Both Lindy’s and Street & Smith’s have the Hilltoppers ranked 10th in their preseason polls, while Antonio Thomas was chosen by both publications as the preseason Gateway Football Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
Numerous Toppers have also been recognized by The Sports Network in the organization’s annual preseason ranking of the top returning players in NCAA Division I-AA football. Thomas was the top ranked cornerback and Losey was ranked second among the top five returning centers, with three other WKU players making TSN’s top 20 returning players — Lerron Moore was 11th at running back, Brandon Smith was 18th at linebacker and Justin Haddix 19th among the top 20 quarterbacks.
Additionally, the organization rated Moore, Brian Porter and Stephen Willis as the second-best running back tandem, and Chris Jackson was considered one of five Division I-A transfers of impact at wide receiver.
The Hilltoppers are coming off a 9-3 campaign that saw Western earn its fifth consecutive NCAA I-AA playoff appearance while finishing 11th in the final national polls. WKU was 6-1 in Gateway play, finishing second.
