(Photo Credit: Marco Garcia/AP Photo)
Key Players Returning:
QB Austin Reed, RB Davion Ervin-Poindexter, WR Malachi Corley, WR Dalvin Smith, OC Vincent Murphy, OG Quantavious Leslie, OT Mark Goode, NT Terron Thompson, LB JaQues Evans, CB Upton Stout, CB Davion Williams, FS Talique Allen, FS Kendrick Simpkins and PT Tom Ellard.
Key Players Departing:
RB Kye Robinchaux, WR Daewood Davis, WR/PR Jaylen Hall, WR Michael Mathison, TE Joshua Simon, OC Rusty Stars, OT Gunner Britton, DE Juwuan Jones, DT Lorenzo Hernandez, LB Jaden Hunter, LB Derrick Smith, SS Kaleb Oliver and PK Brayden Narveson.
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: WR L’Christian Smith (Cincinnati transfer), WR Ze’Vian Capers (Auburn transfer), WR Jimmy Holiday (Tennessee transfer), DL Marquis Black (Nebraska transfer), OT Darrell Johnson Jr. (Dodge City, Kansas), CB Daniel Edwards (Illinois transfer), WR Koron Hayward (Jacksonville, Florida), CB Nazir Ward (Miami, Florida), ATH Willie Taggart Jr. (FAU transfer) and DL Ryan Williams (Colorado transfer).
2022 Results:
G01 AUSTIN PEAY W 38-27
G02 @ Hawaii W 49-17
G03 @ Indiana L | OT 30-33
G04 FIU W 73-0
G05 TROY L 27-34
G06 @ UTSA L 28-31
G07 @ Middle Tennessee W 35-17
G08 UAB W 20-17
G09 NORTH TEXAS L 13-40
G10 @ Charlotte W 59-7
G11 RICE W 45-10
G12 @ Auburn L 17-41
G13 @ Florida Atlantic W | OT 32-31
BOWL vs. South Alabama W 44-23
Team Info:
2022 Overall: 9-5 (3rd in CUSA)
Home: 4-2
Away: 4-3
Neutral: 1-0
CUSA: 6-2
Non-CUSA: 3-3
Head Coach: Tyson Helton
Western Kentucky: 32-21
Career: 35-22
Bowls: 3-1
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Austin Reed (389-603, 4746 yards, 64.5%, 7.9 avg., 40 TD, 11 INT)
Rushing: Davion Ervin-Poindexter (116 car., 525 yards, 4.5 avg., 3 TD)
Receiving: Malachi Corley (101 rec., 1295 yards, 12.8 avg., 11 TD)
TD’s Scored: Malachi Corley (11)
Sacks: JaQues Evans (8.5)
Tackles: JaQues Evans (106)
Interceptions: Upton Stout (4)
Pass Deflections: JaQues Evans/Davion Williams (5)
Tackles For Loss: JaQues Evans (13.5)
Forced Fumbles: Talique Allen (2)
Kick Returns: Michael Mathison (21 ret., 463 yards, 22.0 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Upton Stout (5 ret., 29 yards, 5.8 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Cory Munson (3-4 fg/fga., 75%, 5-5 xp/xpa., 14 pts.)
Punting: Tom Ellard (43 punts, 1824 yards, 42.4 avg., 18 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 16 Austin Reed (GR/TR)
RB: 2 Davion Ervin-Poindexter (RS JR/TR)
WR: 19 Craig Burt Jr. (RS SR/TR)
WR: 29 Blue Smith (RS SR/TR)
WR: 11 Malachi Corley (JR)
WR: 17 Dalvin Smith (RS JR)
LT: 76 Mark Goode (JR)
LG: 78 Quantavious Leslie (JR)
OC: 64 Vincent Murphy (RS JR/TR)
RG: 50 Wesley Horton (RS SO)
RT: 73 Wes Dorsey (RS JR)
KR: 22 Elijah Young (JR/TR)
PK: 18 Lucas Cameiro (RS FR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 94 Jayden Loving (RS SO/TR)
NT: 99 Kenyonte Davis (RS SR/TR)
DE: 98 Hosea Wheeler (JR/TR)
LB: 48 Niko Cooper (RS SR/TR)
LB: 15 Aaron Key (RS SO)
LB: 10 Desmyn Baker (RS JR/TR)
LB: 3 JaQues Evans (JR)
CB: 21 Upton Stout (RS SO/TR)
CB: 4 Anthony Johnson Jr. (JR/TR)
FS: 16 Kendrick Simpkins (JR)
SS: 6 TJ Springer (RS JR)
PR: 15 KD Hutchinson (RS FR)
PT: 47 Tom Ellard (RS SO)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: A
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: B
Offensive Line: A
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: C
Punters: B
Schedule:
09/02 USF BULLS | WKU trails the series 3-4. The Hilltoppers won (45-35) the last meeting between schools in 2015.
09/09 HCU HUSKIES | WKU won (50-3) the only prior meeting between schools in 2016.
09/16 @ Ohio State Buckeyes | First meeting between schools.
09/23 @ Troy Trojans | WKU trails the series 2-10-1. The Hilltoppers are 0-2 since 2013 and their last series win (31-26) dates back to 2012.
09/28 MIDDLE TENNESSEE BLUE RAIDERS | WKU leads the series 36-35-1. The Hilltoppers are 7-2 since restarting the series in 2014 and their last series loss (10-29) was in 2018.
10/05 @ Louisiana Tech Bulldogs | WKU tails the series 4-5. The Hilltoppers won (30-15) the last meeting between schools in 2018.
10/17 @ Jacksonville State Gamecocks | WKU leads the series 4-1. The Hilltoppers won (45-7) the last meeting between schools in 2017/
10/24 LIBERY FLAMES | WKU trails the series 0-3. The Hilltoppers lost (24-30) the last meeting between schools in 2020.
11/04 @ UTEP Miners | WKU leads the series 3-0. The Hilltoppers won (40-16) the last meeting between schools in 2018.
11/11 NEW MEXICO STATE AGGIES | First meeting between schools.
11/18 SAM HOUSTON BEARKATS | WKU lost (24-54) the only prior meeting between schools in 2004.
11/25 @ FIU Panthers | WKU leads the series 10-6/ The Hilltoppers are 6-2 since restarting the series in 2015 and their last series loss (17-38) was in 2018.
Predictions:
Home: 5-1
Away: 1-5
Neutral: 0-0
CUSA: 4-4
Non-CUSA: 2-2
Overall: 6-6 (6th in CUSA)
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