BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Football had five players named to the 2026 Kentucky Collegiate All-Commonwealth Team, the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame announced Thursday.
The Hilltoppers are represented by wide receiver K.D. Hutchinson, quarterback Rodney Tisdale Jr., offensive lineman Karsten Upchurch and safeties Jaylen Lewis and Dave Herard.
The All-Commonwealth Team serves as a preseason recognition for Kentucky's top college football performers on the field and in the classroom and values leadership ability and dedication to the team in addition to gridiron glory.
"We're excited to honor these outstanding young men from the 17 Kentucky colleges and universities that play football," said Frank Minnifield, Executive Director of the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame. "They lead their teams on the field and in the classroom, and they are future leaders in communities across Kentucky and beyond."
Hutchinson enters his fifth season with the program and has been one of WKU's top receiving targets during his time on The Hill. In 2025, Hutchinson was an All-Conference USA Honorable Mention selection, and received Phil Steele CUSA All-Conference Third Team honors. He led the Hilltoppers in receptions last season with 66, recording 618 yards and three touchdowns on those 66 catches, and added 88 yards and a pair of scores on 13 rushing attempts.
Tisdale started WKU's final six games of the 2025 season at quarterback. He threw for 1,432 yards and nine touchdowns on 139-212-7 passing, and added 108 yards and two touchdowns rushing. Tisdale was named the 2025 CUSA Freshman of the Year, made the CUSA All-Freshman Team, was twice named the CUSA Freshman of the Week and was the Manning Star of the Week once.
Upchurch started the final 11 games of the 2025 season for WKU at right tackle, helping the Hilltoppers to the top offense in CUSA at 29.54 points per game.
Lewis started all 13 games for the Hilltoppers in his first season with the program after transferring from Temple. He posted 74 total tackles – tied for second-most on the team – with 3.5 tackles for loss, a team-high three interceptions, five pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Lewis was a 2025 All-CUSA Honorable Mention selection, and received CUSA All-Conference Fourth Team honors from Phil Steele.
Herard moved into a starting safety role in the second game of the 2025 season. He finished last year fourth on the team in tackles with 58, including three for loss. He added four pass breakups and a fumble recovery.
WKU is coming off a 9-4 season in 2025, which included a 27-16 victory over Southern Miss in the 2025 New Orleans Bowl – the seventh consecutive season with a bowl appearance and fifth bowl win for the Hilltoppers in seven seasons under Head Coach Tyson Helton.
The Hilltoppers will open the 2026 season at Nevada on Saturday, Sept. 5. The full revised 2026 WKU Football schedule can be found HERE.
WKU Football 2026 season tickets are on sale now! Season tickets start as low as $50, and there are several options for different season ticket levels. For more information or to purchase 2026 WKU Football season tickets, click HERE. Are you interested in purchasing 2026 WKU Football tickets but don't know where to start? Fill out this form and a member of the WKU Ticket Office will be in touch soon! All season tickets require an HAF donation.
For all the latest on WKU Football, follow @WKUFootball on X and Instagram, and like the WKU Football Facebook page.
Western Kentucky University Athletics
- Champions Climb Here
- WKU Athletics
- Athletic Director
- Academic Services
- Annual Report
- Athletic Communications
- Athletic Hall of Fame
- Athletic Training
- Big Red
- CLIMB Program - NIL
- Compliance
- Facilities
- Financial Reports
- For Students
- Student Employment
- Forms/Requests
- Book Big Red
- Donation Requests
- Site Feedback
- For Fans
- Hilltopper Highlights
- Gameday Promotions
- Alumni Tailgates
- Big Red's Rascals
- Basketball Gameday
- Football Gameday
- Mobile Tickets
- Travel Center
- Tickets
- Give
