WKU Football: Roster Update Takeaways

After an offseason of coronavirus disruption and greatly reduced buzz leading into the 2020 season, WKU Football finally updated its 2020…

Aug 19, 2020

After an offseason of coronavirus disruption and greatly reduced buzz leading into the 2020 season, WKU Football finally updated its 2020 roster to reflect this year’s team that is set to take the field for the first time on September 12th against Louisville. With practice now underway let's take a quick look at the 2020 Hilltoppers.

Here’s the updated roster:

1 Tyrrell Pigrome QB 5–10 210 Gr. Birmingham, Ala. Clay-Chalkville HS/Maryland
2 Devon Key DB 6–1 210 R-Sr. Lexington, Ky. Bryan Station HS
2 Jacquez Sloan WR 5–9 165 Sr. Atlanta, Ga. Grady HS
3 Jakairi Moses RB 5–9 195 R-Jr. Palm Beach, Fla. William T. Dwyer HS
3 Lichon Terrell DT 6–1 285 R-So. Hogansville, Ga. Callaway HS
4 John Blunt, Jr. DB 6–1 185 R-So. Arlington, Texas Mansfield Timberview HS/Cisco College
4 Mitchell Tinsley WR 6–1 185 Jr. Lee’s Summit, Mo. Lee’s Summit HS/Hutchinson CC
5 Nick Days LB 6–3 220 R-So. Miami, Fla. North Miami HS/Independence CC
5 Gaej Walker RB 6–0 195 R-Sr. Tampa, Fla. East Bay HS
6 Joshua Simon TE 6–5 235 So. Dalzell, S.C. Crestwood HS
6 T.J. Springer DB 6–1 180 R-Fr. Nashville, Tenn. Maplewood HS
7 Trae Meadows DB 6–1 190 R-Sr. Greensboro, N.C. Dudley HS/NC State/Garden City CC
7 Jahcour Pearson WR 5–9 180 R-Sr. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Flanagan HS
8 Malik Occiur DB 6–1 205 R-So. Oakland Park, Fla. Northeast HS
8 Kevaris Thomas QB 6–4 250 R-So. Lakeland, Fla. Lakeland HS
9 Dominique Bradshaw DB 6–0 180 R-Jr. Dallas, Texas Cedar Hill HS/Navarro College
9 Xavier Lane WR 6–4 200 R-Sr. Montgomery, Ala. Carver HS
10 DeAngelo Malone DE 6–4 230 Sr. Atlanta, Ga. Cedar Grove HS
10 Malik Staples RB 6–1 225 R-Sr. Lawrenceville, Ga. Peachtree Ridge HS/Louisville
11 Craig Burt, Jr. WR 6–4 190 Jr. Columbus, Ohio Centennial HS/Hutchinson CC
11 Jaden Hunter DE 6–2 230 R-Jr. Atlanta, Ga. Westlake HS/Georgia
12 A.J. Brathwaite, Jr. DB 6–0 190 R-So. Miami, Fla. Central HS
12 Davis Shanley QB 6–1 190 R-Jr. Duluth, Ga. South Forsyth HS
13 Garland LaFrance DB 5–10 175 Jr. New Orleans, La. St. Augustine HS
13 Darius Ocean QB 6–0 195 Fr. Cornelius, N.C. Hough HS
14 Stephone Atkinson DE 6–3 225 R-Fr. Lake Minneola, Fla. Lake Minneola HS
15 Dezmion Roberson LB 6–2 200 Fr. Elba, Ala. Elba HS
15 Dakota Thomas WR 6–1 180 Fr. Snellville, Ga. Shiloh HS
16 Grady Robison QB 6–1 190 Fr. Sammamich, Wash. Eastlake HS
16 Kendrick Simpkins DB 6–0 195 Fr. Montgomery, Ala. Robert E. Lee HS
17 Travis Collier DB 6–1 190 Fr. Douglasville, Ga. Douglas County HS
17 Dalvin Smith TE 6–3 195 R-Fr. Glasgow, Ky. Glasgow HS
18 Talique Allen DB 6–1 200 Fr. Fort Valley, Ga. Peach County HS
18 Tyler Smith WR 6–0 185 R-Fr. Ellenwood, Ga. Salem HS
19 C.J. Marria DE 6–4 250 R-Jr. Jonesboro, Ga. Jonesboro HS
19 Dayton Wade WR 5–10 170 So. Atlanta, Ga. Lovejoy HS
20 Devon Wharton DE 6–3 220 R-Sr. Hopkinsville, Ky. Christian County HS
20 Noah Whittington RB 5–10 195 Fr. Fort Valley, Ga. Peach County HS
21 Jeremiah Fails WR 5–11 180 R-Fr. Orlando, Fla. Ocoee HS
22 Cardavion Myers DB 5–11 175 R-So. Piedmont, Ala. Piedmont HS
23 Malachi Corley WR 6–0 190 Fr. Campbellsville, Ky. Campbellsville HS
23 B.J. Crim DB 6–1 205 R-So. Ocala, Fla. Vanguard HS
24 Roger Cray DB 5–9 170 Sr. Lake City, Fla. Columbia HS
25 Bryson Washington LB 6–0 225 R-So. Louisville, Ky. Pleasure Ridge Park HS
26 Dionté Ruffin DB 5–11 185 Sr. Kenner, La. Paulding County HS (Ga.)
27 Omari Alexander DB 5–10 180 R-Sr. Louisville, Ky. duPont Manual HS/Eastern Kentucky
28 Demetrius Cain DE 6–0 230 R-Sr. Princeton, Ky. Caldwell County HS
29 Beanie Bishop DB 5–10 170 R-So. Louisville, Ky. Pleasure Ridge Park HS
30 Clay Davis LB 6–2 230 R-Sr. Louisville, Ky. Christian Academy/Tennessee Tech
31 Antwon Kincade DB 5–11 195 Sr. Jacksonville, Fla. Valdosta HS (Ga.)
32 Eli Brown LB 6–2 220 Gr. Bowling Green, Ky. Warren East HS/Kentucky
33 Mario Wright LB 6–1 225 R-So. Chicago, Ill. Homewood-Flossmoor HS
34 Juwuan Jones DE 6–3 270 R-Jr. Sugar Hill, Ga. Lanier HS
35 Will Ignont LB 6–1 225 R-Jr. Huntsville, Ala. Buckhorn HS/Tennessee
35 KeShawn McClendon RB 5–11 200 R-Jr. Clarksville, Tenn. Rossview HS
36 Kyle Bailey LB 6–0 225 Sr. Carrollton, Ga. Bremen HS
36 Aaron Key LB 6–1 220 Fr. Tucker, Ga. Tucker HS
37 Tomi Mustapha WR 6–0 190 Fr. Bowling Green, Ky. South Warren HS
38 Desmond Johnson DB 6–0 185 R-Fr. Valdosta, Ga. Valdosta HS
39 Devvan Darden DB 5–11 180 Fr. Hendersonville, Tenn. Pope John Paul II HS
40 Chase Tidmore K 5–9 175 Fr. Franklin, Tenn. Page HS
42 Jacob Humes DB 5–11 180 R-So. Nicholasville, Ky. West Jessamine HS
43 Drake Alsup WR 6–0 180 Fr. Cross Plains, Tenn. East Robertson HS
43 Barry Wagner, Jr. DB 6–0 200 Fr. Orlando, Fla. Orlando Christian Prep
44 Brayden Narveson K 6–1 195 R-So. Scottsdale, Ariz. Desert Mountain HS/Iowa State
44 David Ndukwe DT 6–6 280 Fr. Lithonia, Ga. Arabia Mountain HS
45 Anthony Polite DB 5–11 190 R-Sr. Elizabethtown, Ky. John Hardin HS
46 Cory Munson K 6–3 185 So. Warner Robins, Ga. Northside HS
47 John Haggerty P 6–5 230 Sr. Sydney, Australia Western Suburbs
48 Steven Witchoskey TE 6–2 245 Sr. Plant City, Fla. Durant HS
49 DeMarquez Trotter DB 5–10 185 R-Jr. Nashville, Tenn. East Nashville Magnet HS/Indiana State
50 Ricky Barber DT 6–3 295 R-Fr. Louisville, Ky. Doss HS
50 Wesley Horton OL 6–3 250 Fr. Atlanta, Ga. North Atlanta HS
51 Rusty Staats OL 6–4 315 R-So. Watertown, Tenn. Watertown HS/Navy Prep
52 Damon Lowe, Jr. LB 6–1 230 R-Sr. Louisville, Ky. Trinity HS/Eastern Kentucky
53 Jeremy Darvin DT 6–1 305 R-Sr. Nashville, Tenn. Father Ryan HS
54 Matt Baldeck LS 6–0 220 R-Jr. Lewiston, Idaho Lewiston HS/Michigan
55 Daylen Powell OL 6–4 285 R-Fr. Hendersonville, Tenn. Summerville HS (S.C.)
55 Dante Walker DE 6–2 250 R-Fr. Riverdale, Ga. Cedar Grove HS
59 Jake Bowman LS 6–0 220 Fr. Nashville, Tenn. Lipscomb Academy
60 Bryce Chandler DT 6–2 290 R-Jr. Morganfield, Ky. Union County HS
61 Jordan Meredith OL 6–3 300 R-Sr. Bowling Green, Ky. Bowling Green HS
64 Bryson Canada OL 6–4 290 R-Jr. Lexington, Ky. Henry Clay HS
65 Jack Randolph OL 6–3 285 R-Fr. Franklin, Ky. Franklin-Simpson HS
67 Seth Joest OL 6–3 295 R-Sr. Versailles, Ky. Woodford County HS
68 Colt Jackson OL 6–3 280 Fr. Bowling Green, Ky. South Warren HS
69 Devante Colton DE 6–1 250 R-Sr. Bowling Green, Ky. South Warren HS
70 Cole Spencer OL 6–4 290 R-Jr. Louisville, Ky. Trinity HS
71 Stone Roston OL 6–3 300 Fr. Brentwood, Tenn. Brentwood HS
73 Wes Dorsey OL 6–7 265 R-Fr. Knoxville, Tenn. Grace Christian Academy
74 Tyler Witt OL 6–2 310 R-Sr. Joliet, Ill. Joliet Catholic HS
75 Gunner Britton OL 6–6 290 R-So. Conway, S.C. Conway HS
76 Mark Goode OL 6–6 270 Fr. Hodgenville, Ky. LaRue County HS
77 Mason Brooks OL 6–6 295 Jr. Cedar Park, Texas Cedar Park HS
78 Quantavious Leslie OL 6–3 300 Fr. Rome, Ga. Rome HS
80 Spencer Owens TE 6–4 250 R-Jr. Fullerton, Calif. Lakewood HS/Fullerton College
81 Oliver Parker WR 6–0 180 R-Fr. Princeton, Ky. Caldwell County HS
83 Zach Langford K/P 5–11 175 Fr. Clarksville, Tenn. Clarksville HS
84 Jeremiah Edwards WR 5–10 160 R-So. Nashville, Tenn. Hillsboro HS/Tennessee Tech
85 Terez Traynor WR 6–3 205 R-So. Louisville, Ky. Doss HS
86 Terence Taylor WR 6–0 200 R-Fr. McDonough, Ga. Henry County HS
88 Matthew Smith WR 6–2 195 R-Jr. Louisville, Ky. St. Xavier HS
89 Joey Beljan TE 6–3 240 R-So. Frenchtown, N.J. Delaware Valley HS
90 JaQues Evans DE 6–2 240 Fr. Dublin, Ga. Dublin HS
91 Chase Jones DT 6–3 290 Fr. Glasgow, Ky. Glasgow HS
92 Terrion Thompson DT 6–0 300 Fr. Bowling Green, Ky. Bowling Green HS
93 Wes Pahl K/P 6–5 185 Fr. Columbus, Ga. Brookstone School
97 Darius Shipp DT 6–1 290 Jr. Olive Branch, Miss. Lewisburg HS/Northeast Mississippi CC
98 Marcus Bragg DT 6–4 285 R-Jr. North Miami, Fla. Miami Jackson HS/Arizona Western College
99 Jalen Madden DT 6–1 300 R-Sr. Tuscaloosa, Ala. Northridge HS

Here are some takeaways and some quick reaction:

Returning Starters Offense (7)

RB- Gaej Walker, WR- Jahcour Pearson, TE- Josh Simon, OT- Cole Spencer, OG- Tyler Witt, C- Seth Joest, OG- Jordan Meredith

With 4/5 of the offensive line returning, whoever wins the starting quarterback position should have a quality unit protecting them
Walker, Pearson and Simon give the offense experienced weapons that were really productive in 2019
The offense got better as the season went on last season as they got comfortable in Helton’s scheme. Despite the loss of Storey, Jackson and Pate the offense should take another jump in 2020 with the solid group of returnees back

Returning Starters Defense (9)

DE- DeAngelo Malone, DE- Juwaun Jones, DT- Jalen Madden, LB- Kyle Bailey, LB- Clay Davis, CB- Trae Meadows, CB- Dionte Ruffin, S- Devon Key, S- Antwone Kincade

A top 30 defense returns just about everyone except DT Jaylon George and Nickel Coco Darden
The pass rushing duo of Malone and Jones should live in opposing backfields once again
Look for the linebacking corps to strengthen with the return of Eli Brown and the addition of Will Ignont. Bailey is a tackeling machine and Davis will become a great rotation piece to go along with other talented players like Damon Lowe & Jaden Hunter
The defensive backfield also should be a strength with 5 seniors leading the rotation of starters (including Roger Cray).
It will be fascinating to see how Clayton White uses his depth on this talented unit and if they can repeat their stout 2019 performance

Returning Specialists (3)

P- John Haggarty, K- Cory Munson, KR- Jacques Sloan

Haggarty is a weapon who should get NFL looks
Munson was a hero in the First Responder Bowl, he needs to show more consistency in year two
Sloan has his moments returning kicks but the return unit needs to improve in 2020

Incoming Transfers (12)

QB- Tyrrell Pigrome (Maryland), DB- John Blunt Jr. (Cisco College), LB- Nick Days (Independence Community College), WR- Mitchell Tinsley (Hutchinson Community College), DB- Dominique Bradshaw (Navarro College), WR- Craig Burt (Hutchinson Community College), LB- Will Ignont (Tennessee), K- Brayden Narveson (Iowa State), LS- Matt Baldeck (Michigan), TE- Spencer Owens (Fullerton College), WR- Jeremiah Edwards (Tennessee Tech), DT Darius Shipp (Northeast Mississippi Community College)

Overall a large mix of P5 and Juco transfers. With the team WKU has coming back, these players could make or break WKU’s Conference title aspirations. Jeff Brohm utilized transfers to great success during his tenure and Helton appears to be following the same playbook to fill in roster gaps in 2020 and beyond.
Pigrome is the early frontrunner for the starting quarterback position. He’ll have to beat out a mix of returnees (Thomas, Shanley) and freshmen (Robison & Ocean) for the starting job.
Ignont could be a day one starter at linebacker but we haven’t heard any word on his eligibility from Tennessee yet. Since Georgia transfer Jaden Hunter was immediately eligible last season, we’re hoping Ignont will get a waiver as well.
Tinsley & Burt should compete for starting positions at wide receiver. If one of them sticks, it’s huge for a group that must replace Lucky Jackson & Quin Jernighan.
Baldeck should easily win the long-snapping job after Jared Nash’s graduation.
The rest should provide depth for 2020 while positioning themselves to takeover for a huge amount of departing seniors in 2021.

Incoming Scholarship Freshman (17)

QB- Darius Ocean, LB- Dezmion Roberson, WR- Dakota Thomas, QB-
Grady Robison, DB- Kendrick Simpkins, DB- Travis Collier, DB- Talique Allen, RB Noah Whittington, WR Malachi Corley, LB Aaron Key, DB- Barry Wagner Jr., DT- David Ndukwe, OL- Wesley Horton, OL- Colt Jackson, OL- Mark Goode, OL- Quantavious Leslie, DE- JaQues Evans

Noah Whittington should be able to quickly work his way into the running back rotation. Helton mentioned him by name during his Monday comments.
3-star prospects Aaron Key and BJ Wagner weren’t announced by WKU during signing day but made it onto campus. They should both compete for starting spots in 2021 and beyond.
Campbellsville’s Malachi Corley is versatile and should also compete for snaps in a wide-open receiver group
Ndukwe is a huge prospect (6'6 280 lbs) who could work his way into the defensive line rotation in 2020.
Look for most of the freshman to redshirt in 2020 while making brief appearances on special teams and blowouts while staying under the 4 game maximum.

Incoming Walk-ons (11)

WR- Tomi Mustapha, DB Devvan Darden, K- Chase Tidmore, DB- Jacob Humes, WR- Drake Alsup, LS- Jake Bowman, OL- Stone Ralston, K/P- Zach Langford, DT Chase Jones, DT- Terrion Thompson, K/P- Wes Pahl

Most of these walk-ons are from within an hour or so from Bowling Green
Darden is Coco’s cousin from Tennessee.
It’s good to see Helton and staff go after local talent to fill the walk-on groups. Any time a walk-on hits it’s an added bonus to the program

Departed Seniors (13)

DB- Ta’corian Darden, WR- Marcus Floyd, DL- Jaylon George, OL- Parker Howell, DB- Canon Jackson, WR- Lucky Jackson, WR- Quin Jernighan, DL Carson Jordan, RB- Marcelis Logan, LS Jared Nash, OL Miles Pate, K- Alex Rinella, QB- Ty Storey

Storey, Jackson, Jernighan, and Pate were all high-level starters whose replacements will make or break the offense
Darden, George, and Jordan were solid defenders that WKU will have an easier time replacing
Nash might not have been a household name but long snapper is definitely a position you don’t want to worry about.

Other Departures from 2019 (19)

RB- Gino Appleberry, RB- Tre Bass, P- Webb Bates, WR- Russell Brown, DB- Clayton Bush, QB Steven Duncan, LS Carson Flake, TE- Kyle Fourtenbary, LS- Mitchell Harralson, LB- Rex Henderson, OL Woodford Lankford, QB- Sean McCormack, OL- Garrett Nickelson, LB- Devon Quincy, DB- Latheron Rogers-Anderson, RB- Josh Samuel, DL Deporess Schletty, LB- Trey Urquhart, DB- KiShawn Walker

We’ve known most of these departures since the offseason started but there were a few surprises
Walk-on Linebacker Rex Henderson had several special teams moments during his career at WKU. The Morgantown native will be missed.
Louisville transfer Sean McCormack must have seen the writing on the wall with the crowded quarterback room (5 total).
WKU will miss Duncan’s experience but his departure opens it up for players that might better match Helton’s scheme.
Fourtenbary, Samuel & Appleberry’s departures hurt depth but didn’t get used much last season
Every transfer that left WKU went down to FCS or lower. Helton is doing a great job of keeping impact players from being poached by P5 schools

Position Changes (2)

Malik Staples (LB to RB), Garland Lafrance (RB/WR to DB)

Staples had some moments at linebacker last season (19 tackles) but with the addition of Ignont and the return of Eli Brown he must be more needed at Running Back. He played there at Louisville and with WKU’s depth issues in the backfield he may be able to see more snaps there during his last season.
Lafrance’s switch from offense is surprising. He showed flashes of explosiveness during his 2 years. He was more productive during his freshman year than his sophomore year. Maybe a fresh start will do him well (like it did for Gaej Walker). Look for him to still return kicks and try to carve out a role in a deep defensive backfield

Other Notes

Defensive Lineman that added weight Ricky Barber (+10 lbs), Marcus Bragg (+25 lbs). Both should be key members of the defensive line rotation
Class Breakdown: Seniors/Grad Transfers(28), Juniors (21), Sophomores (21), Redshirt Freshman (13), True Freshman (27)
Having a senior-laden team bodes well for WKU’s conference title quest. Several of the juniors are Juco transfers that may foreshadow a step back in 2021
Roster Breakdown by State: Kentucky (31), Georgia (23), Florida (15), Tennessee (14), Alabama (7), Texas (3), Illinois (2), South Carolina (2), North Carolina (2), Louisiana (2), Ohio (1), New Jersey (1), California (1), Missouri (1), Idaho (1), Mississippi (1), Washington (1), Arizona (1), Australia (1)
Most common hometowns: Louisville (9), Bowling Green (6), Atlanta (5), Nashville (5)
17 of the 31 Kentucky players are on scholarship.
WKU continues to emphasize Georgia, Florida, and Alabama to stock their roster with talent.

Overall it’s great to have some football news to analyze as we await a finalized schedule in what proves to be a crazy 2020 season. Stay tuned for more reaction along the way