Just like the team’s overall record in 2017, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers’ defense was average in Mike Sanford first year as head coach. The Tops were seventh in Conference USA in points allowed and eighth in the league in yards allowed with 4903 that season. While there were definitely moments that I’m sure defensive coordinator Clayton White would like to do over, his unit had successful moments as well. Many of the players in that group return this season and should be hungry for a bounce-back year.
For this preview, we’ll take a look at each subsection of the defensive and look at what they lost from last year’s team, who they return, and what needs to happen on D for the Tops to get back on top of C-USA.