The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers have one of the most explosive and entertaining offenses in the nation entering the 2023 season. Head coach Tyson Helton is looking to win 10 games for the first time in his tenure with the program. To do so, he’ll rely on the 2024 NFL Draft prospects, who we’re putting a spotlight on.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Roster and Depth Chart Changes
Western Kentucky brings a veteran roster back to the field this fall. They lost Brodric Martin to the Detroit Lions in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. However, the Hilltoppers avoided disaster when quarterback Austin Reed re-committed to the program after a brief trip into the transfer portal.
With Reed returning and star receiver Malachi Corley opting against entering the NFL early, the Hilltoppers had a strong offseason. They added vital portal additions Harvard guard Mason Williams, Colorado defensive lineman Ryan Williams, and Northern Michigan defensive back Josh Shodipo.
The defensive depth will be especially important since most of the Hilltoppers’ returning starters are only sophomores or juniors. Considering the returning offense ranked 15th in scoring, and the defense was 44th, it’s easy to say the team’s path to improvement is through their defense.
Western Kentucky NFL Draft Prospects
Austin Reed, QB
Reed’s stocky 6’1″, 222-pound frame was an unexpected immediate start for the Hilltoppers in 2022. His first season as a starter included an incredible 4,746 yards, 40 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Reed was electric and is in line to continue building upon a jaw-dropping stat line.
The Hilltoppers’ unique long-RPO offense doesn’t project exceptionally well to the NFL, but Reed’s traits are encouraging. He has a quick release that allows him to react to receivers getting open or pressure coming into his face. He’s also fiery and has the moxy of a quality NFL backup who makes an impact if he has to play.
Reed has room to improve that projection despite some physical limitations that keep his arm strength from being a notable positive compared to his peers. More experience can help his ability to identify incoming pressure and defense’s weaknesses pre-snap, and closing that mental gap would help give Reed significantly more value.
He’s not much of a creator outside the scheme or a significant threat to run outside minor scrambles. That limits Reed’s NFL value as a Day 3 projection, but there’s reason to believe he could carve out a long career as a backup.
Malachi Corley, WR
Corley is the most unique playmaker in the country. The 5’10”, 211-pounder has been nicknamed the “YAC God” for good reason — he’s incredibly gifted with the ball in his hands to a degree we’ve rarely seen. Corley has excellent contact balance, toughness, and open-field agility, making him a nightmare to tackle.
Used as a slot player who caught a high volume of screen passes, Corley’s overall game could be highlighted better. He showed off good focus and strong hands-on downfield routes. But we didn’t see it a ton, and his route exposure and polish may be limited in the Hilltoppers’ offense.
Nevertheless, Corley’s value remains high — look at Deebo Samuel’s impact on the San Francisco 49ers’ offense. His acceleration and traits project well to the next level, earning him a solid second-round grade entering the fall.
JaQues Evans, LB
A hybrid linebacker and edge prospect, junior linebacker JaQues Evans was one of the most productive talents in the country last year. The 6’2″, 245-pounder totaled 106 tackles, 8.5 sacks, and five pass deflections last year. He was all over the field in 2022.
While some players who have loaded stat lines struggle to master any skill and are instead benefactors of usage and some luck, Evans was quite good regardless of his usage. He’s excellent at the point of attack as an edge defender, holding his own against blockers and then shedding them to make a play on ball carriers. Evans was also comfortable dropping into the slot and playing zone coverage.
As a pass rusher, Evans doesn’t quite have the ideal frame and length to be a full-time contributor, but I’d love to see more opportunities for him because he’s effective at creating a plan and finding success. Evans has strong hands that can rip through blockers’ arms and quick feet, leading to agile cuts that confuse blockers.
His pure power as a bull rusher is unrefined, but it makes sense because he’s used all over. But Evans’ ability to impact games and be good in various roles is valuable. He carries an early Day 3 grade entering the fall.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Schedule
- Week 1
BYE - Week 2
Sept. 2: vs. USF Bulls - Week 3
Sept. 9: vs. HCU Huskies - Week 4
Sept. 16: at Ohio State Buckeyes - Week 5
Sept. 23: at Troy Trojans - Week 6
Sept. 28: vs. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders - Week 7
Oct. 5: at Louisiana Tech Bulldogs - Week 8
OFF - Week 9
Oct. 17: at Jacksonville State Gamecocks - Week 10
Oct. 24: vs. Liberty Flames - Week 11
Nov. 4: at UTEP Miners - Week 12
Nov. 11: vs. New Mexico State Aggies - Week 13
Nov. 18: vs. Sam Houston Bearkats - Week 14
Nov. 25: at FIU Panthers - Week 15
BYE