2021 First Glance Preview: Week Four Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

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Jakairi_Moses.jpeg

Written by: Evan Orris

Week 4

Date & Time: September 25, 2021, 8:00 P.M

Venue: L.T. Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, KY

TV: CBSS

Indiana bettors wagered $254 million in May, while sportsbooks kept just under $19 million in gross gaming revenue and with football season been around the corner this figure is expected to increase exponentially as you can read here.

Hilltopers at a Glance

Head Coach: Tyson Helton

Entering his 3rd season as the Hilltoppers head coach

Record at WKU: 14-11

Overall Record: 14-11

Last Season: 5-7 (4-3) with a loss in the Lending Tree Bowl

Hilltoppers Returning Leaders

Passing: Kevaris Thomas (369 yards, 3 touchdowns and 3 interceptions, 52.9%)

Rushing: Jakairi Moses (319 yards and 0 touchdowns on 5.3 yards per carry)

Receiving: Mitchell Tinsley (43 receptions for 377 yards and 4 touchdowns)

Tackles: Antwon Kincade (49 tackles and 1 forced fumble)

Hilltoppers Preseason Predictions

Athlon: Previews: 3rd in C-USA East

Phil Steele: 8th in Conference USA

Lindy’s: 4th in the C-USA East

Impact Newcomers for the Hilltoppers

-Bailey Zappe, quarterback (transfer from Houston Baptist)

-Kendall Abdur-Rahman, transfer from Notre Dame, Was rated the No. 30 athlete nationally and No. 7 player from the state of Illinois by 247Sports

Biggest Questions Facing Western Kentucky

1.     Will the players be able to quickly learn new offensive coordinator Zach Kittley’s scheme?

2.     The Hilltoppers allowed 28 sacks last year, can the offensive line improve?

3.     Who will take over for the departing quarterback Tyrell Pigrome?

Program Preview

The Hilltoppers were busy this offseason. After going 5-7 last season, 4-3 in the conference, and losing in the Lending Tree Bowl, Western Kentucky made major changes.

On top of the shake-up on the coaching staff, the Hilltoppers also brought in a plethora of transfers. Wide receiver Ben Ratzlaff, OL Cameron Stage WR Daewood Davis, TE Dane Saltarelli, TE Zac Lefebvre, OL Boe Wilson, WR Josh Sterns, WR Jerreth Sterns, RB Adam Cofield, WR Kyle McNamara, QB Bailey Zappe, and WR Kendall Abdur-Rahman all join the offense with the hopes of improvement. Meanwhile, LB Niko Cooper, DL Michael Allen, CB Davion Williams, DE Michael Pitts, CB Tre Shaw, LB Matthew Flint, and DL Brodric Martin were the additions to an already solid defense.

Head coach Tyson Helton will look to address the problems with his team over the course of spring football.

Offensive Preview

Last year, the Hilltoppers averaged only 290 yards and 19 points per game which ranked 120th and 114th nationally. The passing game really struggled and showed no explosiveness. This led to the firing of Bryan Ellis, and the hiring of Houston Baptist offensive coordinator, Zach Kittley.

That wasn’t the only team-turnover that occurred this offseason. The Hilltoppers leading passer, Tyrell Pigrome put his name into the transfer portal. In return, the Hilltoppers were able to land Houston Baptist transfer, Bailey Zappe, who started all 12 games and threw for 3,811 yards, 35 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. His 35 touchdowns led the nation at the FCS level. Zappe should be quite familiar with Kittley’s system as the two were together last season.

Zappe will also have the Hilltoppers leading receiver returning to throw the ball to. Mitchell Tinsley, 43 receptions for 377 yards and 4 touchdowns will be Zappe’s top target. However, he will also have incoming transfers Ben Ratzlaff, Daewood Davis, Kyle McNamara, Kendall Abdur-Rahman, Dane Saltarelli and Zac Lefebvre in the Hilltoppers’ receiving arsenal.

The rushing attack may be on the decline for the Hilltoppers. Leading rusher, Gaej Walker (645 yards), entered his name in the transfer portal. Jakairi Moses should be in-line for extended work after averaging 5.3 yards a carry in 2020. Western Kentucky also picked up Adam Cofield from North Dakota State who should be a complementary back.

The offense is only going to be as good as the offensive line. Last season the o-line allowed 28 sacks. If there is improvement along the offensive line, then the Hilltoppers could boast an explosive offense that can score a higher number of points.

Defensive Preview

Last season, the defense was the strength of the Hilltoppers. It should be another solid unit in 2020. The defense was able to allow just 348 yards per game (28th nationally) and surrendered just 25 points a game (40th nationally). Just like the offense, the defense has a lot of moving parts on their side of the ball.

The Hilltoppers also have a new defensive coordinator on top of their new offensive coordinator. Maurice Crum is the new coordinator, however he spent last year with the Hilltoppers as their linebackers’ coach. The familiarity should help the unit as it does not have to learn a new system.

The Hilltoppers landed Davion Williams from Michigan State and Tre Shaw from North Carolina to boost an already great secondary. The two should start alongside Dominique Bradshaw and leading tackler Antwon Kincade.

Western Kentucky also returns top sack man and their best playmaker DeAngelo Malone to help maintain their linebacking core. The Hilltoppers already lost two linebackers, Kyle Bailey and Eli Brown, to the transfer portal.

They also lost interior pass rusher Ricky Barber to the transfer portal. Barber had four of the 26 sacks for the Hilltoppers last season. The pass rush may be a bit of a problem for a solid defense. They will need to find some new and innovative ways to get to the quarterback.

Special Teams Preview

The Hilltoppers’ should not have to worry about their special teams’ unit this upcoming season. Brayden Narveson returns as the kicker. He was a perfect 27-for-27 on extra points and only missed one field goal which was over 50 yards.

They also return their punter John Haggerty III. Haggerty was great for Western Kentucky last season. The Australian played American football for the first time last season, and showed no problems with. the transition. He set the all-time WKU program record with 45.9 yards per punt, which ranked 13th in FBS, while his 42.1-yard net average which was 10th in the FBS. He was voted First Team All-Conference for the Hilltoppers’ first selection since 2004.

Returner Dayton Wade is also returning for Western Kentucky. On his nine returns, Wade was able to gain 147 yards for a 16.3 average. The Hilltoppers return game should not scare anyone, however. They did not have one return touchdown last season.