Ben Holt has a unique role for Western Kentucky and for that, he wears a unique helmet.

The redshirt freshman is a two-way player, competing at both fullback and linebacker for the Hilltoppers.

Holt wears a special helmet with three red winged stripes. He’s easily identifiable by the Michigan-style headgear, which is a contrast from the plain white helmets all his WKU teammates have worn during spring practice.

“I’m a red wolverine instead of a Michigan Wolverine,” Holt joked to the Daily News on Wednesday after the Tops’ eighth spring practice.

Holt wears the helmet so he doesn’t have to switch jerseys when he switches from offense to defense or vice versa during drills.

Some drills will have Holt lined up at fullback, running full speed and trying to knock defenders – mostly linebackers – out of the way to clear room for running backs.

Then in other situations, Holt will be lined up on defense right alongside the linebackers he was just facing off against.

“Sometimes I’ll be rooting for the linebackers and then on the next play I’ll be on offense,” Holt said. “It’s kind of weird having to go hit them.

“But it’s just football and they understand that. It’s fun though. It gets competitive.”

Holt’s teammates are getting used to facing off against him one snap and playing on beside him the next, fellow linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe said.

“It’s a little weird,” said Iyiegbuniwe, a redshirt sophomore. “You’re rooting for him on one play and the next play you’re against him. But it’s all fun.”

The 5-foot-11, 210-pound Holt brings versatility, a walk-on’s edge and a deep familiarity with football to the WKU program.

Holt is the son of Tops associate head coach/defensive coordinator Nick Holt. His older brother, also named Nick Holt, was a standout linebacker for WKU each of the past two seasons.

Ben Holt grew up in a football family and has been around the game his whole life.

“He’s just a football player,” said the older Nick Holt, who also coaches linebackers. “He plays really hard and plays with energy.

“He’s good to have in your room and your group because he plays so hard and it rubs off on the other kids. He needs to learn football just like everybody else but what I like about Ben is he has really, really good energy and plays his butt off for us.”

Ben Holt was a standout at Bowling Green High School, where he played his junior and senior years of prep football.

Holt was named a first-team all-state selection his senior season in 2014 after notching 95 tackles, 35 tackles for loss and 18 sacks. He also lined up some at fullback for coach Kevin Wallace’s Purples.

Holt joined the WKU program last season as a preferred walk-on and spent a season learning under his father and older brother.

Holt’s brother totaled 90 tackles, four sacks, three interceptions, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles last season in helping the Hilltoppers to a Conference USA title.

“If I had a question, not just in the locker room but if I was at home and my dad wasn’t around I could just ask (the younger Nick Holt) because he knew the defense in and out just as well as anybody,” Ben Holt said. “I could always ask him and count on him to help me out and watching him helped a lot.”

After watching his older brother make his mark on the WKU program, Ben Holt is now working to leave his.

Holt goes back and forth between offensive and defensive meetings and is using this spring to soak up knowledge of both his positions.

Linebacker is a natural fit for Holt with his family connections. Fullback is a position he’s grown to love, even though he said “a lot of people may not enjoy it.”

“Just being able to go out there and you’re able to lay a hat on somebody every time you’re out there,” Holt said. “I think that’s a lot of fun and it’s underappreciated.”

Holt has “gotten better and better since last year” and could see playing time this fall, Iyiegbuniwe said.

By playing multiple positions, Holt has different options for where he can get on the field.

“I think he can definitely contribute, whether it’s special teams or as a backup linebacker,” Iyiegbuniwe said. “He’s got a great motor. He knows what he’s doing.”

-Follow Daily News sports reporter Brad Stephens on Twitter @stephens_brad or visit bgdailynews.com.