College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the WKU Hilltoppers season with what you need to know.
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– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Schedule Analysis
– WKU Previews 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 20155
2019 Record: 9-4 overall, 6-2 in C-USA
Head Coach: Tyson Helton, 2nd year, 9-4
2019 CFN Final Opinion Ranking: 81
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 40
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 102
No one knows what’s going to happen to the 2020 college football season. We’ll take a general look at where each team stands – doing it without spring ball to go by – while crossing our fingers that we’ll all have some well-deserved fun this fall. Hoping you and yours are safe and healthy.
5. College Football News Preview 2020: WKU Hilltoppers Offense 3 Things To Know
– The offense didn’t crank up 637 points like the 2016 version did, but in the first year under head coach Tyson Helton it was much improved over the 2018 O that didn’t get going until it was too late.
However, there were too many turnovers, nothing with the running game, and for all the consistency, there wasn’t a whole lot of explosion.
The offense has to do more than just hit single – going up with at least 20 points every time out but the 17-8 win over Army was nice, but it’s time to start scoring.
CFN in 60 Video: Louisville Preview
WKU at Louisville, Sept. 26
– The quarterback situation is … interesting. Starter Ty Storey is done, and backup Steven Duncan is transferring out. In comes Tyrrell Pigrome from Maryland, with the type of dual-threat talent to add something more to the attack, even though Storey ran for seven scores. However, Pigrome has had issues staying healthy, putting the pressure on junior Davis Shanley to be ready to go, if he doesn’t take the starting gig.
The receiving corps poses the 94 catches and playmaking ability of Lucky Jackson, but 5-9, 180-pound Jahcour Pearson is another speedy option coming off a 76-catch season with a team-high seven touchdowns.
There’s enough experience returning to be okay, and 6-5, 235-pound sophomore TE Joshua Simon has all-star potential after grabbing 30 passes for 430 yards and four scores, but there’s not a ton of size among the group.
– Gaej Walker is the star of the show with his 1,208 rushing yards and catching ability, but the O needs more out of KeShawn McClendon – who missed most of last season – and come up with a far better rotation. Walker handled 241 carries, and McClendon was the next most worked back with just nine.
The O line that was second in Conference USA in sacks allowed and No. 1 in fewest tackles for loss given up gets back four starters, but loses some depth to the transfer portal. If promising sophomore Gunner Britton or junior Mason Brooks – they’re both around 6-6 and 290 pounds can fill in for Miles Pate at right tackle, the line is set.
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: WKU Hilltoppers Defense 3 Things To Know
4. College Football News Preview 2020: WKU Hilltoppers Defense 3 Things To Know
– The defense was fantastic. The offense might not have been all that amazing, but it didn’t have to be with the other side picking up the slack, finishing second in Conference USA in total D and No. 1 in scoring defense.
And now 13 of the top 15 tacklers are expected back.
It all starts around a pass rush that was okay, but got the job down on third downs. Senior DeAngelo Malone has been one of the nation’s best pass rushing threats over the last few years, and he’s helped by getting 6-3, 270-pound Juwan Jones back on the other side – the two combined for 18.5 sacks. The interior loses Jaylon George, but 6-1, 300-pound senior Jalen Madden is a good rock to work around.
– Kyle Bailey is back at one linebacker spot after leading the team with 109 tackles, and Clay Davis is a 230-pound thumper who came up with 60 stops. There’s good depth and plenty of options to play around with, and it’s all getting helped by the addition of Tennessee transfer Will Ignont.
– The secondary was among the best in the conference, allowing 200 yards per game and was fourth in pass efficiency D. Trae Meadows is a good-sized corner on one side, combining with senior Dionte Ruffin for 55 stops.
Senior Devon Key was third on the team with 93 tackles at one safety job, and fourth-leading tackler Antwon Kincade is back after making 84 tackles at another spot.
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Top WKU Hilltoppers Players
College Football News Preview 2020: Top WKU Hilltoppers Players
Best WKU Hilltoppers Offensive Player
RB Gaej Walker, Sr.
He’s not all that huge, but the 6-0, 195-pound did everything for the running game. Former starting QB Ty Storey helped the cause, but no other back on the roster came up with more than nine carries.
Walker ran 241 times for 1,208 yards and eight scores and caught 24 passes in his first time getting a shot. He should get a little more help, but the All-Conference USA performer can handle the work.
2. WR Jahcour Pearson, Sr.
3. QB Tyrrell Pigrome, Sr.
4. TE Joshua Simon, Soph.
5. OT Cole Spencer, Jr.
Best WKU Hilltoppers Defensive Player
DE DeAngelo Malone, Sr.
The 6-4, 230-pound senior came up with a nice sophomore season with 60 tackles with six sacks, and last year he took his game up to a whole other level with 99 tackles, 11 sacks, and 20.5 tackles for loss as the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year. With a good group around him to take the pressure off, he should be able to do it all again.
2. S Devon Key, Sr.
3. LB Kyle Bailey, Sr.
4. DE Juwuan Jones, Jr.
5. S Antwon Kincade, Sr.
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: WKU Hilltoppers Keys To The Season
College Football News Preview 2020: WKU Hilltoppers Keys To The Season
Biggest Key To The WKU Hilltoppers Offense
Enough with the turnovers. The offense needs to do more with the downfield passing game. It wasn’t dynamic enough or effective enough to overcome the mistakes. The attack was good on third downs, and the time of possession battle wasn’t a problem, but considering there was a problem scoring more than 20 points, giving the ball away wasn’t okay.
The Hilltoppers turned it over 21 times – 12 interceptions and nine lost fumbles – and they were costly. The team was -2 in turnover margin in the loss to Central Arkansas, -3 in the loss to Marshall, and -4 in the loss to Florida Atlantic.
WKU was 6-0 when it turned the ball over fewer than twice. It was +5 in turnover margin in the nine wins, and -10 in the four losses.
And on the flip side …
Biggest Key To The WKU Hilltoppers Defense
Jump on the ball. WKU forced ten fumbles, and it only recovered four on the season with two coming in the win over Southern Miss, and just two in the other 12 games combined.
The D was great in just about every other way. It could stand to get a few more sacks from parts other than the great ends, and more tackles for loss would be nice, but coming up with takeaways was a huge deal for a team without a high-powered offense.
WKU came up with just one takeaway in the four losses, and 14 in the nine wins. It also went the first ten games with just that one fumble recovery.
Key WKU Hilltoppers Player To A Successful Season
QB Tyrrell Pigrome, Sr.
The Maryland transfer has two jobs – if he actually wins the job over Davis Shanley or Kevaris Thomas. 1) Stay healthy, and 2) give the Hilltoppers a downfield passing game.
The offense averaged a mere 10.77 yards per completion – 116th in the nation – but Pigrome isn’t necessarily a high-powered passer. He only threw nine touchdown passes and ten picks with 1,777 yards in his Terp career, but he ran for 630 yards and eight scores.
Staying in one piece has been the issue with knee and other injuries, but he’ll add some flash if he gets the gig.
Key Game To The WKU Hilltoppers Season
at Florida Atlantic, Nov. 7
It’s been three years since WKU beat FAU – coming up with a 52-3 whacking in 2016.
Marshall is going to be a problem in the Conference USA East race, but that’s a home game – so is the date against FIU. The Hilltoppers have to go to Boca Raton to deal with the Owls after losing last year 35-24 in what turned out to be the final defeat of the season.
– WKU Hilltoppers Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
2019 WKU Fun Stats
– Onside Kicks: WKU 2-of-3 – Opponents 0-of-4
– Fumbles: WKU 16 (lost 9) – Opponents 10 (lost 4)
– Time of Possession: WKU 32:00 – Opponents 28:00
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: WKU Hilltoppers Win Total Prediction, What Will Happen
1. College Football News Preview 2020: WKU Hilltoppers Win Total Prediction, What Will Happen
After Conference USA championships in 2015 and 2016, and a bowl appearance in 2017, the 3-9 2018 season under Mike Sanford was an aberration.
In comes Tyson Helton in his first year ever as a head coach, and everything started to work again.
But the Hilltoppers were very, very close to having that 9-4 season being a whole lot worse.
The 2018 team couldn’t seem to catch any sort of a break or come up with any possible momentum, and the 2019 version was the exact opposite after losing the season opener to Central Arkansas.
Closing out with a miraculous First Responder Bowl win over Western Michigan wasn’t bad, either.
Now the team is loaded with veterans on defense, has enough talent back on offense to be at least as good, if not a whole lot better, and Helton knows what he’s doing now.
That momentum has to keep on going.
Set The WKU Hilltoppers Regular Season Win Total At … 7.5
Bet at BetMGM Win Total Line: 7.5
First things first – beat Chattanooga.
WKU has lost its last two games against FCS teams, and it can’t screw that up this time around.
It’s a good enough team to win the East and go to the Conference USA championship, but it has to go on the road to Indiana and Louisville, and going to UAB, Florida Atlantic, and even Charlotte in the regular season finale will be a fight.
Assume the Hilltoppers get to six wins without too much of a sweat, but it’s going to take a few upsets to get to eight regular season wins again.
They’ll be good enough to do it.
– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– Schedule Analysis
