WKU Football: Where the Portal Leads

It has been quite the year for recruiting as Covid-19 has forced everyone, even the NCAA, to adapt (NCAA and change/adaptability are really two things that I don’t associate) to the circumstances. The transfer portal was reinvigorated as it has seen a record amount of usage. I’d like to imagine that a red and chrome swirling portal popped up in front of some of these transfers and a piece of mail slides out as if it was just shoved through a letter box, with a wax seal on it in the shape of Big Red…You know, something like this:

If you thought I was talking about the soda… Why are you even here?

Some recruits may have denied the opportunity, but some open the letter and claim their spot on next year’s Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team. Who are these brave footballers, who leave their former schools and venture out to Bowling Green, Kentucky?

Adam Cofield — RB from NDSU

Click here to see an interview Adam Cofield did with Draft Diamonds on Youtube. Hilltopper fans will want to check it out to see more on the next guy that will lead their backfield.

He was always productive at North Dakota State, even as a Freshman. His stats by the years are solid:

• 2017 (Freshman): 43 attempts for 163 yards and a touchdown
• 2018 (Sophomore): 82 attempts for 563 yards and 6 touchdowns
• 2019 (Junior): 167 attempts for 813 yards and 12 touchdowns (also, after having a total of 2 catches the previous seasons, he improved as a receiver out of the backfield with 16 catches for 103 yards and a touchdown)

His senior year was the Covid year, where they only got to play one game. His stats weren’t very good, but I blame that on the pressure on North Dakota State to give Trey Lance (one of the more sought after QBs in the upcoming NFL draft) ample opportunity to prove himself in the eyes of scouts with only one game to play.

Last thing about Cofield that I really like seeing on his stat sheet: He has only fumbled once in his career. Knock on Wood.

Jerreth Sterns — WR from Houston Baptist U

Jerreth Stern played in three seasons for HBU, which Hilltopper fans will recognize as the same place that WKU grabbed their Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach Zach Kittley, QB Bailey Zappe, and WR Josh Sterns (yes, that is Jerreth’s brother). Jerreth was labeled nothing short of a star at Houston Baptist, and his stats reflect that very well:

• 2018 (Freshman): 68 catches for 684 catches and 4 touchdowns. 8 rushes for 27 yards and a touchdown. 2 for 2 passing with 63 yards and a touchdown. Led the Southland Conference in receiving this year.
• 2019 (Sophomore): 105 receptions for 833 yards and 9 touchdowns. 11 rushes for 9 yards and a touchdown. 2 for 4 passing with 47 yards and a touchdown. 17 punts returned for 121 yards and a long of 28. Led the nation in receptions.
• 2020 (Junior): 47 receptions for 454 yards and 5 touchdowns. 4 rushes for 20 yards. 4 punt returns for 17 yards. Only played 4 games on the season this year due to Covid.

One thing I didn’t mention in his stats that I will here, he managed to be named to the Southland conference honor roll for academics in 2018 and 2019 (probably 2020 too, but I can’t find any news on it). Not only a great football player, but a smart kid too. I think this guy will be big for WKU when he gets there, especially look for him to already have chemistry with Bailey Zappe, who will compete for the starting QB job at Western Kentucky.

Josh Sterns — WR Houston Baptist U

Little brother of Jerreth Sterns, he had one year at HBU and made the most of it. Probably the most dynamic family duo in the Southland conference, if not the country. Josh followed in his brother’s footsteps of coming in as a Freshman and making an immediate impact, which could be even more impressive due to the shortness and uncertainty of this off-season (with covid out there). Below were his stats, remember, they only played four games this season:

• 2020 (Freshman): 13 catches for 403 yards and 4 touchdowns. Long of 75.

That is a 31 yard average per catch. To call that impressive would be an understatement. One thing also worth mentioning for the skeptics out there, Josh’s best game came against Texas Tech where he had 209 yards, 2 touchdowns and his season high on a 75 yard reception. This proves Josh is ready to play at the next level; I can’t imagine Big 12 defense is much tougher than Conference USA, right guys?

Bailey Zappe — QB from Houston Baptist U

Bailey Zappe is another prospect we pulled from HBU, and should be the favorite to win the starting quarterback job at Western Kentucky next year. Over the course of his career at HBU he totaled over ten thousand yards in record breaking performances for the school. Truly the type of QB that WKU could thrive behind and get back to the high flying offenses they experienced when Brandon Doughty was the QB. Just look at these stats:

• 2017 (Freshman): 150 of 266 for 1,548 yards with 5 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Also rushed for 50 yards and 2 touchdowns.
• 2018 (Sophomore): 252 of 436 for 2,812 yards with 23 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Also rushed 179 yards and a touchdown.
• 2019 (Junior): 357 of 560 for 3,811 yards with 35 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. (0 rushing yards)
• 2020 (Senior): 141 of 215 for 1833 yards with 15 touchdowns and just 1 interception (14 rushing yards)

A big point to remember is that the 2020 season was only 4 games long for HBU, and in those 4 games, 3 of them were against D1 opponents (North Texas, Texas Tech, La Tech). His stats suggest he is steadily improving his game from year to year, and I believe if he had been able to play a full season in 2020 he would have set some crazy records. I love that he showed up and balled out in 2020 against D1 competition, two of which were Conference USA opponents that he will most likely see while playing for the Hilltoppers. He lit up La Tech for 406 yards and 5 touchdowns, and North Texas for 480 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Click here for an interview that KHOU 11 did with Bailey Zappe in 2019 to get a feel for how the young man conducts himself.

Matthew Flint — OLB from North Carolina

A former three star prospect, Hilltoppers add some defensive depth here. There isn’t much to break down about him, he redshirted in 2018 after appearing in two games and making 3 tackles. Then, in 2019 had a season ending injury after two games. He has no stats listed in 2020, making me assume he was still recovering from the fractured right leg that ended his season in 2019. Hopefully he makes a full recovery, for he could be very useful in patching the holes that were on display in last season’s defense.

Tre Shaw — CB from North Carolina

WKU’s second grab from the Tarheels, Tre was once a four star recruit coming out of High School who saw limited action over the course of his career at UNC. In his freshman season (2017) he appeared in all 12 games, mainly on special teams, where he had 9 total tackles. In the two seasons that followed, he played in only 10 games, tallying 10 tackles, 1 TFL, and a forced fumble. He did not appear in the 2020 Tarheels season, maybe prompting the transfer.

It would appear that the young man is ready to get to work for the Hilltoppers.

Michael Pitts — DE from Cincinnati

It is always a good day for Western Kentucky when they can nab a former starter in the transfer portal. Cincinnati has been a respectable program lately, and Michael Pitts did his fair share of work to get them there. His stats at defensive end (they called that position in their defense the ‘jack’ end, I won’t even pretend to know what that means) show that he is more than capable of buffing up that Hilltoppers defensive line:

• Redshirted in 2016
• 2017 (RS Freshman): played in seven games and had 3 tackles.
• 2018 (RS Sophomore): Started all 13 games, had 34 tackles, 4 sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss, and a blocked kick!
• 2019 (RS Junior): Started 8 games, played in all 13, had 30 tackles, 9.5 for loss, 5.5 sacks, 3 pass breakups and a fumble recovery.
• 2020 (RS Senior): Only played in 5 games, had 10 total tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, 0 sacks, but 1 forced fumble.

The more I read up on him, the more I suspect there was a nagging shoulder injury that kept him from playing more in 2020. He even missed the bowl game because of it. But that doesn’t matter, what matters is that the former 3 star prospect can return to form pre 2020, and help the Hilltoppers rush the quarterback. It would be extremely pleasant if he could provide Malone with support and take the double teams off of him.

Daewood Davis — WR/CB from Oregon

Daewood Davis was a former 3 star recruit who went to Oregon and didn’t find much success. In his 3 year career with Oregon, he had 10 catches for 102 yards, 4 kick returns for 93 yards, and 2 tackles. But don’t let the low numbers fool you, the kid is extremely versatile. He played on all four of Oregon’s special teams units, which is a comparable feat to pro bowler Matthew Slater who does the same for the New England Patriots (Slater also has played both WR and CB in his career). Look for Daewood to play WR for the Hilltoppers this upcoming season over CB though.

Dan Saltarelli — TE from Oklahoma

Not much is known about him, he only played in 2 games in his career at Oklahoma, didn’t have a catch in either. He has no former star ranking, and his Twitter is humble as can be. Whether he’ll be a pass catcher in the new offense or primarily a blocker has yet to be seen.

Boe Wilson — OL from Nebraska

A former 3 star prospect at lineman for Nebraska, this is one of the Hilltopper’s more important grabs in the transfer portal. WKU needed to beef up it’s offensive line desperately, and they bring the beef with this guy right here. This guy has accolades in the Big Ten, started 23 consecutive games, honorable mention all big ten in 2018, and Academic all Big Ten from 2017 to 2020. Someone with experience starting in the Big Ten and the intelligence to secure the all conference Academic team four years in a row is clearly very valuable to this Hilltoppers program.

Davion Williams — CB from Michigan State

A former 3 star recruit, Davion Williams will be taking his talents to Bowling Green, Kentucky where he will have the opportunity to face off against his former team next season. In his first season, he played sparingly on special teams and ended up redshirting. But in 2019, he had an expanded role, playing in every single game on special teams and a few snaps on defense. In 2019 he had 6 tackles, 1 forced fumble and 2 fumble recoveries. In 2020 he took a slight step back, playing in only 7 games and recording 8 tackles. Hopefully he will step up and help a Toppers defense that really wasn’t that good against the pass last year.

Zac Lefebvre — TE from Buffalo

Another Tight End that came through the portal, this one a little bit more proven than our guy from Oklahoma. A three time Academic All-MAC team selection and consistent starter for Buffalo, he brings both respectable blocking ability and solid hands to the team. Here were his stats the past few seasons at Buffalo:

• 2016 redshirted
• 2017 (RS Freshman): 5 catches for 51 yards and a touchdown (missed final four games with an injury)
• 2018 (RS Sophomore): 10 catches for 84 yards
• 2019 (RS Junior): 21 catches for 235 yards and 2 touchdowns
• 2020 (RS Senior): 13 catches for 169 yards and a touchdown

His bio on Buffalo athletics website suggests he was instrumental in their blocking game. Went as far as saying he had a “key role” in their rushing attack. I look forward to seeing the big man thrive in WKU’s offense next year.

Cameron Stage — OL from Bowling Green State

A versatile lineman and former 2 star recruit, Cameron joins Boe Wilson as another transfer O-lineman that could step in and make an impact immediately for the Hilltoppers. His usual position is tackle, but he also had some time at center in 2019, where he appeared in 4 games for BGSU. In 2020, he played in all five of BGSU’s games that season. His first year in 2018 was spent as a redshirt. For an O-line that needs to be reloaded, Cameron Stage is a welcome sight on the Hill.

So far as of Thursday, January 28th this is all of our confirmed transfer players. Will we properly reload or will our football team jam next year? It has yet to be seen, but all of these promising prospects will bring in their experience and talent, and hopefully contribute to a winning season for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.

Obligatory GO TOPS!