The 2018 season is sure to be a little different for the Mustangs as this year's squad prepares to do something that no other Western football team has done for more than two decades: enter the year as defending national champions.

"We're looking forward to getting the season started – we've got a great team here and can't wait to get back out on the field," said Mustangs head coach Greg Marshall. "Most of our starters are back, and they've got another year of experience under their belts so we're happy to have that continuity from last season. We've also got a number of young players that are ready to step in and make an impact, giving us good depth on both sides of the ball.

"Obviously we're excited to be coming off the year that we had, but our approach hasn't changed. We're going to continue to focus on improving each week, and make sure that we take each game as it comes."

Following an undefeated regular season, last year's playoff run couldn't have been any better if it was scripted, with the Mustangs banishing demons of the past nearly every step of the way. First, the Mustangs avenged their heartbreaking losses in the 2015 and 2016 Yates Cup Finals by handily defeating the Guelph Gryphons and Laurier Golden Hawks - their opponents in those two losses.

After dispatching the Acadia Axemen in the Uteck Bowl the stage was set for a rematch of the 2008 Vanier Cup with the Mustangs heading to Hamilton to face the Laval Rouge et Or. In the same town as their matchup a decade earlier, the Mustangs completed their run to the championship, taking down the defending national champions 39-17 to claim their first Vanier Cup Championship since 1994.

The majority of the offence that outscored opponents by a combined score of 647-169 in 12 games is back and will once again be led by OUA All-Star quarterback and Vanier Cup MVP Chris Merchant. Joining Merchant in the backfield will be Cedric Joseph, who broke onto the national stage last year with 12 touchdowns in four playoff games, and Alex Taylor who returns for his final year as a Mustang.

Western's top-ranked defence will have a different look in 2018 with the departures of linebackers Nick Vanin and Jean-Gabriel Poulin, along with defensive back Jesse McNair. Despite those changes the purple and white defence remains strong through the middle of the field with veterans Philippe Dion and Fraser Sopik back to lead the Mustangs linebackers. Look for the secondary to be led by Bleska Kambamba and Daniel Valente Jr., while Jimmy Hawley and Mitchell Stadnyk are back to man the middle of the Mustangs defensive line.
  
Head Coach: Greg Marshall
 
- Number of seasons as head coach with team (including 2018): 12
- Number of seasons as head coach in U SPORTS (including 2018): 19
- Career regular season record with team: 73-15
- Career regular season record in U SPORTS: 115-27-2
- Career overall record with team (reg. season & playoffs only): 94-25
- Career overall record in U SPORTS (reg. season & playoffs only): 148-43-2

OFFENCE


Number of returning starters: 9
 
Key returning players:

QB Chris Merchant is back for his third season in purple and white after a fantastic 2017 campaign. Last season he threw for 1995 yards on 127 for 207 passing throughout the regular season with 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions, and was named Vanier Cup MVP.

RB Alex Taylor's 831 yards led the Mustangs last season and became the focal point of the nation's strongest run game. He already sits among the best running backs at Western, and is on track to set campus records this season.

RB Cedric Joseph broke out last season with an astounding 12 touchdowns in the post season, in addition to the 10 he scored during the regular season. The fourth-year veteran returns after recording 578 yards throughout the regular season on 84 carriers.

Key recruits or transfers:

RB Spencer Nichols is a highly touted running back from London South, and joins his hometown Mustangs after previously playing for both Team Ontario and Team Canada prior to donning the purple and white.

REC Dejuan Martin joins the Mustangs after transferring from the St. Francis Xavier X-Men. In 18 games with the X-Men, Martin made 75 catches for 975 yards and 10 touchdowns.

REC Francois Rocheleau is coming off a fantastic season in CEGEP, with 40 receptions for 841 yards and seven touchdowns for Andre-Grasset.

Key losses:

OL Mark Wheatley
OL Matt Bettencourt
FB David Mackie

DEFENCE


Number of returning starters: 7
 
Key returning players:

LB Philippe Dion is back for his final season in purple and white after a year that saw him rack up 27.5 tackles – averaging 3.4 per game – and two sacks.   

DB Bleska Kambamba steps in as a veteran member of the Mustangs defensive secondary as he enters his third season at Western. The last two years have seen him take on increasingly prominent roles on the field, including starting all but one game in 2017. He was named an OUA-All-Star after recording 20 tackles, two sacks, and an interception that he ran back for a touchdown.

LB Fraser Sopik returns for his fourth season, fresh off an appearance at the 2018 East-West Bowl. Before making a statement and being named the Vanier Cup Defensive MVP, Sopik put up the best stats of his career with 32.5 tackles in eight regular season games to earn a spot as an OUA All-Star.

Key recruits or transfers:

LB Mike Moore comes to Western after spending the past four seasons playing for the rival Queen's Gaels. The linebacker played in 32 regular season contests with Queen's, recording 139 tackles and five sacks, along with five forced fumbles and two interceptions.

DB Robert Panabaker is no stranger to the Mustangs, having played in the London area for both London South and the London Jr. Mustangs. Panabaker won titles with both squads, helping South win the OFSAA Championship in 2017 and playing two undefeated seasons with the Mustangs in 2017 and 2018.

DL Deionte Knight arrives at Western after spending last season playing with Arizona Western College of the NJCAA where he helped the Matadors to a 7-0 conference record. Prior to his time with Arizona Western Knight played for Football North where he racked up 38.5 tackles and 8.5 sacks.

Key losses:

LB Nick Vanin
LB Jean-Gabriel Poulin
DB Jesse McNair
 
SPECIAL TEAMS
 
Key returning players:

K Marc Liegghio is back after recording 22 field goals (81%) and 37 extra points last season to rank first in U SPORTS scoring. Liegghio also handles the punting duties for the Mustangs, averaging 36.7 yards per punt last season, with his longest going for 50 yards.