2021 Phil Steele Publications Preseason All-Conference USA Teams
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Phil Steele Publications announced its 2021 Preseason All-Conference USA Teams this week, and eight WKU Football players were among those named by the outlet. The Hilltoppers had three offensive players, three on defense and two specialists listed.
On the First Team is quarterback Bailey Zappe, who threw for 10,004 passing yards in four seasons with Houston Baptist. This offseason, Zappe transferred to WKU – along with his top three passing targets, wide receivers Ben Ratzlaff, Jerreth Sterns and Josh Sterns – and up-and-coming offensive coordinator Zach Kittley.
In the four games of the Huskies' fall 2020 schedule, Zappe completed 141-of-215 passes (65.6%) for 1,833 yards, with 15 touchdowns and only one interception. At 458.3 yards per game, Zappe's average led all of college football and ranked 101.3 yards above the leading FBS passer – Dillon Gabriel of UCF, who averaged 357 yards per game – in 2020.
Zappe averaged 484.3 pass yards in HBU's three games against FBS opponents: Texas Tech, North Texas and LA Tech.
Defensive end DeAngelo Malone is also a First Teamer. Last month, the senior from Atlanta, Ga., was the lone Hilltopper on the Athlon Sports Preseason All-CUSA First Team.
Senior safety Antwon Kincade was named to the Second Team. The Jacksonville, Fla., native enters his final season on The Hill with 226 career tackles – including 9.5 for loss – with three forced fumbles, three interceptions and 18 pass breakups.
Kicker Brayden Narveson, punter John Haggerty III, tight end Joshua Simon and Cole Spencer landed on the Third Team, while linebacker Will Ignont rounded out WKU's representatives as a Fourth Team selection.
The Hilltoppers' 2021 season is set to begin on Thursday, September 2, with kickoff against UT Martin at 7 p.m. CT.
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