Western Kentucky Hilltoppers had one of the most improved
season in the Sun Belt Conference last season. However some praised them and
some didn’t. Western Kentucky has a right to hold their heads up as stars and
future stars. Time has proven that this team can play and be competitive in FBS
and Sun Belt Conference play.
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| Coach Willie Taggart celebrates with team after a win. |
After a perfect season for the Hilltoppers, some
Hilltoppers move on to the next level. After finishing the season 7-5 second in
the Sun Belt Conference behind the Conference Champions ASU, the Western
Kentucky
Hilltoppers football program was down after it was snubbed
from postseason play. Multiple WKU seniors were still called upon for the
opportunity to play at the professional level.
Here is a list of those players that has signed with NFL in
2012, let’s begin with Derrius Brooks. He was undrafted in the 2012 NFL drafts;
however Brooks has now signed a free agent deal with the Cincinnati-Bengals.
Brooks a wide-receiver finish 5th at Western Kentucky with 48 tackles and
leading the team with four interceptions, and made second in the Sun Belt
Conference. Brooks is a native of Forston, Ga.
Let’s look at Bo Adebayo another WKU star, the defensive
lineman did make it in the 2012 drafts, he has since been picked up and now
signed with the CFL (Montreal Alouettes), Adebayo also has been invited to the
Detroit Lions mini- camp.
Adebayo saw action in all 12 contests as a senior recording
31 total tackles and 8.5 tackles for a loss. Adebayo also made his
presence felt during WKU's matchup with then-No. 1 LSU, when he trapped the
Tigers' quarterback in the end zone for a safety in the third quarter to cut
the Tiger lead to 21-9.
Last but not least, WKU’s Bobby Rainey has also signed a free
agent professional deal with the Baltimore Ravens. Rainey used a dominant
performance down the stretch to become the school's single season and career
rushing leader. Rainey also finished with the school's single
season record for carries and finished fifth in the nation in total yards per
game.
Rainey also finished the 2010 and 2011 campaign as the
national leader in carries and in the top five in rushing yards.
Now that these awesome three players has landing the a deal
with a professional team, they can now showcase their talent even the more. It
want be easy but their confidence can take them where ever they want to go.
