Dec 21, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Western Kentucky Hilltoppers mascot Big Red dances against the South Alabama Jaguars during the first half at Caesars Superdome.
- The offense has to kick it back in from the start, and do it with a wholesale change at the skill spots. The passing game was okay under Caden Veltkamp, but he left for Florida Atlantic . In comes veteran quarterback Maverick McIvor. After bombing away for over 8,000 yards and 63 scores over the last three years at Abilene Christian.
- The top four pass catchers are gone, but KD Hutchinson is back after averaging over 15 yards per grab. The stars - led by deep threat Matthew Henry (Western Illinois ) - are almost all coming in through the portal. - The offensive line that struggled in pass protection and didn’t generate enough of a push for the ground game replaces four starters, but Marshall Jackson is a decent veteran at left tackle. The new starters from the transfer portal are just okay - Devon Smith (ULM) should be okay at one tackle, but the interior being pieced together.
La’Vell Wright (Austin Peay) should be the main man for the ground game, along with WKU’s No. 2 rusher last year, George Hart III - he ran for 206 yards.
- The line has experience from other spots, but the proven production isn’t quite there. It’s a strength-in-numbers thing with seven new players from the portal forming rotation. The pass rush has to come from somewhere. - The secondary will be tested a little more this season. Jaylen Lewis (Temple) was a nice get at safety coming off a 43-tackle season, and Demarko Williams is a veteran who came up 37 stops and two picks last year. The corners will work around Kent Robinson, one of WKU’s most experienced returning defenders.
The former Nevada tackle isn’t massive - he’s a 6-1, 290-pound anchor - but he’s got the leverage to hold up on the nose. That’s the hope after making 25 tackles with a sack in two years for the Wolf Pack. If he and 305-pound Norfolk State transfer Eric Etienne can hold up, the WKU D will quickly change.
It would be nice if he was a bit more of a runner, but over his three years at Abilene Christian, McIvor grew into a whale of a passer throwing for over 3,800 yards and 30 scores last year. He’s ready right out of the box to take over the attack and start pushing it down the field.
Top Transfer Out: Hosea Wheeler, DT Sr.
There might be more talented players gone through the portal - Rodney Newsom should be a whale of a guard for South Carolina - but Wheeler is exactly who this year’s team could’ve used for the defensive interior. The CUSA all-star is now at Indiana after making 75 tackles last year.
2. Maverick McIvor, QB Sr.
3. Jaylen Lewis, S Jr.
4. Kent Robinson, CB Sr.
5. Kennon Loftin, LB Jr.
6. Matthew Henry, WR Sr.
7. Anthony Breckenridge, LB Sr.
8. La’Vell Wright, RB Sr.
9. Cole Maynard, P Sr.
10. Mackavelli Malotumau, DT Sr.
Forget about the paycheck game at LSU, and going to Toledo is dangerous, but that’s it. Jacksonville State is in a total rebuilding mode, a road game at Louisiana Tech could be interesting, but whatever. This is one of the easiest schedules in college football , and WKU has to take full advantage of it.
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Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Preview 2025: Offense
X CFN , Fiu | CFN Facebook | Bluesky Fiu , CFN- The offense has to kick it back in from the start, and do it with a wholesale change at the skill spots. The passing game was okay under Caden Veltkamp, but he left for Florida Atlantic . In comes veteran quarterback Maverick McIvor. After bombing away for over 8,000 yards and 63 scores over the last three years at Abilene Christian.
- The top four pass catchers are gone, but KD Hutchinson is back after averaging over 15 yards per grab. The stars - led by deep threat Matthew Henry (Western Illinois ) - are almost all coming in through the portal. - The offensive line that struggled in pass protection and didn’t generate enough of a push for the ground game replaces four starters, but Marshall Jackson is a decent veteran at left tackle. The new starters from the transfer portal are just okay - Devon Smith (ULM) should be okay at one tackle, but the interior being pieced together.
La’Vell Wright (Austin Peay) should be the main man for the ground game, along with WKU’s No. 2 rusher last year, George Hart III - he ran for 206 yards.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Preview 2025: Defense
- The defense was way too inconsistent. The pass defense finished ninth in the nation, but that’s because everyone was too busy running at will on the front six. On the plus side, the entire line and most of the linebacking corps is being replaced - Kennon Loftin (JUCO) should be the team’s leading tackler in the middle.- The line has experience from other spots, but the proven production isn’t quite there. It’s a strength-in-numbers thing with seven new players from the portal forming rotation. The pass rush has to come from somewhere. - The secondary will be tested a little more this season. Jaylen Lewis (Temple) was a nice get at safety coming off a 43-tackle season, and Demarko Williams is a veteran who came up 37 stops and two picks last year. The corners will work around Kent Robinson, one of WKU’s most experienced returning defenders.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Key to the Season
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Key Player
Mackavelli Malotumau, DT Sr.The former Nevada tackle isn’t massive - he’s a 6-1, 290-pound anchor - but he’s got the leverage to hold up on the nose. That’s the hope after making 25 tackles with a sack in two years for the Wolf Pack. If he and 305-pound Norfolk State transfer Eric Etienne can hold up, the WKU D will quickly change.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss
Top Transfer In: Maverick McIvor, QB Sr.It would be nice if he was a bit more of a runner, but over his three years at Abilene Christian, McIvor grew into a whale of a passer throwing for over 3,800 yards and 30 scores last year. He’s ready right out of the box to take over the attack and start pushing it down the field.
Top Transfer Out: Hosea Wheeler, DT Sr.
There might be more talented players gone through the portal - Rodney Newsom should be a whale of a guard for South Carolina - but Wheeler is exactly who this year’s team could’ve used for the defensive interior. The CUSA all-star is now at Indiana after making 75 tackles last year.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Key Game
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Top 10 Players
1. Marshall Jackson, OT Sr.2. Maverick McIvor, QB Sr.
3. Jaylen Lewis, S Jr.
4. Kent Robinson, CB Sr.
5. Kennon Loftin, LB Jr.
6. Matthew Henry, WR Sr.
7. Anthony Breckenridge, LB Sr.
8. La’Vell Wright, RB Sr.
9. Cole Maynard, P Sr.
10. Mackavelli Malotumau, DT Sr.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 2024 Fun Stats
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 2025 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen
This isn’t one of Tyson Helton’s best teams, but it might have the best record.Forget about the paycheck game at LSU, and going to Toledo is dangerous, but that’s it. Jacksonville State is in a total rebuilding mode, a road game at Louisiana Tech could be interesting, but whatever. This is one of the easiest schedules in college football , and WKU has to take full advantage of it.
