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One of Western Michigan's players made major headlines during the 2025 season in a historical way, but it wasn't for his play on the field. Mustafi Al-Garawi, a redshirt senior defensive tackle, had his surname displayed in Arabic on the back of his jersey.
Western Michigan said Al-Garawi is the first student-athlete to wear his surname in Arabic on his jersey. According to the Detroit News, he plans to wear it for the entire season.
Here's what to know about the defensive tackle and his unique nameplate.
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Who is Mustafi Al-Garawi?
Al-Garawi, born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, transferred to Western Michigan this offseason from East Tennessee State, where he played in 17 games.
He went to Pigeon Forge High School, starring both as a football player and wrestler. He helped lead his high school to two state championships in wrestling.
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Why does Mustafi Al-Garawi have an Arabic nameplate?
Al-Garawi’s father, Rashid Al-Garawi, fled Iraq to the U.S. during Saddam Hussein’s regime.
The name on the back of the WMU jersey — Ajoum — is his family’s name. According to Western Michigan, he requested that the name be written in Arabic on the back of the jersey.
Western Michigan’s Mustafi Al-Garawi became the first player to have his name displayed in Arabic on his nameplate.
The Broncos tackle’s father is from Iraq and gained U.S. citizenship after assisting American forces during the Second Gulf War.
Al-Garawi said the following on his podcast, "Swamp to Sand," which he co-hosts with another teammate:
“I did it for my parents,” he said. “Being from Iraq, man, they would have loved to have the opportunity I had to go to school … The least I can do is go to school and get a degree.”
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Western Michigan 2025 schedule
Before Western Michigan starts play in the MAC, it has a tough road test against top-10 Illinois in Champaign.
| Date | Opponent | Time |
| 8/29 | at Michigan State | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| 9/6 | vs North Texas | 3:30 p.m. ET |
| 9/13 | at No. 9 Illinois | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| 9/20 | vs Toledo | 3:30 p.m. ET |
| 9/27 | vs Rhode Island | 3:30 p.m. ET |
| 10/4 | at UMass | TBD |
| 10/11 | vs Ball State | 3:30 p.m. ET |
| 10/25 | at Miami Ohio | 3:30 p.m. ET |
| 11/1 | vs Central Michigan | TBD |
| 11/11 | vs Ohio | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| 11/18 | vs Northern Illinois | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| 11/25 | at Eastern Michigan | TBD |
The Broncos are off to an 0-2 start, with losses to Michigan State and North Texas.
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