Official release below...
HILLTOPPERS LAND 17 ON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
IRVING, Texas – After winning the conference title with an 11-2 overall record, No. 25 WKU had 17 players voted to the 2015 All-Conference USA squads by league head coaches, the conference announced on Tuesday.
The 17 selections were the most for the Hilltoppers in its FBS era, bettering the mark of 15 from last season. WKU also received the most All-C-USA first team members with six, which included four players from the Hilltoppers’ offense that ranks 10th in the FBS.
WKU’s first-team honorees were headlined by quarterback Brandon Doughty, who leads the FBS in touchdowns (45), completion percentage (71.8) and points responsible for (286). In his last game, Doughty was named the Conference USA Championship Game MVP after he threw for 410 yards, the third-most in C-USA Championship Game history, and three touchdowns, while also adding his first rushing score of the season.
Doughty’s primary target in the passing game, Taywan Taylor earned first-team recognition as he ranks second in the FBS in receiving touchdowns (17) and tied for fourth in receiving yards (1,363). He is one of just two players in the FBS to have at least 1,300 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns this season, joining Baylor’s Corey Coleman. Offensive tackle Forrest Lamp secured a spot on the first team as he is rated as the No. 2 overall tackle by Pro Football Focus in 2015.
Another of Doughty’s targets, Tyler Higbee has enjoyed a breakout season at tight end to be named All-C-USA first team. The CBS Midseason All-American is tied for the most touchdowns among FBS tight ends with eight. On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Nick Holt was selected to the first team as his three fumble recoveries are tied for the most in the league, while his three interceptions tie for the second-most this season.
Garrett Schwettman has been consistent all season for the Hilltoppers to secure the kicker spot on the first team as he leads the FBS in field goal percentage at 93.3. He also racked up multiple career accolades at WKU this season, becoming the school’s all-time leader in points scored (389), extra points made (230) and field goals made (53).
WKU’s second-team honorees included running back Anthony Wales and kick returner Kylen Towner. Wales became just the sixth running back in C-USA history to have six-straight 100-yard games against conference opponents this season. Towner ranks second in the league in yards per kick return at 24.6, and he is one of just four players in C-USA to return a kick for a touchdown in 2015.
Two of Doughty’s other top receivers were named honorable mention all-conference in Nicholas Norris and Jared Dangerfield. Norris has the sixth-most receiving yards in a single season at WKU with 851 this year, while Dangerfield became the first receiver in program history to have multiple campaigns with 60 receptions (69-2014, 76-2015).
UAB transfers Jontavius Morris and T.J. McCollum stepped right into the WKU defense and became significant contributors to claim honorable mention status. McCollum leads the Hilltoppers in total tackles (100) and tackles for loss (11.5) from his linebacker position. Defensive back Prince Charles Iworah was also honorable mention as he is tied for the most interceptions in C-USA with four. Long snapper Nolan Dowling rounded out the honorable mention selections for WKU, executing 134 clean snaps in 2015.
WKU placed three players on the C-USA All-Freshman team in running back D’Andre Ferby, offensive lineman Dennis Edwards and punter Jake Collins. Ferby has the third-most rushing touchdowns in the conference (11) and leads the Hilltoppers with 151 carries. Edwards has started 11 games at right guard on a WKU offensive line that ranks in the Top 10 in the FBS in sacks allowed. After taking over the primary punting duties earlier in the season, Collins has posted the sixth-best punting average in C-USA (41.6) and pinned 12 punts inside the 20.
HILLTOPPERS LAND 17 ON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
IRVING, Texas – After winning the conference title with an 11-2 overall record, No. 25 WKU had 17 players voted to the 2015 All-Conference USA squads by league head coaches, the conference announced on Tuesday.
The 17 selections were the most for the Hilltoppers in its FBS era, bettering the mark of 15 from last season. WKU also received the most All-C-USA first team members with six, which included four players from the Hilltoppers’ offense that ranks 10th in the FBS.
WKU’s first-team honorees were headlined by quarterback Brandon Doughty, who leads the FBS in touchdowns (45), completion percentage (71.8) and points responsible for (286). In his last game, Doughty was named the Conference USA Championship Game MVP after he threw for 410 yards, the third-most in C-USA Championship Game history, and three touchdowns, while also adding his first rushing score of the season.
Doughty’s primary target in the passing game, Taywan Taylor earned first-team recognition as he ranks second in the FBS in receiving touchdowns (17) and tied for fourth in receiving yards (1,363). He is one of just two players in the FBS to have at least 1,300 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns this season, joining Baylor’s Corey Coleman. Offensive tackle Forrest Lamp secured a spot on the first team as he is rated as the No. 2 overall tackle by Pro Football Focus in 2015.
Another of Doughty’s targets, Tyler Higbee has enjoyed a breakout season at tight end to be named All-C-USA first team. The CBS Midseason All-American is tied for the most touchdowns among FBS tight ends with eight. On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Nick Holt was selected to the first team as his three fumble recoveries are tied for the most in the league, while his three interceptions tie for the second-most this season.
Garrett Schwettman has been consistent all season for the Hilltoppers to secure the kicker spot on the first team as he leads the FBS in field goal percentage at 93.3. He also racked up multiple career accolades at WKU this season, becoming the school’s all-time leader in points scored (389), extra points made (230) and field goals made (53).
WKU’s second-team honorees included running back Anthony Wales and kick returner Kylen Towner. Wales became just the sixth running back in C-USA history to have six-straight 100-yard games against conference opponents this season. Towner ranks second in the league in yards per kick return at 24.6, and he is one of just four players in C-USA to return a kick for a touchdown in 2015.
Two of Doughty’s other top receivers were named honorable mention all-conference in Nicholas Norris and Jared Dangerfield. Norris has the sixth-most receiving yards in a single season at WKU with 851 this year, while Dangerfield became the first receiver in program history to have multiple campaigns with 60 receptions (69-2014, 76-2015).
UAB transfers Jontavius Morris and T.J. McCollum stepped right into the WKU defense and became significant contributors to claim honorable mention status. McCollum leads the Hilltoppers in total tackles (100) and tackles for loss (11.5) from his linebacker position. Defensive back Prince Charles Iworah was also honorable mention as he is tied for the most interceptions in C-USA with four. Long snapper Nolan Dowling rounded out the honorable mention selections for WKU, executing 134 clean snaps in 2015.
WKU placed three players on the C-USA All-Freshman team in running back D’Andre Ferby, offensive lineman Dennis Edwards and punter Jake Collins. Ferby has the third-most rushing touchdowns in the conference (11) and leads the Hilltoppers with 151 carries. Edwards has started 11 games at right guard on a WKU offensive line that ranks in the Top 10 in the FBS in sacks allowed. After taking over the primary punting duties earlier in the season, Collins has posted the sixth-best punting average in C-USA (41.6) and pinned 12 punts inside the 20.
