2023 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team

2023 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football
2023 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football
Famous Toastery Bowl champion
Famous Toastery Bowl, W 38–35 OT vs. Old Dominion
Conference	Conference USA
Record	8–5 (5–3 C-USA)
Head coach	Tyson Helton (5th season);
Offensive coordinator	Drew Hollingshead (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Air raid
Defensive coordinator	Tyson Summers (2nd season)
Base defense	3–3–5
Home stadium	Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium

2023 Conference USA football standings

Team	W		L	W		L
No. 25 Liberty y$	8	–	0	13	–	1
New Mexico State y	7	–	1	10	–	5
Jacksonville State*	6	–	2	9	–	4
Western Kentucky	5	–	3	8	–	5
Middle Tennessee	3	–	5	4	–	8
UTEP	2	–	6	3	–	9
Sam Houston*	2	–	6	3	–	9
Louisiana Tech	2	–	6	3	–	9
FIU	1	–	7	4	–	8
Championship: Liberty 49, New Mexico State 35
$ – Conference champion y – Championship game participant * – Ineligible for postseason play due to FCS-to-FBS transition rules Rankings from AP Poll

The 2023 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University in the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hilltoppers played their home games at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and competed members of Conference USA. They were led by fifth-year head coach Tyson Helton. The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team drew an average home attendance of 15,710 in 2023.

Schedule

Western Kentucky and Conference USA announced the 2023 football schedule on January 10, 2023.^[1]^[2]

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 2	11:00 a.m.	South Florida*	Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	CBSSN	W 41–24	15,438
September 9	6:00 p.m.	Houston Christian*	Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	ESPN+	W 52–22	20,712
September 16	3:00 p.m.	at No. 6 Ohio State*	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH	FOX	L 10–63	100,217
September 23	11:00 a.m.	at Troy*	Veterans Memorial Stadium Troy, AL	ESPNU	L 24–27	26,124
September 28	6:30 p.m.	Middle Tennessee	Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY (100 Miles of Hate)	CBSSN	W 31–10	14,712
October 5	7:00 p.m.	at Louisiana Tech	Joe Aillet Stadium Ruston, LA	ESPN	W 35–28	13,014
October 17	6:30 p.m.	at Jacksonville State	Burgess–Snow Field at JSU Stadium Jacksonville, AL	ESPNU	L 17–20	17,977
October 24	6:30 p.m.	Liberty	Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	ESPNU	L 29–42^[3]	16,036
November 4	8:00 p.m.	at UTEP	Sun Bowl El Paso, TX	ESPN+	W 21–13	11,111
November 11	2:30 p.m.	New Mexico State	Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	ESPN+	L 29–38	16,319
November 18	2:30 p.m.	Sam Houston	Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	ESPN+	W 28–23	11,041
November 25	2:00 p.m.	at FIU	Riccardo Silva Stadium Westchester, FL	ESPN+	W 41–28	12,724
December 18	1:30 p.m.	vs. Old Dominion*	Jerry Richardson Stadium Charlotte, NC (Famous Toastery Bowl)	ESPN	W 38–35 ^OT	5,632
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll (and CFP Rankings, after November 1) - Released prior to game All times are in Central time

Game summaries

at No. 6 Ohio State

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (2–0) at No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes (2–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Hilltoppers	3	7	0	0	10
No. 6 Buckeyes	7	35	7	14	63

at Ohio Stadium • Columbus, Ohio

Date: September 16
Game time: 4:00 p.m. EDT
Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 76 °F (24 °C) • Wind: N at 3 miles per hour (4.8 km/h)
Game attendance: 100,217
Referee: Jeffrey Servinski
TV announcers (FOX): Jason Benetti (play-by-play), Brock Huard (analyst), and Allison Williams (sideline reporter)
Box score, Recap

Game information

First quarter

(11:32) OSU – TreVeyon Henderson 21-yard run, Jayden Fielding kick (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:20; Ohio State 7–0)
(1:07) WKU – Lucas Carneiro 43-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 31 yards, 4:32; Ohio State 7–3)

Second quarter

(10:53) OSU – TreVeyon Henderson 7-yard run, Jayden Fielding kick (Drive: 12 plays, 82 yards, 5:07; Ohio State 14–3)
(8:10) WKU – Malachi Corley 2-yard pass from Austin Reed, Lucas Carneiro kick (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 2:43; Ohio State 14–10)
(8:00) OSU – Marvin Harrison Jr. 75-yard pass from Kyle McCord, Jayden Fielding kick (Drive: 1 play, 75 yards, 0:10; Ohio State 21–10)
(4:13) OSU – Chip Trayanum 40-yard run, Jayden Fielding kick (Drive: 1 play, 40 yards, 0:07; Ohio State 28–10)
(1:55) OSU – Emeka Egbuka 15-yard pass from Kyle McCord, Jayden Fielding kick (Drive: 4 plays, 48 yards, 1:25; Ohio State 35–10)
(0:08) OSU – Emeka Egbuka 14-yard pass from Kyle McCord, Jayden Fielding kick (Drive: 3 plays, 58 yards, 0:20; Ohio State 42–10)

Third quarter

(4:38) OSU – Tyleik Williams 0-yard fumble return, Jayden Fielding kick (Ohio State 49–10)

Fourth quarter

(12:37) OSU – Carnell Tate 28-yard pass from Devin Brown, Jayden Fielding kick (Drive: 7 plays, 55 yards, 3:23; Ohio State 56–10)
(5:26) OSU – Jermaine Mathews Jr. 58-yard interception return, Jayden Fielding kick (Ohio State 63–10)

Statistics	WKU	OSU
First downs	15	24
Plays–yards	72–284	60–562
Rushes–yards	33–80	33–204
Passing yards	204	358
Passing: comp–att–int	22–39–2	22–27–1
Time of possession	32:34	27:26

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Kentucky	Passing	Austin Reed	21/37, 207 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
	Rushing	L. T. Sanders	7 carries, 26 yards
	Receiving	Malachi Corley	8 receptions, 88 yards, 1 TD
Ohio State	Passing	Kyle McCord	19/23, 318 yards, 3 TD
	Rushing	TreVeyon Henderson	13 carries, 88 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Marvin Harrison Jr.	5 receptions, 126 yards, 1 TD

at Jacksonville State

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (4–2) at Jacksonville State Gamecocks (5–2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Hilltoppers	10	7	0	0	17
Gamecocks	0	10	0	10	20

at Burgess–Snow Field at JSU Stadium • Jacksonville, Alabama

Date: October 17
Game time: 6:30 p.m. CDT
Game weather: Clear, 62 °F (17 °C)
Game attendance: 17,977
Referee: Ed Ardito
TV announcers (ESPNU): Dave Neal (play-by-play) and Derek Mason (analyst)

Game information

First quarter

(8:52) WKU – Dalvin Smith 10-yard pass from Austin Reed, Lucas Carneiro kick (Drive: 8 plays, 53 yards, 2:20; Western Kentucky 7–0)
(1:55) WKU – Lucas Carneiro 28-yard field goal (Drive: 13 plays, 79 yards, 5:01; Western Kentucky 10–10)

Second quarter

(12:45) JVST – Zion Webb 10-yard run, Alen Karajic kick (Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 4:14; Western Kentucky 10–7)
(8:36) WKU – River Helms 3-yard pass from Austin Reed, Lucas Carneiro kick (Drive: 5 plays, 40 yards, 2:09; Western Kentucky 17–7)
(5:35) JVST – Alen Karajic 23-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 70 yards, 3:01; Western Kentucky 17–10)

Third quarter

No scoring plays

Fourth quarter

(4:40) JVST – Anwar Lewis 26-yard run, Alen Karajic kick (Drive: 11 plays, 91 yards, 3:39; Tied 17–17)
(0:00) JVST – Alen Karajic 41-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 45 yards, 2:32; Jacksonville State 20–17)

Statistics	WKU	JVST
First downs	16	27
Plays–yards	72–339	95–484
Rushes–yards	24–89	55–262
Passing yards	250	222
Passing: comp–att–int	24–48–1	23–40–1
Time of possession	26:56	33:04

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Kentucky	Passing	Austin Reed	24/48, 250 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
	Rushing	Elijah Young	10 carries, 39 yards
	Receiving	K. D. Hutchinson	4 receptions, 52 yards
Jacksonville State	Passing	Zion Webb	22/39, 218 yards, 1 INT
	Rushing	Zion Webb	28 carries, 146 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	P. J. Wells	5 receptions, 53 yards

New Mexico State

New Mexico State Aggies at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Aggies	3	14	7	14	38
Hilltoppers	14	7	0	8	29

at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, Kentucky

Date: November 11
Game time: 1:30 p.m. MST/2:30 p.m. CST
Game weather: Sunny, 62 °F (17 °C)
Game attendance: 16,319
Referee: Rodney Burnette
TV announcers (ESPN+): Joe Fisher and Terry Obee

Game information

First quarter

WKU – Elijah Young 72-yard pass from Austin Reed (Lucas Carneiro kick), 13:51. Hilltoppers 7–0. Drive: 3 plays, 75 yards, 1:09.
WKU – Austin Reed 13-yard run (Lucas Carneiro kick), 7:27. Hilltoppers 14–0. Drive: 10 plays, 73 yards, 5:11.
NMSU – Ethan Albertson 40-yard field goal, 3:49. Hilltoppers 14–3. Drive: 6 plays, 52 yards, 3:38.

Second quarter

NMSU – Jonathan Brady 10-yard run (Ethan Albertson kick), 14:55. Hilltoppers 14–10. Drive: 7 plays, 45 yards, 3:00.
NMSU – Trent Hudson 4-yard pass from Diego Pavia (Ethan Albertson kick), 6:19. Aggies 17–14. Drive: 11 plays, 72 yards, 5:29.
WKU – Craig Burt Jr. 4-yard pass from Austin Reed (Lucas Carneiro kick), 0:06. Hilltoppers 21–17. Drive: 17 plays, 75 yards, 6:09.

Third quarter

NMSU – Eli Stowers 7-yard pass from Diego Pavia (Ethan Albertson kick), 3:41. Aggies 24–21. Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards, 5:58.

Fourth quarter

NMSU – Eli Stowers 7-yard run (Ethan Albertson kick), 4:14. Aggies 31–21. Drive: 11 plays, 65 yards, 7:14.
NMSU – Mehki Miller 57-yard interception return (Ethan Albertson kick), 2:57. Aggies 38–21.
WKU – Malachi Corley 15-yard pass from Austin Reed (Austin Reed pass to Malachi Corley), 1:30. Aggies 38–29. Drive: 7 plays, 71 yards, 1:21.

Statistics	NMSU	WKU
First downs	21	26
Total yards	377	437
Rushing yards	236	167
Passing yards	141	270
Turnovers	0	1
Time of possession	32:55	27:05

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
New Mexico State	Passing	Diego Pavia	14/24, 141 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	Star Thomas	7 carries, 85 yards
	Receiving	Jonathan Brady	3 receptions, 31 yards
Western Kentucky	Passing	Austin Reed	20/36, 270 yards, 3 TD, INT
	Rushing	Elijah Young	14 carries, 80 yards
	Receiving	Elijah Young	3 receptions, 84 yards, TD

Roster

2023 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team roster

Players

Coaches

Offense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
RB	`2`	Davion Ervin-Poindexter	Sr
RB	`3`	Elijah Young	Jr
WR	`4`	Michael Mathison	Sr
WR	`5`	Blue Smith	Sr
WR	`6`	Jimmy Holiday	So
RB	`7`	L. T. Sanders	So
WR	`8`	Easton Messer	Fr
WR	`9`	Josh Sterns	So
QB	`10`	Caden Veltkamp	Fr
WR	`11`	Malachi Corley	Jr
QB	`12`	Turner Helton	Fr
QB	`13`	Bronson Barron	Jr
WR	`14`	Willie Taggart Jr.	So
WR	`15`	K.D. Hutchinson	Fr
QB	`16`	Austin Reed	GS
WR	`17`	Dalvin Smith	Jr
WR	`18`	Moussa Barry	Fr
RB	`19`	Javy Bunton	So
WR	`19`	Craig Burt Jr.	Sr
WR	`20`	Jaleel Walker	Jr
WR	`21`	Marvin Sims	So
WR	`23`	Jax Cooper	Fr
WR	`26`	Jarvis Hayes	Fr
RB	`27`	Corey Landers	Fr
RB	`30`	Markese Stepp	Sr
WR	`37`	Zach Burt	Fr
OL	`50`	Wesley Horton	So
OL	`53`	Marshall Jackson	So
OL	`56`	Leavy Johnson	Fr
OL	`57`	Wyatt Anderson	Fr
OL	`58`	Evan Wibberley	Fr
OL	`60`	Mason Williams	Jr
OL	`62`	Michael Moment	Jr
OL	`64`	Vincent Murphy	Jr
OL	`67`	Hayden Todd	Fr
OL	`68`	Colt Jackson	So
OL	`70`	Darrell Johnson Jr.	Jr
OL	`72`	Colten Cable	Jr
OL	`73`	Wes Dorsey	Jr
OL	`74`	Michael Ondelacy	Jr
OL	`76`	Mark Goode	Jr
OL	`77`	Tyrese Black	Sr
OL	`78`	Quantavious Lesue	Jr
WR	`80`	Ze'Vian Capers	So
TE	`81`	Noah Meyers	Fr
WR	`82`	Denzil Alleyne	Jr
TE	`83`	Alex Williams	So
TE	`84`	Elvin Fofanah	Jr
WR	`85`	Tylon Webb	Fr
TE	`86`	Trevor Borland	Jr
TE	`87`	River Helms	So
TE	`88`	Aiden Miller	Fr
TE	`89`	Lofton Howard	Fr

Defense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
LB	`3`	JaQues Evans	Jr
DB	`4`	Anthony Johnson Jr.	Jr
DB	`5`	Rome Weber	Sr
DB	`6`	T.J. Springer	Jr
DB	`7`	Takulve Williams	Sr
LB	`10`	Desmyn Baker	Jr
DB	`11`	Talique Allen	So
LB	`12`	R.J. Evans	Jr
DT	`13`	Terrion Thompson	Jr
DB	`14`	Davion Williams	Sr
LB	`15`	Aaron Key	So
DB	`16`	Kendrick Simpkins	Jr
DB	`17`	Josh Shodipo	Sr
DB	`19`	Virgil Marshall	So
LB	`20`	Bryson Washington	Sr
DB	`21`	Upton Stout	So
DB	`22`	Darius Thomas	So
LB	`23`	Rashion Hodge	Jr
DB	`24`	Daniel Edwards Jr.	So
LB	`25`	Rickie Davis Jr.	So
DB	`26`	Amaari Smith	Fr
DB	`27`	Nazir Ward	Fr
DB	`28`	Ely George	So
DB	`29`	Joshua Mensah	So
DB	`30`	Xavier Shaw	So
LB	`31`	Anthony Brackenridge	So
LB	`32`	Kylan Guidry	Jr
LB	`33`	Eli Jones	Fr
LB	`34`	Koron Hayward	Fr
DL	`35`	Dallas Walker	So
DB	`36`	Chavaris Dumas	Fr
LB	`38`	Reginald Allen Jr.	Fr
DE	`40`	Reid Jamerson	Fr
DB	`41`	Alex Ford	Fr
LB	`42`	Trent Zappe	Fr
DB	`43`	Manny Moss	Fr
DT	`44`	Dareon Goodrum	Sr
LB	`45`	Nathan Griffin	So
LB	`48`	Niko Cooper	Sr
LB	`50`	Lonnie Rice	So
LB	`51`	Devon Lynch	Jr
LB	`59`	Sebastian Benjamin	Jr
DL	`88`	Ryan Williams	So
DT	`90`	Keaton Law	Fr
DE	`92`	Marcus Patterson	Fr
DL	`93`	Jalen Hand	Fr
DL	`94`	Jayden Loving	So
DE	`95`	Deante McCray	Fr
DL	`96`	Marquis Black	So
DL	`97`	Ki'Shawn Harvey	Fr
DT	`98`	Hosea Wheeler	So
DL	`99`	Kenyonte Davis	Sr

Special teams

Pos.	#	Name	Class
K	`17`	Lucas Carneiro	Fr
K	`39`	Antonio Chadha	Fr
K	`46`	Cory Munson	Sr
P	`47`	Tom Ellard	So
K	`49`	Nolan McCord	So
LS	`52`	Trey Naughton	Fr
P	`54`	Jared White	Fr
LS	`55`	Rex Robich	So

Head coach

Tyson Helton

Coordinators/assistant coaches

Drew Hollingshead (Co-Offensive coordinator / quarterbacks)
Zach Lankford (co-offensive coordinator / Offensive line)
Tyson Summers (Defensive coordinator)
Andy Larussa (special teams coordinator / tight ends)
Micheal Spurlock (wide receivers)
Carson Hall (defensive line)
Andre Crenshaw (running backs)
Da'Von Brown (defensive backs)
Davis Merritt (inside linebackers)
Jamar Chaney (outside linebackers)

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Redshirt

Roster

References

^ "Tops announce 2023 football schedule". The Daily News. January 10, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
^ Whaley, Will (January 10, 2023). "WKU announces 2023 football schedule". WBKO. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
^ Nations, Jeff (October 26, 2023). "Liberty's punishing ground game helps Flames pull away in second half". Bowling Green Daily News. pp. 1B, 3B.

[1] "Tops announce 2023 football schedule". The Daily News. January 10, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.

[2] Whaley, Will (January 10, 2023). "WKU announces 2023 football schedule". WBKO. Retrieved January 11, 2023.

[3] Nations, Jeff (October 26, 2023). "Liberty's punishing ground game helps Flames pull away in second half". Bowling Green Daily News. pp. 1B, 3B.

[1]

[2]

[3]

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football
Venues	Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium (1968–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Eastern Kentucky: Battle of the Bluegrass Middle Tennessee: 100 Miles of Hate Murray State: Battle for the Red Belt
Culture & lore	Big Red "Stand Up and Cheer"
People	Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders
Seasons	1913 1914 1915 1916 1917–1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943–1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
National championship seasons in bold