Austin Reed, Western Kentucky Football News: Draft Scout Player News

08/27/22 - QB Austin Reed, rSr/2024, Western Kentucky

An influx of transfers last year - nearly a quarter of the roster was transfers - helped lead the offense to second nationally in scoring and yards per game - and first in passing yards - but many key players need replaced. That starts with Bailey Zappe, who set single-season FBS records for passing yards and passing touchdowns in his one year with the program, and Jerreth Sterns, who led the country in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, as well as WKU's second-leading receiver, Mitchell Tinsley. West Florida transfer Austin Reed will start at quarterback, and WKU still has a deep receiving room with players like Daewood Davis, Malachi Corley, Dalvin Smith and Craig Burt returning, and transfers like Jaylen Hall and Michael Mathison joining the team.

Joey Beljan and Josh Simon - who missed almost all of 2021 with a knee injury - are back at tight end, but the Hilltoppers only return two starters on the offensive line. The top two rushers from 2021 have departed, and WKU will look to experienced players like Jakairi Moses and Kye Robichaux, as well as Indiana transfer Davion Ervin-Poindexter, to help replace that production lost. "Of course everybody knows we were really, really good on offense last year," Arbuckle said at media day. "Some pieces left and a lot of turnover and stuff, but I'm really excited about the guys we have in here, players-wise and the coaching staff we have. Coach Helton's done a great job of assembling a staff that works together, a lot of continuity and, frankly, we're going to try to put our guys in the best position to be successful and score enough points to win the game, whatever that may be." - BG Daily News

rSr/2024