KALAMAZOO, MI –– For years, Mustafi Al-Garawi was just a number on the football field.

But now, he’s got a name –– and a bigger purpose, too.

Proudly honoring his heritage, the Western Michigan defensive is believed to have made history late last month –– becoming the first NCAA student-athlete to display his family name in Arabic on his jersey in the Broncos’ season opening loss to Michigan State on Aug. 29.

“I’ve never had a last name on my jersey until I got here but as an individual, it adds more to why I do it,” said Al-Garawi, a redshirt senior transfer from East Tennessee State. “It gives me more of a purpose. I want to change the narrative of my people and the Muslim religion in America. I think it’s really important to represent it in the best way that I can.”

After a year awa

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