Now that all the pomp and circumstance of Signing Day is officially gone, let’s step back and break down Western Kentucky’s recent class and how it might impact the upcoming season.
As most of you know by now, the class came in at No. 1 in the Sun Belt by both Rivals and Scout.com.
But how instantly will those dividends pay off?
That all remains to be seen – but let’s look at WKU’s position groups heading into next season, with the rookies wrinkled in.
Quarterback
The only way any signing here would have provided an instant yield is if WKU hit a homerun and brought in a serious top-notch talent.
I’m not saying that James Mauro or Dyron Speight couldn’t end up being fantastic, but by glance, I’d have to say that Kawaun Jakes and Brandon Doughty will make the quarterback battle a two-horse race starting this spring.
What signing two quarterbacks does do, however, is provide the Hilltoppers with some added depth for the future – and for the upcoming season.
Few people realized how thin WKU was at QB last season – if Jakes had gotten hurt at any point, it would have been Matt Pelesasa under center no matter what.
Willie Taggart and company wouldn’t come out and say it, but there was no way they were burning Doughty’s redshirt last year.
Pelesasa is obviously gone, but four quarterbacks is always better than two.
Running back
Obviously Bobby Rainey will be the end all, be all here again next season – but I really thought WKU needed to find some serious backs with this class heading into the future.
Behind Rainey is Antonio Andrews, who I’m not convinced will ever physically be able to handle being a 20 to 25-plus carry per game guy. Actually, I think having the option of lining him up all over the field benefits WKU more going forward.
Behind that, the cupboard was pretty bare. Braxston Miller is a converted linebacker, Keshawn Simpson didn’t show enough to step up and take the No. 2 role last season, and Avery Hibbitt will be a departing senior.
In Quartterrio Morgan and Marquis Sumler, WKU found two highly sought after guys for the future. One of them might even wind up playing significantly next season.
Getting these guys were a big, big score for WKU – maybe the most important pieces of the entire class.
Offensive line
Unless your name’s Orlando Pace, you’re probably not going to do much up front as a true freshman at the FBS level. These guys almost always redshirt – very few exceptions there.
But you never know – Cliff Burns is 6-8, 350.
That said, WKU did need to address a new wave of offensive linemen going forward.
Wes Jeffries will be a senior, Preston King and Mychal Patterson are gone – and those three have been WKU’s best linemen over the past two seasons.
Going forward you have a nice building block in the middle in Sean Conway and a solid guard in Adam Smith, Jeffries for one more season and then a ton of question marks after that.
But with six signees – in addition to a good handful of other young depth, there seems to be plenty to work with here.
I’d actually have to think WKU’s line takes a step back next season, but bringing in bodies and girth – Curtis Williams is 6-4, 330 and Burns is obviously huge – was a necessity.
This is the most important position group on the field for WKU’s offense – more key than quarterback. If you want to run the ball as much as Taggart does, you have to have skill, size and tons of depth.
It’s not there yet, but this class provides a start.
Tight end
This spot’s set for quite a long while.
Jack Doyle will have to prove he’s over that neck injury, and if he is, he’s arguably the best tight end in the league – and he’ll be a junior.
Demetrius Coley was one of the biggest surprises of the year as a true frosh in 2010 and Tristan Jones looked like the tight end of the future three years ago.
Add in E’Town’s Mitchell Henry, along with Tyler Higbee (who I wouldn’t be shocked to see at wideout some day) and Devin Scott, and you’ll have plenty of options to choose from for double and triple-tight end sets.
Even with that depth in Doyle, Jones and Coley – in no way do I expect all three of the newcomers to redshirt. One of them will play this season, and probably play a decent number of snaps.
Wide receiver
Easily the thinnest spot on the field for WKU, and it gets even thinner with the departure of Donald Campbell.
Not a lot of quantity here for WKU in this class, but there does appear to be some quality in Boe Brand and Cameron Brown.
I’d really be surprised if both of these guys aren’t playing from the get-go.
Willie McNeal and Marcus Vasquez were the top two guys here last season, and we’ll have to see how Vasquez is after his collarbone injury.
WKU needs depth and production here – and Brand and Brown will likely be called on for both right away.
The Hilltoppers could have added more receiver depth – but nevertheless, this spot could see the most immediate payoff as far as on-field production goes.
Defensive line
WKU added serious size in Jamichael Payne (6-1, 328). There are no guarantees here, but I’d bet he gets every single opportunity to play from the first snap of the season. If only because the Hilltoppers still are awfully small up front.
Bryan Shorter runs 6-2, 275ish – but again, with the lack of overall depth and production from the defensive line over the past few years, anyone should have a chance to play right away here.
WKU brought in a ton of defensive end talent in this class, but with all those players runs a certain theme.
They’re all undersized weight-wise to help right away – but that doesn’t mean they can’t step back and play outside linebacker.
WKU has a bona fide talent in Quanterus Smith – who can be a monster when he feels like it – and Jared Clendenin will be a three-year starter this season as a senior.
This position group is still pretty thin – and still pretty small.
Pure size is one of the more difficult things to recruit at this level, and though WKU obviously could have used a few more 295-300 guys up front – one certainly isn’t anything to shake a stick at.
There are six defensive linemen in this class, and I’d bet half of them get a shot to play right away.
Linebackers
This will be the biggest question mark on the defensive side of the football for WKU this season.
The void left by Thomas Majors might be irreplaceable – in 2011 at least.
Though talented players, Terran Williams and Daerius Washington don’t seem to translate the body type of a middle linebacker at this level – at least not right now anyway.
Both of those guys will get a shot to be in the outside backer spot though, simply because WKU is going to need all the help it gets here.
Bar’ee Boyd and Xavius Boyd are players – no doubt. They’ll both start somewhere defensively for WKU, but most likely outside.
As for the inside spot?
That could go to any number of players. But whoever snags it, will likely be inexperienced – as Majors played just about every down he could over the past two seasons.
Definitely a spot to keep an eye on this spring and fall.
Defensive backfield
What seemed to be a weak spot entering last season turned into a pretty solid strength by the end of the year.
Tyree Robinson and Arius Wright could both end up being all-conference players at corner by the time they’re finished, as could Kiante Young at safety.
But you can never have enough depth on the back end.
And with their first-glance athletic ability, Eric Robinson-Berry and Champ Lewis should have a legit chance of getting on the field next season.
WKU brought in so many DBs with last year’s class, that bringing in more than two would have likely been a stretch for 2011.
Plenty of talent, plenty of speed and plenty of potential on the back end both from the players who played last season and the one’s who sat out – this should be the bright spot of a young defense once again in 2011.
Kicking game
Though he had his struggles at times last season, the WKU staff is enamored with punter Hendrix Brakefield’s leg and potential going forward and they’re no doubt comfortable going forward with him.
As for the placekicker spot? That’ll be interesting.
WKU didn’t bring in anyone in its signing class, but it’s not uncommon for a preferred walk-on to appear at some point before next season.
Right now you’ve got senior Casey Tinius – who had an incredibly frustrating junior campaign – sophomore Monte Merrick – who didn’t seem to do enough to take the job away outright – and redshirt frosh Kevin Carrillo – who I’ve been told in numerous e-mails and otherwise has a very solid leg.
This has been a hotly contested battle in the past at WKU, and it will be again starting in the spring.
I’d be willing to wager that all three of these guys get a good hard look once spring practice opens.
Bowling Green Daily News WKU sports blog 
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