August 31, 2016 BIG MAN ON CAMPUS Lamp heads into senior season as one of nation’s best linemen Photo by Miranda Pederson/Daily News Inside: 2 Toppers begin post-Doughty era 4 Toppers’ Lamp among top nation’s best 10 UK hopes for breakthrough season 3 WKU defense looks to build on 7 Conference USA enjoys rare season of 11 Louisville ready to challenge divisional successful 2015 campaign stability with same lineup of teams as 2015 rivals in quest for ACC title WKUW KKUU KU WKUW W “T “T OPPER OPPER TT UFF UFF ” ” TT RUCKS RUCKS ! ! College Football Preview 12 Wednesday, August 31, 2016 Daily News, Bowling Green, Kentucky HILLTOPPER FOOTBALL 2016 CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP Quarterback White taking reins as new starter for Toppers By BRAD STEPHENS [email protected] Western Kentucky has a new man leading its offense. Coach Jeff Brohm named Mike White last week as the Hilltoppers’ starting quarterback for the season opener Thursday against Rice. White, a redshirt junior, is replac- ing a program legend in Brandon Doughty, who set a collection of school records over the last three seasons as the Tops’ starter. Doughty is now in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins. White will be the first QB other than Doughty to start a WKU season opener since Kawaun Jakes in 2012. “We’re excited about Mike White,” Brohm said. “I think he’s made tremendous strides throughout spring and the summer and even into fall camp. I think he’s ready to play. White, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., joined the WKU program in the fall of 2015 after transferring from South Florida. He played his first two college seasons with the Bulls under former Hilltopper QB and coach Willie Taggart. White started five games as a freshman in 2013 and took over as USF’s full-time starter in 2014. He completed 51.6 percent of his passes with the Bulls for 2,722 yards with 11 touchdowns against 16 intercep- tions. White was named WKU’s start- ing quarterback after he competed throughout fall camp with graduate senior Tyler Ferguson and redshirt sophomore Drew Eckels. Ferguson and Eckels are listed as White’s backups. “I think they’ve all gotten better,” Brohm said. “I think Tyler Ferguson and Drew Eckels, those guys have performed better each and every week and have stepped up as well and were just slightly right behind (White). Mike White is ready for the challenge.” BAC TOTRONG/[email protected] The Hilltoppers return their top WESTERN KENTUCKY quarterback Mike White has been named the starter for the Toppers’ season opener Thursday two running backs from last season night against Conference USA rival Rice at Houchens-Smith Stadium. in redshirt senior Anthony “Ace” Wales and redshirt sophomore yards and nine touchdowns on 155 WKU’s 2016 rushing game is “We can run you over, we can run D’Andre Ferby. carries. “going to be very tremendous, I can around you, we can do whatever.” Wales was limited to 10 games Ferby, the bigger back of the duo, say that,” Wales said. “We’ve got Returning at wide receiver are in 2015 because of an early-season went for 650 yards and 11 TDs on some nice monsters back there and injury, but still finished with 1,091 164 rushes. there’s a lot of stuff we can do. 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Senior safety Marcus Ward said the 2016 Topper defense has “turned the page” from last season, but is hoping to repeat the suc- cess it had. He and his teammates open the season at 7 p.m. Thursday against Rice at Houchens-Smith Stadium. “There are probably some peo- ple that think there’s a little pres- sure there,” said Ward, a defensive captain alongside junior lineback- er T.J. McCollum. “But honestly, we’re ready to make a name for ourselves and make this new 2016 defense something to be reckoned with.” WKU coordinator Nick Holt’s defense is following a season where it made a huge statistical improvement. The 2014 Hilltoppers allowed 6.66 yards per play, ranking 124th out of 128 FBS teams. That led to AUSTIN ANTHONY/[email protected] WKU giving up 39.9 points per WESTERN KENTUCKY linebacker T.J. McCollum (right) pursues Marshall running back Remi Watson on Nov. 27 during the Hilltoppers’ 49-28 win at game, which also ranked No. 124 Houchens-Smith Stadium. McCollum is one of four returning starters to a WKU defense that was vastly improved last season. in the nation. Last year the Toppers improved backer Nick Holt – the coach’s son “I think that’ll make us an overall loss, in his career at Louisville. mer Army All-American who’s to 5.69 yards per play allowed – and run-stuffer Jontavius Morris better defense.” The Miami native was an Army moved from linebacker to the and ranked No. 4 in the nation at defensive tackle. The defense was bolstered this All-American his senior season at defensive line, where longtime at turnover margin, at +1.0 per The four starters that return are spring thanks to the NCAA’s Miami Norland High School. teammate Brown expects him to game. Combine those two factors Ward and senior Branden Leston graduate transfer rule. Former “He has instant playmaking abil- make a big impact. and WKU gave up 25.9 points at safety, McCollum at lineback- Louisville players Keith Brown ity, instant experience,” the coor- Both Brown and Dawson-Brents per game – an improvement of 14 er and junior defensive end Derik and Nick Dawson-Brents left the dinator Nick Holt said. “... He’s have battled injuries this fall but whole points per contest. Overstreet. Cardinals and transferred to WKU, played a lot of football at the high- practiced last week. “We started to really be a good But the defense’s new starters where they’re both immediately est level. ... “He’s a run-stopper, a pass-rush- defense late in the year when we saw at least some playing time last eligible this fall for their senior “Everybody respects him. We er,” Brown said of Dawson-Brents. needed it, especially in those last year, which has led to the unit hav- seasons. expect him to have a great senior “He’s a big body out there. He couple of games – the Marshall ing good depth, coach Jeff Brohm Brown, a middle linebacker, year.” takes up a lot of space, will make a and Southern Miss games as well said. takes the spot formerly occupied Dawson-Brents is slated to be lot of plays this year.” as the bowl game,” Holt said. “I “If we can get all of our guys by the younger Nick Holt. He a starting defensive end this fall Senior Omarius Bryant and think we’re building on that.” healthy and to the game, I feel was a 2016 Preseason All-C-USA opposite Overstreet. The 6-3, WKU lost seven starters from good about the possibility of rotat- Second Team selection by Athlon 275-pound Charlotte, N.C., native junior Chris Johnson are project- that defensive unit, including San ing guys in there, keeping them Sports. was a 2016 Preseason All-C-USA ed to start at defensive tackle in Francisco 49ers draft pick Prince fresh, playing at least two-deep The 6-foot-1, 240-pound Brown Fourth Team pick by Athlon. Charles Iworah at cornerback, line- at certain positions,” Brohm said. collected 113 tackles, six for a Dawson-Brents is another for- See DEFENSE, PAGE 9 WHEELER’S Buying & Selling Old Military Weapons, Modern Firearms, War Relics, and Gold 4848 Scottsville Rd • Bowling Green Gary & Michelle Wheeler Open Tues.-Fri. 9-6, Sat. 9-2, Closed Sun. and Mon. College Football Preview 14 Wednesday, August 31, 2016 Daily News, Bowling Green, Kentucky HILLTOPPER FOOTBALL 2016 TOPS’ LAMP A SELF-MADE MAN WKU Senior has built himself into one of nation’s top O-linemen By BRAD STEPHENS up hoops in order to focus on gain- [email protected] ing weight and working out.