Western Kentucky has no shortage of options in its secondary.

The Hilltoppers lose starting cornerback De’Andre Simmons in the preseason? DeAndre Farris takes over the position and becomes one of WKU’s most productive defensive players.

The Tops lose star cornerback Joe Brown for a few plays last week in a win at Texas-El Paso? Freshman Roger Cray comes in and holds down the spot capably.

Safety Drell Greene and nickelback Leverick Johnson both miss the UTEP game due to injury? Juwan Gardner and Ta’Corian Darden fill those respective spots and again, there’s little drop-off.

“Our depth in the secondary has been tested, to say the least, with some of the injuries we had during preseason and early in the season,” coach Mike Sanford said Monday. “… They’ve passed with flying colors in putting together one of the best five-game starts in WKU history on defense.”

Coordinator Clayton White’s defense has surrendered 88 offensive points through five games this season – the fewest the Toppers (3-2 overall, 1-1 Conference USA) have allowed since their move to the FBS. The next fewest came in 2012 (106 points).

A talented secondary has led the charge for the Hilltopper defense. That unit will look to continue its strong play Saturday in a Homecoming matchup with Charlotte (0-6, 0-2).

Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. from Houchens-Smith Stadium, with the game to be streamed on Flofootball.com.

“The main thing about those older guys, they’re teaching the young guys how to play the game,” White said. “They’re teaching our young guys how to practice and how to study.

“(Safeties coach Jami) DeBerry, we have a really good feel for our players. Everything starts with a relationship and some kind of connection with your players. That was the first thing we wanted to do was connect and make sure we had a relationship with our guys.”

White’s 4-2-5 defensive scheme has worked well for a Hilltopper defense that’s heavy on talented players in the secondary.

Having an extra DB on the field in the team’s base defense helped cut down on big passing plays, Gardner said.

WKU has surrendered 11 passing plays of 20 yards or more through five games, which ranks No. 13 in the FBS. Compare that to last season, when the Hilltoppers ranked No. 117 in allowing passing plays of at least 20 yards, giving up 51 over 14 games.

“I feel like we’ve been staying on top,” said the redshirt senior Gardner, who’s made 13 tackles in 2017 and broken up a pass. “We’ve eliminated a lot of the big plays from last year.

“It’s football, so of course some people are going to move the ball down the field. But compared to last year, I feel like this year in coach White’s scheme, everything’s good.”

Playmakers have emerged around the secondary, spanning different grades and experience levels.

The senior Brown made the biggest defensive play of the year for WKU on Sept. 23 against Ball State, returning a late interception for a touchdown in a 33-21 Topper win. He’s picked off two passes this season, broken up two more and made 18 tackles, including a sack.

At the other cornerback position, the redshirt junior Farris is starting for the first time in his career. He hasn’t looked like a new starter though, breaking up nine passes, which ranks him No. 3 nationally in that category.

The freshman Cray has eight tackles and two pass breakups playing both as a starter and a reserve.

Redshirt freshman Devon Key has taken over a starting safety spot and has recorded 36 tackles, second only on the team to linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe’s 42. Next to Key is the junior Greene, who’s made 17 tackles and grabbed an INT in four games.

Gardner and graduate senior Marcus Ward add experienced depth at that position when called upon.

“It’s definitely a lot of competition every day,” the Louisville native Gardner said. “There’s no easy day at practice, there’s no easy day at a walk-through, there’s no easy day on ‘No Sweat Thursday.’

“But come game time, we’re all brothers. We’re all here for the same common goal. That’s to win.”

The senior Johnson (13 tackles, three for loss, in three games) and redshirt sophomore Darden (14 tackles, 2½ for loss) have both been productive at the nickelback position.

Another true freshman, Antwon Kincade, has made nine tackles and intercepted a pass in a reserve role at nickel.

“I feel like the secondary’s playing pretty well this year,” the Alma, Ga., native Greene said. “I feel like we came a long way from last year and there’s more to come. …

“There’s a lot of young boys that have stepped up ready to play.”{&end}