Joel Iyiegbuniwe’s chance has come.

The former South Warren High School star spent his first two years on the Western Kentucky football team learning the system, working in the weight room and pitching in on special teams.

Now Iyiegbuniwe, known to his teammates and coaches as “Iggy,” is one of the linebackers seeing the most playing time during WKU’s spring football practices.

The redshirt sophomore has been lining up as a first-team outside linebacker alongside graduate senior Keith Brown and redshirt senior T.J. McCollum.

“Rolling with the first group is definitely a different tempo, a different speed,” Iyiegbuniwe said. “You’ve got to know what you’re doing. It’s been good.”

The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Iyiegbuniwe is getting plenty of reps at a position group where the Hilltoppers experienced turnover during the offseason.

McCollum – the team’s leading tackler last year with 106 total stops – returns on the outside. But middle linebacker Nick Holt (90 tackles) and outside linebacker Dejon Brown (62) both graduated.

Keith Brown, a grad transfer who joined the program this offseason after leaving Louisville, appears poised to take Holt’s spot in the middle.

Meanwhile, Iyiegbuniwe’s been the one getting most of the reps at Dejon Brown’s old position. He’s also been working some at defensive end as a pass rush specialist.

WKU defensive coordinator Nick Holt, father of the former Topper linebacker, said Iyiegbuniwe’s embracing his increased role on the defense.

“I like his attitude,” Holt said. “Iggy’s always been a good worker.

“He has some athleticism. He’s just very young at football, very raw and green. He’s getting a lot of reps.”

Iyiegbuniwe came to WKU in the Class of 2014 after a standout career playing for former coach Mark Nelson at South Warren. He was rated as the 12th-best prospect in the state of Kentucky by 247Sports.com.

Iyiegbuniwe played in the Hilltoppers’ first three games as a freshman in 2014 before an injury sidelined him for the rest of the year.

Last season as a redshirt freshman, Iyiegbuniwe was a major contributor on special teams and saw time as a reserve linebacker. He appeared in all 14 games for WKU, totaling 19 tackles.

Now Iyiegbuniwe is taking on a bigger role, fighting for a starting spot at linebacker. WKU didn’t release full defensive stats from the team’s open scrimmage Saturday morning but said Iyiegbuniwe was the team’s second-leading tackler.

“It’s going to be my third year here so usually that’s the time where you start understanding what’s going on, where you start to know what you’re doing,” he said.

Much of Iyiegbuniwe’s work this offseason has been on the mental parts of the game, he said.

Iyiegbuniwe said his lack of experience in the Hilltopper system limited his playing time last season. He’s spent the winter and spring studying the playbook and watching film, trying to gain familiarity with the WKU defensive system.

Iyiegbuniwe has grown “leaps and bounds” over the offseason, fellow linebacker Ben Holt said.

“He’s so athletic and he’s like a football specimen, really,” Ben Holt said. “To see him improve, it’s just crazy what he’s capable of doing.

“He’s starting to learn everything and really become a good football player. I think he’s going to help us a lot on the football field.”

Knowing the system better has allowed Iyiegbuniwe to think less when he’s on the field and let his athleticism show, he said.

“I think I’m an energy guy,” Iyiegbuniwe said. “My effort, I think I can lead through that. I’m a young guy, but I think I can do things on the field where I can lead in that way.”

– Follow Daily News sports reporter Brad Stephens on Twitter @Stephens_Brad or visit bgdailynews.com.