Todd Stewart highlights two numbers in looking at last week’s NFL Draft: 98 and six.

The first figure is the number of years Western Kentucky has been playing football. In that time, the Hilltoppers never had any players drafted higher than Forrest Lamp and Taywan Taylor, who were drafted Friday in the second and third rounds, respectively.

Lamp went No. 38 overall to the Los Angeles Chargers and Taylor was picked No. 72 by the Tennessee Titans.

Stewart, WKU’s athletic director, then points out six as the number of programs that had more players picked in the first 72 selections this year than the Toppers did.

“To think we had as many players drafted in the top 72 picks as the entire Big 12 Conference combined, that illustrates how far this program has come and really what the new normal is,” Stewart said Wednesday. “I think the new normal for us is these types of achievements related to the NFL.”

Stewart spoke Wednesday after the program sent 10 players to the professional ranks over the last week.

Lamp and Taylor were drafted Friday. Then minicamp invites or free agent contracts came Saturday for Keith Brown (Seattle Seahawks), Omarius Bryant (Baltimore Ravens), Nolan Dowling (Kansas City Chiefs), Tyler Ferguson (Titans) and Darrell Williams Jr. (San Francisco 49ers).

That number kept growing this week, with camp invites coming Sunday for Max Halpin (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Tuesday for Nick Dawson-Brents (Seahawks) and Wednesday for Anthony “Ace” Wales (Washington Redskins).

The 10 join six former Hilltoppers currently listed on NFL rosters: Brandon Doughty (Miami Dolphins), Jonathan Dowling (Buffalo Bills), Jack Doyle (Indianapolis Colts), George Fant (Seahawks), Tyler Higbee (Los Angeles Rams) and Prince Charles Iworah (49ers).

“I mentioned we have 16 players this weekend going to NFL camps,” Stewart said. “I went back and looked it up and they’re going to 12 different teams. So you have the Western Kentucky brand in 12 cities across the country because of our football program that you wouldn’t otherwise have.

“I think tremendous credit really goes to our players and our coaches for what they’ve all done to take the program to where it is now and enhance the university in the process.”

WKU has highlighted its NFL players in recent years with photos covering the entrance to the football facility at Houchens-Smith Stadium. Hanging on the wall in the facility is a display featuring NFL jerseys of some of those program alums currently on pro rosters, in addition to others that have played in the league like Antonio Andrews, Bobby Rainey and Quanterus Smith.

Stewart said highlighting the achievements of former Hilltoppers in the NFL is as much a priority as recognizing bowl wins or conference championships.

WKU recently hung banners in the football facility for its 2016 Conference USA championship and 2016 Boca Raton Bowl win. The Tops have won two straight C-USA titles and three straight bowl games.

“Certainly for anyone playing high school football, they want to look at a program and know not only what they can achieve there but what possibilities they might have once their (college) career is finished,” Stewart said. “The fact we’ll have 16 players in NFL camps this weekend certainly shows what kind of opportunities you have here as a football player.”

Stewart also mentioned that things haven’t always been like that during his time at WKU.

He arrived on campus in 2008 as head of the media relations department. That year was the Hilltoppers’ second transitional season to FBS before becoming eligible for bowl games and conference championships in ’09.

“Sports Illustrated ranked every FBS team that year in the preseason and they only went 1-119,” Stewart said. “They didn’t even include Western Kentucky. Even though we were the 120th member of the FBS that year we weren’t included in that ranking.

“So to go from 2008 and not even being included in a national ranking, even at the end of it, to where we are now, it’s been great to see.”

Of course, the challenge now is for WKU to build on that success with a new coaching staff. The players drafted, signed or invited to league camps this weekend were all recruited by the staffs of either Willie Taggart, Bobby Petrino and Jeff Brohm, and developed primarily by Brohm’s staff.

Those coaches are now at Oregon, Louisville and Purdue, respectively.

Mike Sanford is the man Stewart tabbed to build on that success. The NFL Draft showed some of his skills in recruiting, talent evaluating and player development.

While at Stanford, Sanford recruited No. 3 overall pick Solomon Thomas (49ers) and No. 8 overall pick Christian McCaffrey (Carolina Panthers). Sanford then mentored No. 52 overall pick DeShone Kizer (Cleveland Browns) for the last two years as Notre Dame’s quarterbacks coach.

His coaching staff also developed NFL talent.

New defensive coordinator Clayton White was Josh Jones’ position coach at North Carolina State. The safety Jones was taken No. 61 overall by the Green Bay Packers.

New offensive coordinator Junior Adams coached wide receiver Cooper Kupp during a stint at Eastern Washington. Kupp went No. 69 overall to the Rams.

“I think Mike’s experience as a player and a coach at Boise State and the staff he’s assembled here have high goals,” Stewart said. “They have embraced where our program is right now and really dedicated themselves to taking us even higher.

“Our players, to their credit, have embraced that as well. I think it’s led to a very exciting spring.”{&end}