A record 13 members of the Western Kentucky
University football team were recognized as preseason all-league picks on one
of the four teams. Seven of those 13 honorees were first-team selections.
Senior tight end Jack Doyle as well as a pair of
offensive linemen - junior Sean Conway and senior Adam Smith - were named to the
first-team offense, while senior defensive linemen Jamarcus Allen and Quanterus Smith along with junior
linebacker Andrew
Jackson earned first-team defensive honors. Sophomore John Evans was the only
Hilltopper to appear on the list twice, earning first-team honors as a kickoff
returner and third-team accolades as a punt returner.
A third offensive lineman was recognized as sophomore Cameron Clemmons was a fourth-team
selection. A pair of defensive backs - senior Kareem Peterson and sophomore Jonathan Dowling - were named to the
second and third teams, respectively, while junior linebacker Xavius Boyd earned a spot on the
fourth team.
Two more specialists earned preseason all-league honors as junior
punter Hendrix
Brakefield was named to the
second team and junior Antonio Andrews was selected as a fourth-team kickoff
returner.
WKU is coming off its most successful season as a Football Bowl
Subdivision member in 2011, rebounding from an 0-4 start to finish the year 7-5
and take second place in the Sun Belt Conference standings with a 7-1 league
record. The only loss for the Hilltoppers down the stretch came in mid November
at then-#1 LSU.
The Toppers return 48 lettermen and 19 starters in 2012. That
group includes a 22-member senior class, with seven of those seniors already
holding their degree from WKU.
This is a big improvement for Western Kentucky with all these returning
players WKU should make some noise this season in the Sun Belt Conference. My
hat is off to head coach Willie Taggart.
