AS WKU’s HEAD FOOTBALL COACH.
WKU OPENS THE SEASON AT HOME AGAINST SOUTH FLORIDA ON SEPTEMBER 2
Austin Reed took his turn on the field at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium and spent the majority of Western Kentucky University’s spring football game looking toward the future.
The Hilltoppers’ record-setting quarterback briefly entered the NCAA Transfer Portal after regular-season play in 2022, electing to return before guiding Western Kentucky to an impressive 44-23 victory in the New Orleans Bowl.
Western looks to improve on last year’s 9-5 finish, even with fifth-year WKU coach Tyson Helton’s revamped coaching staff and plenty of new faces on both sides of the ball.
Helton likes what he’s seen over the last month or so, with the Hilltoppers getting on the practice field twice each week with an eye cast toward a challenging 2023 schedule.
HIS WKU SQUAD AFTER THE SCRIMMAGE.
AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT
IN HIS FIRST SEASON WITH WESTERN.
“I thought we had a really good spring,” Helton said. “We saw what we needed to see. We got a lot of work in. I think we got a lot of young guys that needed to get reps and they got those reps during spring.
“We just have to build off that going into summer.”
Saturday’s spring game, with the offense-vs.-defense format, protective helmet wear and restricted contact guidelines, gave WKU fans a chance to get acquainted with a promising squad that will open the season at home against the University of South Florida on September 2.
The Hilltoppers will then have a non-conference game with FCS member Houston Christian University before making the program’s first trip to The Horseshoe to play national power Ohio State University on September 16 in Columbus, Ohio.
A HIGH-PROFILE GAME
AT OHIO STATE ON SEPTEMBER 16.
IS TYSON HELTON’s NEPHEW.
Reed, the 6-foot-2, 230-pound quarterback from St. Augustine, Florida, succeeded the New England Patriots’ Bailey Zappe as the Tops’ quarterback last season, after stops at Southern Illinois University and West Florida University in Pensacola, Florida. He completed 64.6 percent of his passes last year for 4,744 yards and 40 touchdowns with 11 interceptions.
Asked what he would have thought about playing against Ohio State, just two or three years ago, Reed laughed and said he’d been blessed with opportunities.
“It’s crazy … but it’s awesome, too,” Reed said. “It gives me perspective. The Lord has given me every opportunity … felt like it was a pretty good day for the room and for the offense overall.
“Obviously in a spring game, the offense is going to be so simplified and dumbed-down, and super dull. You know, we’re not going to show everything we got. But I felt overall we ran the base plays really well.”
IS BATTLING FOR THE BACKUP JOB AT QUARTERBACK.
OF HIS WKU OFFENSE TEAMMATES TAKE A BREAK.
The spring game was also a chance to showcase the Hilltoppers’ younger quarterbacks, including redshirt freshman Caden Veltkamp, who led South Warren High School to the KHSAA Class 5A state championship in 2021 before enrolling at WKU about 15 months ago.
Veltkamp and transfer quarterback Bronson Barren, who has played the last three seasons at FCS-level Weber State (Utah), appear to be battling for the backup job. Tyson Helton’s nephew, freshman QB Turner Helton, has also been in the quarterbacks room for the last month, along with Florida Atlantic transfer Willie Taggart, Jr., who will get a chance to play at his father’s alma mater.
All five quarterbacks led at least one scoring drive in Saturday’s scrimmage, with Taggart finding former Allen County-Scottsville standout Jax Cooper for a 14-yard touchdown pass early in the afternoon. Reed guided the Hilltoppers offense to two touchdowns in his five series on the field, hitting WKU teammates Michael Mathison and Calvin Smith for touchdowns before yielding to the backups.
“I felt like it was a pretty good day for the room and for the offense overall,” Reed said.
AT HOME AGAINST SOUTH FLORIDA.
The 6-foot-6 Veltkamp also had his moments, too. Another player to watch is running back Elijah Young, a transfer from Missouri.
“There’s a lot of weapons on this team,” Young said. “We trust each other, we’re moving forward. I love it here.”
It’s also home for Veltkamp, whose father, Jason Veltkamp, is the Tops’ strength and conditioning coach.
“I have to prepare like I’m the starter,” Veltkamp said. “The quarterbacks are really close, there’s good communication. We’ve just got to keep working.”
PLAYED NINE YEARS IN THE NFL …
COLLEGE CAREER AT MISSISSIPPI STATE IN THE MID-2000s.
Tyson Helton has compiled a 32-21 record in his four seasons at Western. The Hilltoppers will be playing in an entirely revamped Conference USA in five months or so, with five current C-USA squads on the way out — including Florida Atlantic, two-time defending league champion Texas-San Antonio and North Texas — while bringing on board the likes of Virginia’s Liberty University, Sam Houston State, Jacksonville State and New Mexico State.
So yeah, geographically, Conference USA is gonna be a little on the vast side.
Three time zones. Again.
“I’m excited about it,” Helton said. “It’s going to be competitive as all get-out. New Mexico State has a very good defense. Liberty brings a lot to the table. Sam Houston has won at the FCS level. Jacksonville State has had some very good teams.
“Our first four games (South Florida, Houston Christian, Ohio State and Troy) are going to be really tough.”
IS A FAMILIAR FACE AROUND THE HLLTOPPERS’ PROGRAM.
AND I WERE LARRY’s WKU TEAMMATES
DURING OUR FRESHMAN YEAR (1974-75).
IS LOOKING FOR A THREE-GAME SWEEP
OF FLORIDA ATLANTIC ON SUNDAY.
COULDN’T USE PIPER’s SPEED
AND MOVES IN THE OPEN FIELD …
ON HIS HANDS FOR THE 2023 FOOTBALL SEASON.