BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — With a number of projected starters recovering from postseason surgeries this spring, a young crop of WKU Hilltoppers have found themselves amongst the rest of the starters through the first four weeks of practice.
For second-year head coach Mike Sanford, this is a valuable time for his team's future contributors and stars to emerge and provide immediate depth as early as August 31 when the Hilltoppers kick off the 2018 season at Wisconsin.
"It's going to be nice to get (the starters) back, but on the flipside, we have gotten so many guys reps who, quite frankly, wouldn't have gotten any had it not been for the surgeries," Sanford said. "You're developing a lot of depth. Last spring, Devon Key got a majority of the reps [at safety] because Marcus Ward was coming back from injury and look what happened to his season. It's hard to evaluate where we are because we are missing a lion's share of our starters on defense but I like the progress we're making."
As they have done each of the past three weeks, WKU closed out the week with a small sided scrimmage took a lighter approach on Friday after an extended scrimmage on the grass practice fields on Thursday.
"We got a really good practice in last night so today was going to be a lighter scrimmage. It was a good opportunity for our two younger quarterbacks [to get snaps]. Drew Eckels had a death in the family, and we wanted him to be with his family. So, it was a great opportunity for Davis and Steve to get some reps with the ones. You like to see that and see how guys respond and evaluate it."
Another young Hilltopper ready to step into the spotlight this season earned additional praise in former walk-on linebacker Ben Holt. With the departure of Joel Iyiegbuniwe to the NFL, Holt is expected to step in as a starter in his junior season.
"Every time on film when you watch him, if gets blocked he's immediately calling up a flag, saying it's holding. He's mad. He's angry. He makes so many plays in practice. The rare opportunity we do truly get our hands on him and sustain the block, he's irate. And that's what you want, and that's what I told the team."
The Hilltoppers have just two practices remaining before Saturday, April 21st for the annual Red vs. White Scrimmage, set for 2 p.m. from Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium. Admission and parking is free.
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