(Phot Credit: WKU Athletics)
Key Players Returning:
WR/PR KD Hutchinson, OT Marshall Jackson, LB Anthony Brackenridge, CB Kent Robinson, FS Demarko Williams, and PT Cole Maynard.
Key Players Departing:
QB Caden Vietkamp, RB Elijah Young, WR Kisean Johnson, WR/KR Easton Messer, WR Dalvin Smith, OC Evan Wibberley, OG Wesley Horton, OG Quantavious Leslie, OT Travon Taylor, DE Deante McCray, DE Marcus Patterson, DE Hosea Wheeler, NT Terron Thompson, NT Dallas Walker IV, LB Sebastian Benjamin, LB Darius Thomas, LB Terreance Ellis, LB Kylan Guidry, LB Chandler Mathews, CB Anthony Johnson Jr., NB Upton Stout, FS Keyshawn Swanson, SS Devonte’ Williams, and PK Lucas Cameiro.
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: DS Avarion Cole (Appalachian State transfer), WR Matthew Henry (Western Illinois transfer), QB Maverick McIvor (Abilene Christian transfer), EDGE Sharlandiin Strange (Opa Locka, Florida), TE Cross Nimmo (Mentor, Ohio), RB Marvis Parrish (Valdosta, Georgia), WR Isaiah Myers (Purdue transfer), EDGE Josiah Knight (Mississippi State transfer), DL Eric Etienne (Norfolk State transfer), and TE Jackson West (Florida State transfer).
2024 Results:
G01 @ Alabama L 0-63
G02 EASTERN KENTUCKY W 31-0
G03 @ Middle Tennessee W 49-21
G04 TOLEDO W 26-21
G05 @ Boston College L 20-21
G06 UTEP W 44-17
G07 @ Sam Houston W 31-14
G08 KENNESAW STATE W 31-14
G09 @ New Mexico State W 41-28
G10 LOUISIANA TECH L 7-12
G11 @ Liberty L 21-38
G12 JAX STATE W 19-17
CUSA @ Jax State L 12-52
BOWL vs. James Madison L 17-27
Team Info:
2024 Overall: 8-6 (2nd in CUSA)
Home: 5-1
Away: 3-4
Neutral: 1-1
CUSA: 6-2
Non-CUSA: 2-4
Head Coach: Tyson Helton
Western Kentucky: 48-32
Bowls: 4-2
Career: 48-32
(Photo Credit: WKU Athletics)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: None
Rushing: George Hart III (43 car., 206 yards, 4.8 avg., 2 TD)
Receiving: KD Hutchinson (25 rec., 383 yards, 15.3 avg., 3 TD)
TD’s Scored: KD Hutchinson (3)
Sacks: Kent Robinson (2)
Tackles: Demarko Williams (37)
Interceptions: Demarko Williams (2)
Pass Deflections: Kent Robinson (4)
Tackles For Loss: Kent Robinson (4)
Forced Fumbles: Anthony Brackenridge/Kent Robinson (1)
Kick Returns: George Hart III (1 ret., 24 yards, 24.0 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: KD Hutchinson (15 ret., 47 yards, 3.1 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: None
Punting: Cole Maynard (55 punts, 2350 yards, 42.7 avg., 18 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 7 Maverick McIvor (GR/TR)
RB: 11 La’Vell Wright (GR/TR)
WR: 14 Jairus Mack (RS SR/TR)
WR: 18 Matthew Henry (RS SR/TR)
WR: 16 Kody Epps (RS SR/TR)
TE: 81 Noah Meyers (RS SO)
LT: 53 Marshall Jackson (RS SR)
LG: 50 Laurence Seymore (RS SR/TR)
OC: 77 Melvin Collins Jr. (RS JR/TR)
RG: 79 Weston Wallace (RS SR/TR)
RT: 65 Devon Smith (RS SR/TR)
KR: 14 Jairus Mack (RS SR/TR)
PK: 39 John Cannon (RS SR/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 95 Jayden Gray (RS SR/TR)
NT: 54 Mackavelli Malotumau (SR/TR)
DE: 52 Jakeem Fletcher (RS SR/TR)
LB: 30 Dominic Oliver (RS SR/TR)
LB: 32 Kennon Loftin (JR/TR)
LB: 31 Anthony Brackenridge (SR)
NB: 23 Jaylen Lewis (RS JR/TR)
CB: 20 Jalen Emery (RS SR/TR)
CB: 11 Kent Robinson (RS SR/TR)
FS: 7 Demarko Williams (RS SR/TR)
SS: 00 Markus Knight (RS SR/TR)
PR: 15 KD Hutchinson (RS JR)
PT: 18 Cole Maynard (RS SR/TR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: C
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: B
Punters: B
Schedule:
08/23 SAM HOUSTON BEARKATS | WKU leads the series 2-1. The Hilltoppers won (31-14) last season’s meeting, and they won (28-23) the prior meeting in 2023.
08/30 NORTH ALABAMA LIONS | First meeting.
09/06 @ Toledo Rockets | Last season’s 26-21 win was the first meeting between schools.
09/20 NEVADA WOLF PACK | First meeting.
09/27 @ Missouri Tigers | First meeting.
10/03 @ Delaware Blue Hens | WKU trails the series 0-2. The Hilltoppers lost (0-31) the last meeting in 1982, and they lost (14-38) the inaugural meeting in 1981.
10/14 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL PANTHERS | WKU leads the series 11-6. The Hilltoppers are 7-2 since 2015, and their last series loss (17-38) was in 2018.
10/21 @ Louisiana Tech Bulldogs | WKU trails the series 5-6. The Hilltoppers are 4-3 since 2015, and their last series win (35-28) was in 2023.
11/01 NEW MEXICO STATE AGGIES | The series is tied 1-1. The Hilltoppers won (41-28) last season’s meeting, and they lost (29-38) the inaugural meeting in 2023.
11/15 MIDDLE TENNESSEE BLUE RAIDERS | WKU leads the series 38-35-1. The Hilltoppers are 9-1 since 2015, and their last series loss (10-29) was in 2018.
11/22 @ LSU Tigers | WKU trails the series 0-2. The Hilltoppers lost (20-48) the last meeting in 2015, and they lost (9-42) the inaugural meeting in 2011.
11/29 @ Jacksonville State Gamecocks | WKU leads the series 5-3. The Hilltoppers split (12-52, and 19-17) last season’s meetings, and they lost (17-20) the prior meeting in 2023.
Predictions:
Home: 6-0
Away: 1-5
Neutral: 0-0
CUSA: 5-3
Non-CUSA: 2-2
Overall: 7-5 (3rd in CUSA – Bowl Eligible)
gridironpredictions.net 