2011 Western Kentucky Football Predictions

Written by Steve Janus

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers finished 2010 just 2-10 overall, but cashed in their first two Sun Belt wins since joining the conference back in 2008. It was a successful first season for head coach Willie Taggart, who really stepped into a tough situation. With 15 starters back, Taggart and the Hilltoppers will look to avoid finishing out of the basement in the Sun Belt for the first time. Here is a closer look at what Western Kentucky will send to the field in 2011, plus my prediction on where they will finish the season in the SBC.

Offense:

The Hilltoppers will be led by junior quarterback Kawaun Jakes, who started all 12 games in 2010. Jakes didn’t exactly have a great sophomore season, completing only 51% of his passes for 1,680 yards with just 10 touchdowns to six interceptions. There was some talk that redshirt freshman Brandon Doughty would steal the starting job this season, but Jakes proved he was the better quarterback in spring practice. With the talent he has around him, I will call for a much better season from Jakes in 2011.

An improved passing game is just what the Hilltoppers need to really take off offensively, as they have one of the top running backs in the conference in senior Bobby Rainey. In 2010, Rainey led the Sun Belt with 1,649 yards and 15 touchdowns. With opposing defenses having to pay so much attention to stopping Rainey from running all over them, it should really open up the passing lanes for Jakes. Western Kentucky is also high on freshman running back Quartterrio Morgan, who is expected to become the top backup to Rainey this season.

Western Kentucky would have had their top two threats back in the passing game, but Willie McNeal was lost for the season in spring practice. They do bring back talented junior Marcus Vasquez, who had a team best 30 catches for 332 yards and three touchdowns in just seven starts last season. Sophomores Jamerielle Brown and Courtney Dalcourt are expected to make their way into the starting lineup, and the Hilltoppers need one of these youngsters to be a factor for the passing game to really take off this season.

On the offensive line the WKU will bring back one of the top tackles in the conference in senior left tackle Wes Jeffries, along with starting center Sean Conway and talented right guard Adam Smith. They do have to replace their starting right tackle and left guard, but overall it should be a solid unit.

Defense:

The Hilltoppers bring back eight starters to a defense that really made some nice progress in 2010. After giving up nearly 40 ppg in 2009, WKU held opposing offenses to 33.2 ppg in 2010. With all four starters back on the defensive line, I expect the defense to really be competitive this season. The defensive line is headlined by junior defensive tackles Jamarcus Allen and Kenny Martin, along with junior defensive end Quanterus Smith, who led the Hilltoppers with four sacks.

It’s a good thing the Hilltoppers bring back all that talent on the defensive line, as they will have to replace all three starters at linebacker, including 1st-Team middle linebacker Thomas Majors, who led WKU with 105 tackles and 13.5 tackles for loss in 2010. Junior C.J. Odom is the leading candidate to take over for Majors in the middle, while sophomore Xavius Boyd and senior Tenerio Davis are expected to start on the outside.

While Western Kentucky will be a bit weak in the middle of the field, they will have all four starters back in the secondary. Sophomore corners Tyree Robinson and Arius Wright really impressed me as freshmen, and Robinson has the making of a star player. Robinson and Wright will be backed by senior strong safety Ryan Beard and junior free safety Kareem Peterson. As a whole, this should be one of the top secondaries the Sun Belt has to offer.

2011 Prediction: 8th Sun Belt – The last couple years it has been easy to just peg the Hilltoppers in the bottom of the Sun Belt, but I actually had a hard time picking Western Kentucky to finish as low as 8th this season. I think this team will be able to beat Louisiana at home to avoid any chance of finishing in last, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they pulled off a couple upsets and flirted with a 4-4 finish in conference play. The only thing holding them back is most of their winnable games are on the road, as they have to face FIU, Troy, and Arkansas State at home.

Sun Belt Football Predictions by Team
Troy Football Predictions	Florida International Football Predictions
Arkansas State Football Predictions	Louisiana Monroe Football Predictions
Middle Tennessee State Football Predictions	North Texas Football Predictions
Western Kentucky Football Predictions	Louisiana Lafayette Football Predictions
Florida Atlantic Football Predictions

College Football Predictions
ACC Football Predictions	Big 12 Football Predictions
Conference USA Football Predictions	Independents Football Predictions
PAC 12 Football Predictions	SEC Football Predictions
Big East Football Predictions	Big Ten Football Predictions
MAC Football Predictions	Mountain West Football Predictions
Sun Belt Football Predictions	WAC Football Predictions

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