The Michigan Panthers signed running back Nate McCrary and defensive end Kenny Willekes for the 2024 season on Friday.
Nate McCrary is six foot two and weighs 213 pounds. The 24-year-old from Muskegon, Michigan, signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2021.
McCrary has had stops with the Denver Broncos and Cleveland Browns. He was released from the Browns practice squad on October 31, 2023. McCrary has played one regular-season game for the Ravens in 2021 with one carry for -1 yard.
Collegiately, McCrary played four seasons at Saginaw Valley State (2016-19) with 377 carries for 1,889 yards, 28 touchdowns, 12 catches for 150 yards, one touchdown, and nine kick returns for 123 yards in 33 games for the Cardinals. He was named First Team All-GLIAC in 2019.
Kenny Willekes is six foot three and weighs 264 pounds. The 26-year-old from Rockford, Michigan, was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the seventh round (225th pick) of the 2020 NFL Draft. He played six games in his rookie season with 18 tackles (11 solo, 7 assists), two tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, seven quarterback hits, and one pass breakup.
Collegiately, Willekes played four seasons at Michigan State (2016-19) with 229 tackles (104 solo, 125 assists), 51 tackles for loss, 26 sacks, four pass breakups, four forced fumbles, and five fumble recoveries in 40 games for the Spartans.
He was a two-time First Team All-Big 10 (2018-19), Third Team All-Big 10 (2017), winner of the Burlsworth Trophy (2019), and was named the Smith–Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year (2018).
