returning players:
 
Ricky Osei-Kusi – DE (OUA First Team All-Star, CIS Second Team All-Canadian)
 
Upping the ante in the 2014 season, Osei-Kusi recorded new career single-game highs for solo tackles (8), assisted tackles (5), total tackles (8), and sacks (1.5). As a whole, the defense end recorded 30 tackles, 21 solo, and 4.5 sacks throughout the regular season. His efforts allowed him to build on his previous accolade as an OUA Second Team All-Star (2013) as he was named an OUA First Team All-Star and CIS Second Team All-Canadian.
 
Preston Huggins – LB (OUA First Team All-Star)
 
Leading the Mustangs with 33 total tackles for the 2014 season, Huggins returns for his fifth and final season in purple and white. His most recent season resulted in an OUA First Team All-Star nod after recording 23 solo tackles, 23 assisted tackles. He was also drafted by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the seventh round of this year's CFL Canadian Draft.
 
Josh Woodman – DB (OUA First Team All-Star, CIS Second Team All-Canadian)
 
An OUA All-Star and CIS All-Canadian in his third season, the former receiver was a major part of the Mustangs defence in 2014 and looks to repeat that same success this season after recording 18 solo tackles while leading the OUA with five interceptions.
 
Kalvin Johnson – DB (OUA Second Team All-Star)
 
Earning OUA Second Team All-Star honours in 2014, Kalvin Johnson looks to close out his Mustangs career this season after posting career high numbers last year with 16 total tackles, two interceptions, and nine broken up passes.


Key recruits or transfers:
 
Mitchell Stadnyk – DL (CFC Top 100)
 
Another CFC Top 100 recruit, Mitchell Stadnyk previously played for the St. Mary's Knight's, & Sault Sabercats. Formerly a member of Team Canada, he was also OVFL Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2014.
 
George Jeffrey – DB (CFC Top 100)
 
The seventh CFC top 100 athlete to land a spot on the Mustangs, George Jeffery previously played for both the T.A. Blakelock Tigers of Halton Secondary School, and the OFC's Burlington Stampeders.
 
Cory Roboch – LB (Transfer from University of Calgary, CIS)
 
Leaving behind his hometown Calgary Dinos, Roboch brings three years of experience to TD Stadium. Most recently dressing in red and yellow for the 2013 season, the linebacker recorded 15 solo tackles and 23 assisted tackles. He racked up an additional 11 tackles in the playoffs.
 
Clay Harris – DB (Transfer from University of Albany, NCAA Division I)
 
A native of West Henrietta, New York, Clay Harris joins the Mustangs from the University of Albany, a NCAA Division I school.  Last playing for Albany in 2013, Harris started in 10 games to total 20 solo tackles and nine assisted tackles with his longest return measuring 49 yards.
 
Key losses:
 
Daryl Waud – DL (OUA First Team All-Star, CIS First Team All-Canadian)
 
After four years as a Mustang, Waud no longer dons the purple and white. Instead, he'll step on the field dressed in the double blue of the Toronto Argos. Drafted in the second round, 12^th overall, he impressed recruiters his lofty career totals of 69 solo tackles, 64 assisted tackles, and 15 sacks.
 
Phil N'Djore – LB (OUA Second Team All-Star)
 
Leaving the Mustangs after playing in every match of 2014, N'Djore recorded 29 solo tackles, three assisted tackles, and two sacks across the eight regular season games and two playoff games. He ended his time in purple and white on a high note, earning an OUA Second Team All-Star nod.
 
Rory Connop – DL
 
Following a stint at Boise State, Connop joined the Mustangs where he spent the final three years of his CIS career. Selected by the Saskatchewan Roughriders 36th overall in the third round, he ended his time in purple and white with 30 solo tackles, 31 assisted tackles and 7.5 sacks from regular season play. Playoffs allowed him to record an additional 11 solo tackles, ten assisted tackles, and two sacks.