FRISCO, Texas – WKU Football Head Coach Tyson Helton, running back Elijah Young, and defensive back Upton Stout will represent the Hilltoppers today at the Conference USA Kickoff & Media Day at the home of the PGA of America in Frisco, Texas.
In addition to traditional press conferences and media availability, all participants will also take part in a live ESPN+ show, hosted by ESPN's John Schriffen. WKU's segment on the show is scheduled to start at 11:25 a.m. CT and can be watched HERE.
WKU's press conference is scheduled to start at 10:55 a.m. CT. A recording of the press conference will be posted to the WKUSports YouTube Channel following its completion.
The Hilltoppers were selected second in the 2024 CUSA Football Media Predicted Order of Finish and five WKU Football players – Stout, Young, Hosea Wheeler, Quantavious Leslie, and Lucas Carneiro – were named to the CUSA Preseason Watch LIst. Carneiro was also named CUSA Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year.
CUSA Commissioner Judy MacLeod, as well as head coaches and players from each of the 10 CUSA programs, will be on hand at the CUSA Kickoff & Media Day to discuss and preview the upcoming 2024 football season. This marks the first formal event under the league's 2024 10-team configuration. CUSA welcomes Kennesaw State to its membership in 2024. The Owls join continuing members FIU, Jacksonville State, Liberty, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, New Mexico State, Sam Houston, UTEP, and WKU.
Helton is entering his sixth season at the helm of the Hilltopper program after producing a 40-26 mark, including 28-11 in CUSA play, and reaching five bowl games in his first five years, with victories in four of those bowl games.
Helton led his team to an 8-5 record and a fifth consecutive bowl game during the 2023 season. WKU became one of one of only 16 teams to play in a bowl game each of the last five seasons, and became one of only seven programs to win a bowl game in each of the last three years when Helton's Hilltoppers rallied from a 28-0 deficit to defeat Old Dominion 38-35 in overtime in the Famous Toastery Bowl. The win marked the fourth-largest comeback ever in a bowl game.
Despite missing five games due to injury in 2023, Stout still was a massive contributor on the Hilltopper defense. He finished the year with 29 total tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, an interception, five quarterback hurries, and eight pass breakups. His interception came in WKU's 52-22 victory over Houston Christian, and he returned the ball 53 yards for a touchdown during the play. He posted his second defensive touchdown of the season in the regular-season finale at FIU on Nov. 25 when he recovered a fumble and returned it 16 yards to the end zone.
Young appeared in all 13 of WKU's games last season – his first season with the program – and started 10 of those games. He led the team in rushing with 474 yards and three touchdowns on 104 attempts, and added 247 yards and three touchdowns on 20 receptions. Young posted a season-best 139 yards and two touchdowns – with a season-long 64-yard run – in WKU's Nov. 4 victory at UTEP, and carried the ball a season-high 15 times during the Hilltoppers' win over Sam Houston on Nov. 18. Young had a season-high 84 yards receiving against New Mexico State on Nov. 11, and recorded a touchdown reception in that game. He also had touchdown receptions against Liberty on Oct. 24 and against Old Dominion in the Famous Toastery Bowl on Dec. 18.
WKU will kick off the 2024 season with a 6 p.m. CT game at Alabama on Saturday, Aug. 31. The Hilltoppers will host Eastern Kentucky for their home opener on Saturday, Sept. 7, at 6 p.m. CT, and will open CUSA play the following week with a 6 p.m. CT game at Middle Tennessee on Saturday, Sept. 14. The full WKU Football 2024 schedule can be found HERE.
For all the latest on WKU Football, follow @WKUFootball on Twitter and Instagram, and like the WKU Football Facebook page.
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