WKU Spring Preview; Remaining offense
We reviewed Western Kentucky’s Quarterback situation on Monday, today we continue with our spring preview leading up to the annual Red and White game of Saturday.
For the HillToppers they touted one of the trickiest offenses to predict last year in all of the NCAA. For WKU they return their leading rusher in Leon Allen. Allen has been absent from spring ball for a few weeks nursing an injury. Replacing him was Ace Wales. Wales who came out of the water works last year in the second half of the loss to UAB at L. T. Smith stadium in October. Allen however will be the feature back. Every season the Tops have a single back with a few backs taking snaps here and there giving the number one a few and far between week deserved breather. This year expect the same. Allen is coming off a year where he rushed for 1542 yards and 13 touchdowns in his Junior campaign. For the Toppers it will be important for the team to get Allen going and get him going early.
For the Wide Receiving corp it is around the same status it was last year, alive and well. The return of Antwane Grant and Jared Dangerfield among others and the addition of Necarius Fant, WKU is set to fly high. The receiving corp has never been in question. With the graduation of Willie McNeil the WR’s will be looking for a new leader. Fant, a Bowling Green native, was Mr. Football in the state of Kentucky in 2014 and is a three time state championship winner. Necarius didn’t see any playing time last season but is expected to receive valuable reps this coming season. Dangerfield was a Juco transfer last season and made a quick impact adding a large 6 foot 3 200 pound frame for Brandon Doughty to throw the rock to. Dangerfield had 69 receptions last year for 825 yards and 11 touchdowns as he became Doughty’s favorite target in the red zone. With the addition of Fant and the already towering presence of Dangerfield and Grant, this Tops receiving corps should be dialed in for a big year.
The Last group remaining is the Offensive line. The big men in years past haven’t received much love as Antonio Andrews, Leon Allen, and Brandon Doughty have stolen the show. However it wouldn’t have been possible for Andrews to rush for two thousand years, leon allen to scamper for 1500 and Doughty to throw for 4830. Two notable returning starters on the offensive line are Max Halpin at center, and Forrest Lamp and left tackle. The two were both part of the offensive lines that helped Andrews two years ago, and Doughty and Allen last season. One notable loss however is the loss of Cam Clemmons. Clemmons was the captain of the offensive line and anchored it when players went down with injury. Missing the size of a prototypical NFL lineman will be a blow to WKU.
Over all just like last season the offense isn’t the worry. Regaining the majority of the pieces of last years Bahamas Bowl championship winning team, the HillToppers look to be in good hands in 2015.
Return to BGD tomorrow, Thursday, and Friday as we preview the defensive line, linebackers, secondary, and finally the 2015 WKU Red and White Game.