Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
9-4 2025 record (6-2 conf)
Win total (O -220)
40% Returning starter games
53rd Hardest path of 138
Coaching
All coachesTyson Helton Head Coach · 8th year
57–36 Career · 8 seasons, all at WKU
Air Raid Offense
3-3-5 Defense
Returning production
| Unit | Ret games | Games | Depth | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skill offense | 33% | 26 / 78 | 6 / 16 | 36% |
| Offensive line | 21% | 13 / 63 | 2 / 13 | 14% |
| Defensive front | 58% | 51 / 88 | 12 / 22 | 36% |
| Secondary | 41% | 26 / 63 | 6 / 15 | 43% |
Back 27
Gone 42
New 17
Ajay Allen RB · 595 yds · 12g · from TLSA 
Qua'Vez Humphreys WR · 132 yds · 12g · from SHSU 
Zion Taylor WR · 129 yds · 13g · from GT 
Kalib Hicks RB · 128 yds · 7g · from OKST 
Brock Glenn QB · 112 yds · 4g · from FSU 
Tai Ray OL · 12g · from PITT 2025 Percentile vs FBS
Offense
Points per game 29.5 64
Explosive play rate 11.9% 67
Red zone TD rate 73.8% 73
Line yards per carry 2.4 43
Sack rate allowed 4.8% 75
Defense
Points allowed per game 22.8 64
Explosive rate allowed 10.7% 57
Red zone score rate allowed 85.7% 35
Line yards per carry allowed 2.5 48
Sack rate 3.6% 7
2025 Margin by Game
SHSU
UNA
TOL
NEV
MOSU
DEL
FIU
LT
NMSU
MTU
LSU
JVST
USM
2026 schedule
53rd-hardest path in FBS · 2 title-contender games · 7 road| W1 | Sun 2:30 AM | @ |  Nevada | 3-9 | 29 | L 14-49 | CBS Sports Network |
| W2 | Sat 4:45 PM | @ |  Georgia | 12-2 | 83 | L 20-70 | SEC Network |
| W3 | Sat 8:00 PM | @ |  Indiana | 16-0 | 84 | L 0-38 | Peacock |
| W4 | Sat 11:00 PM | vs | Mercyhurst Lakers | 8 | W 52-7 | ESPN+ | |
| W5 | Fri 12:00 AM | @ |  New Mexico State | 4-8 | 26 | L 13-34 | CBS Sports Network |
| W6 | Thu 11:00 PM | vs |  Missouri State | 7-6 | 32 | W 34-13 | CBS Sports Network |
| W7 | Thu 12:00 AM | @ |  Sam Houston | 2-10 | 23 | W 16-3 | ESPN |
| W9 | Tue 11:00 PM | vs |  Delaware | 7-6 | 31 | CBS Sports Network | |
| W10 | Sat 8:30 PM | @ |  Middle Tennessee | 3-9 | 25 | ESPN Networks | |
| W11 | Sat 8:30 PM | vs |  Jacksonville State | 9-5 | 33 | ESPN Networks | |
| W12 | Sat 6:00 PM | @ |  Liberty | 4-8 | 33 | ESPN Networks | |
| W13 | Sat 6:00 PM | vs |  Kennesaw State | 10-4 | 41 | ESPN Networks |
Depth chart
Confirmed unavailable players omitted · backups promoted Transfer First year| Starter | 2nd | 3rd | |
|---|---|---|---|
| QB |  Rodney Tisdale Jr. SO · #5 | Brock Glenn JR · #11 |  Caleb McMickle JR · #10 |
| RB | Ajay Allen SR · #3 | Le'Kamren Meadows FR · #22 |  Jaden McGill SR · #25 |
| WR-X |  Quincy Burroughs SR · #12 |  Moussa Barry SR · #8 | |
| WR-Z | Jonathan Stafford Jr. FR · #80 | Zion Taylor JR · #17 | |
| WR-SL | Qua'Vez Humphreys SR · #7 |  Cameron Flowers SO · #4 | |
| TE |  CC Ezirim SR · #14 |  Lofton Howard JR · #19 |  Coleson Arends JR · #87 |
| LT |  Alex Lopez FR · #59 |  Brody Riffe JR · #75 | |
| LG | Nonso Omezi SR · #73 |  Roq Montgomery JR · #55 |  Isiah Stoudemire FR · #52 |
| C |  Alec Johnson SR · #50 |  Tyreek Major SO · #78 | |
| RG |  Rhett Larson SR · #70 |  Max Thurston SO · #76 | |
| RT | Tai Ray JR · #67 | Rhett Larson SR · #70 |
Roster 108
| # | Player | Pos | Class | Ht | Wt | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Mackavelli Malotumau | DT | GR | 6'1" | 295 | Oceanside, CA |
| 2 |  K.D. Hutchinson | WR | SR | 5'8" | 185 | Valley, AL |
| 2 | Tony Newsome Jr. | DB | SR | 5'11" | 185 | Apopka, FL |
| 3 | Ajay Allen | RB | SR | 5'11" | 200 | Monroe, LA |
| 3 | Christian White | DB | SR | 5'11" | 185 | Ellenwood, GA |
| 4 | Cameron Flowers | WR | SO | 5'11" | 190 | Warner Robins, GA |
| 5 | Rodney Tisdale Jr. | QB | SO | 6'2" | 195 | Jacksonville, FL |
| 5 |  Dave Herard | DB | SR | 6'0" | 204 | Fort Lauderdale, FL |
| 6 |  Justin Brown | DB | JR | 6'0" | 195 | Murfreesboro, TN |
| 7 |  Jaylen Lewis | DB | SR | 5'11" | 187 | Brownsville, TN |
| 7 | Qua'Vez Humphreys | WR | SR | 6'3" | 225 | Junction City, KS |
| 8 | Moussa Barry | WR | SR | 6'2" | 195 | Norcross, GA |
| 8 | D'Cambren Verrett | DB | JR | 6'2" | 205 | Houston, TX |
| 9 | Kalib Hicks | RB | JR | 5'11" | 220 | Denton, TX |
| 10 | Caleb McMickle | QB | JR | 6'2" | 194 | Roswell, GA |
| 10 |  Tutu Griffin | DB | SO | 6'0" | 190 | Vero Beach, FL |
| 11 |  Canyon Moses | DB | JR | 5'10" | 198 | Midland, TX |
| 11 | Brock Glenn | QB | JR | 6'2" | 225 | Covington, TN |
| 12 |  BJ Carey | DB | SR | 6'0" | 200 | Downey, CA |
| 12 | Quincy Burroughs | WR | SR | 6'1" | 210 | Jacksonville, FL |
| 13 |  Jyziah Rockwell | WR | SR | 6'2" | 200 | Gilmer, TX |
| 13 |  LaTrevion Thompson | DE | SR | 6'3" | 248 | Kennett, MO |
| 14 | CC Ezirim | TE | SR | 6'7" | 250 | Dublin, OH |
| 14 |  Braxton Myers | DB | JR | 6'1" | 203 | Coppell, TX |
| 15 |  Garrison Madden | LB | SR | 6'3" | 235 | Hampton, GA |
| 15 | Cam O'Hara | QB | FR | 6'2" | 210 | Florence, KY |
| 16 |  Darius Hampton | DE | SR | 6'3" | 238 | Del City, OK |
| 17 |  Zsacari Minnis | DE | SO | 6'3" | 238 | Eustis, FL |
| 17 | Zion Taylor | WR | JR | 6'0" | 210 | Norcross, GA |
| 18 | Devin Hamilton | WR | FR | 6'4" | 210 | Dacula, GA |
| 18 |  Geajorm Akpaloo | LB | JR | 6'1" | 230 | Warrenton, VA |
| 19 | Lofton Howard | TE | JR | 6'4" | 235 | Bowling Green, KY |
| 19 |  Jacob Cosby-Mosley | DB | SO | 5'11" | 200 | West Palm Beach, FL |
| 20 |  Zach Smith | LB | SO | 6'0" | 224 | Red Oak, TX |
| 21 | Jaylen Wester | LB | GR | 6'0" | 228 | Palmetto, FL |
| 21 |  Nigel Johnson | WR | SR | 6'4" | 210 | Sumter, SC |
| 22 | Le'Kamren Meadows | RB | FR | 6'0" | 215 | Moody, AL |
| 22 |  Jordan Donald | LB | SO | 6'2" | 224 | Perry, GA |
| 23 | PJ Souffrant | DB | FR | 5'10" | 180 | West Palm Beach, FL |
| 23 |  Sincere Baines | RB | SR | 5'9" | 195 | Fayetteville, NC |
| 24 |  Lataj Wright | DB | SR | 5'10" | 185 | West Palm Beach, FL |
| 24 |  Fonzy Smith | WR | FR | 6'1" | 185 | Fayetteville, NC |
| 25 | Jaden McGill | RB | SR | 6'0" | 210 | Chicago, IL |
| 26 | Leonzay Merzius | DB | FR | 5'10" | 175 | Pompano Beach, FL |
| 27 |  Jordan Bergeron | DB | FR | 6'1" | 185 | Naples, FL |
| 29 |  Adrion Boyd | RB | JR | 5'7" | 185 | Fontana, CA |
| 29 |  Joshua Mensah | LB | SR | 6'1" | 218 | Riverdale, GA |
| 30 | Taron Essex | DB | FR | 6'3" | 210 | Decatur, GA |
| 31 | Walter Manning | DB | SO | 5'11" | 185 | Pembroke Pines, FL |
| 32 | Westen Ard | LB | FR | 6'1" | 235 | Warner Robins, GA |
| 33 |  Zeiqui Lawton | DT | SR | 6'2" | 290 | Charleston, WV |
| 33 |  Michael Smith | K | SO | 5'6" | 172 | Tallahassee, FL |
| 34 | Makhi Brazier | LB | FR | 6'1" | 225 | Loganville, GA |
| 35 |  Elijah Rumph | LB | FR | 6'0" | 220 | Eden Prairie, MN |
| 35 | Daniel Wall | P | FR | 6'1" | 190 | Brighton East,, AUS |
| 36 |  Khrystian Washington | DB | JR | 6'0" | 182 | Louisville, KY |
| 38 | Alan Gbee | DB | JR | 6'0" | 195 | Leesburg, VA |
| 39 | Jaylen Pollard | DB | FR | 5'11" | 208 | Brentwood, TN |
| 40 | Carson Perusse | LS | JR | 5'11" | 213 | Wellington, FL |
| 41 |  Brandon Thomas | DE | FR | 6'4" | 224 | Miami, FL |
| 43 |  Jackson Smith | K/P | SR | 5'10" | 215 | Danville, KY |
| 44 |  Kai Micatrotto | LB | FR | 5'11" | 238 | Las Vegas, NV |
| 44 |  Griffin Reimer | TE | SO | 6'3" | 245 | Matthews, NC |
| 45 |  Josaiah Knight | DE | SO | 6'3" | 238 | Tallahassee, FL |
| 49 | Nolan Imhoff | LS | JR | 5'11" | 233 | Frederic, WI |
| 50 | Elin Jones | DE | SR | 6'4" | 248 | Dacula, GA |
| 50 | Alec Johnson | OL | SR | 6'1" | 295 | Columbia, SC |
| 51 | Zayden Walters | DT | FR | 6'3" | 320 | Lawrenceville, GA |
| 52 | Isiah Stoudemire | OL | FR | 6'3" | 312 | Dayton, OH |
| 52 |  Jakeem Fletcher | DT | SR | 6'2" | 315 | Tanner, AL |
| 53 | Elijah Peake | DT | FR | 6'1" | 325 | Wetumpka, AL |
| 54 |  Sekou Peters | DT | FR | 6'2" | 300 | Atlanta, GA |
| 55 |  Venson Sneed | DE | SR | 6'4" | 268 | Wabasso, FL |
| 55 | Roq Montgomery | OL | JR | 6'3" | 365 | Anniston, AL |
| 56 |  Kiawan Murphy | DT | SR | 6'2" | 320 | East Hartford, CT |
| 56 | Tyrell Scott | OL | FR | 6'3" | 295 | Cincinnati, OH |
| 57 | Isaac Tanis | DE | FR | 6'2" | 228 | Hollywood, FL |
| 58 |  Michael Buck | K | SO | 5'10" | 177 | Mooresville, NC |
| 59 | Zaqq Strange | DE | FR | 6'4" | 244 | Philadelphia, PA |
| 59 | Alex Lopez | OL | FR | 6'7" | 310 | Cleveland, MS |
| 64 |  Jackson Dialls | OL | FR | 6'4" | 310 | Lexington, KY |
| 67 | Tai Ray | OL | JR | 6'7" | 330 | Apopka, FL |
| 69 | Jordan Curll | OL | FR | 6'4" | 280 | Franklin, TN |
| 70 | Rhett Larson | OL | SR | 6'4" | 315 | College Station, TX |
| 72 |  Zach Clayton | OL | JR | 6'5" | 320 | Senoia, GA |
| 73 | Nonso Omezi | OL | SR | 6'5" | 340 | Houston, TX |
| 74 |  Karsten Upchurch | OL | SR | 6'5" | 295 | Starkville, MS |
| 75 | Brody Riffe | OL | JR | 6'8" | 315 | Ocoee, FL |
| 76 | Max Thurston | OL | SO | 6'5" | 300 | Monroe, GA |
| 77 | Jamier Smith | OL | FR | 6'3" | 298 | Riverdale, GA |
| 78 | Tyreek Major | OL | SO | 6'5" | 325 | Tampa, FL |
| 79 | Asa Holbert | OL | FR | 6'6" | 290 | Centre, AL |
| 80 | Jonathan Stafford Jr. | WR | FR | 5'9" | 185 | Auburn, GA |
| 81 | Arlando Crafton Jr. | TE | FR | 6'4" | 240 | Atlanta, GA |
| 82 | Tre'von McGory | WR | FR | 5'11" | 175 | Memphis, TN |
| 84 | Jeremiah Carroll | WR | SR | 6'0" | 180 | Atlanta, GA |
| 86 | Eli Wilt | TE | FR | 6'6" | 250 | Nashville, TN |
| 87 | Coleson Arends | TE | JR | 6'4" | 245 | Phoenix, AZ |
| 88 |  Aiden Miller | TE | JR | 6'3" | 235 | Glasgow, KY |
| 89 |  Cross Nimmo | TE | FR | 6'5" | 250 | Mentor, OH |
| 90 | Bryce Fulda | DE | FR | 6'4" | 244 | Bradenton, FL |
| 91 | CeeJay Embry | DT | FR | 6'1" | 280 | Pahokee, FL |
| 92 |  Javin Griffin | DT | SR | 6'2" | 320 | St. Martinville, LA |
| 93 | Rylen Su'a-Filo | DT | GR | 6'1" | 320 | Orem, UT |
| 94 | Henry Smith | DE | FR | 6'3" | 254 | Moody, AL |
| 98 | Nathan Gonzales | DE | SR | 6'4" | 248 | Bell Gardens, CA |
| 99 | Karl Campbell | K | FR | 6'5" | 225 | Magherafelt,, IRL |
| 99 |  Eric Etienne | DT | SO | 6'1" | 305 | Miami, FL |