Drew Eckels’ feet bring a dimension to Western Kentucky’s offense that it hasn’t enjoyed in recent years.

The redshirt senior quarterback led the Hilltoppers in rushing Friday in his first career start. He carried nine times for 38 yards in a 34-3 loss at then-No. 4 Wisconsin.

But Eckels’ mobility can also be a factor in the passing game. Wide receivers coach Junior Adams says it’s up to his players to help out their QB and get open when he uses his feet to buy extra time.

Adams’ message to his receivers in those situations is, “Don’t spectate.”

“Drew does add that element of when things break down, it’s a scramble drill,” Adams, who’s also WKU’s offensive coordinator, told the Daily News on Tuesday.

“Stay moving, stay active, find green grass and Drew will find you.”

Eckels will make his second career start Saturday against FCS program Maine. Kickoff from Houchens-Smith Stadium is set for 6:30 p.m., with the game broadcast on ESPN+.

Eckels completed 15-of-26 passes for 167 yards Friday against the Badgers before leaving the game in the fourth quarter. He completed four passes each to Lucky Jackson (22 yards) and Xavier Lane (40) and found Jacquez Sloan for his longest completion, a 48-yard bomb.

The Daytona, Fla., native Eckels also was sacked just once after Topper QBs took nearly four per game in 2017.

Part of that was due to an improved offensive line, but coach Mike Sanford also credited his quarterback’s footwork.

“What you saw Drew do at times was maneuver, almost like a boxer,” Sanford said. “He would reset his feet left, right, maneuver through.”

It’s during those times when Eckels avoids the rush and starts moving that Sanford thinks WKU can hit some big passing plays.

There was an example of that in the third quarter Friday when Eckels evaded pressure, rolled right and found Lane for a 17-yard gain to convert a third-and-10. There were other plays that Sanford thought the Hilltoppers left on the field in those situations.

“Xavier Lane had a great one, was a big play, a chunk play, an explosive play for us, 17 yards,” Sanford said. “Then there were other opportunities where Drew is outside the pocket and receivers are kind of turned around running the opposite way.

“We want those guys to be viable pass threats and work into their scramble rules. We’ve got to get better at that, because we’ve got quarterbacks that are capable of extending plays.”

Sloan, a sophomore, said those scramble drill situations are chances to put moves on defensive backs and create open space. The longer a DB must defend a receiver, the more time the offensive player can use to get open.

“It’s a lot of stop-and-go’s where you try to get the defender to go one way and you go the other way,” Sloan said.

The redshirt junior Jackson is WKU’s most experienced receiver. He has 69 career catches since 2016, including four to start the season Friday.

Jackson played his first two seasons primarily with Mike White, who’s now a Dallas Cowboys rookie. White operated almost exclusively from the pocket, so playing with Eckels has been an adjustment.

“Having a quarterback like (Eckels), you always know that the play’s never dead,” Jackson said. “Sometimes you might think it’s over because you get covered up when the defense plays a play a certain way.

“But with a quarterback like Drew, he keeps the plays alive. You’ve always got to be on the lookout, on the move.”

Cage the Elephant show to begin at 4:30 p.m.

Grammy Award-winning rock band – and Bowling Green natives – Cage the Elephant will play a pregame set at 4:30 p.m. Saturday ahead of WKU’s home opener.

Fans with game tickets and WKU students with valid student IDs will be admitted free of charge. Tickets remain available for the game and can be purchased by calling 1-800-5-BIGRED or visiting wkutickets.com.

The band will perform on the South Lawn, directly across from Houchens-Smith Stadium, and normal tailgating rules and regulations will apply. The lone exception to those policies is that tailgating tents will not be allowed during this event on the lawn.

All-Century team to host meet and greet Saturday

Nearly all the available members of WKU All-Century football team, which was selected this summer, will reunite this weekend.

Prior to Saturday’s game, the All-Century team will host a meet and greet and autograph session on the President’s Lawn – in front of Parking Structure 2 – from 3 to 4 p.m. Fans will be able to get a replica copy of the All-Century team poster and have members of the team autograph it.

The poster features each member of the All-Century team as well as co-head coaches Jimmy Feix and Jack Harbaugh.

Confirmed members attending for the All-Century reunion include OL Buster Ashley, DL Lawrence Brame, DB Jim Burt, DL John Bushong, OL David Carter, P Brian Claybourn, LB Sherrod Coates, DL Tim Ford, LB Paul Gray, LB Rick Green, DB Joseph Jefferson, DB Virgil Livers, OL Chris Price, RB Bobby Rainey, KR Joey Stockton and WR Porter Williams. Other members are expected to confirm their attendance this week.

The families of the late Feix, Dickie Moore and Jim “Yogi” Hardin will also be on hand.

Following the autograph session, the team will lead the 2018 Hilltoppers down the Topper Walk, scheduled to begin at 4 p.m., and the team will also be recognized at halftime of Saturday’s game vs. Maine.

7 former WKU players make 53-man NFL rosters

Former Western Kentucky football players Jack Doyle (Indianapolis Colts), George Fant (Seattle Seahawks), Tyler Higbee (Los Angeles Rams), Joel Iyiegbuniwe (Chicago Bears), Forrest Lamp (Los Angeles Chargers), Taywan Taylor (Tennessee Titans) and White (Dallas Cowboys) all made 53-man NFL rosters over the last weekend.

Doyle ended the preseason with three receptions for 41 yards and will be returning for his sixth season with the Colts. Doyle, set to be the starting tight end this coming season, has 174 career receptions for 1,483 yards with 12 touchdowns.

Fant will be returning to the Seahawks for his third season and after suffering a season-ending ACL injury last year, he will be competing for the starting right tackle position.

Higbee will return to the Rams for his third season and is listed as the starting tight end on the Rams’ depth chart. He comes into the season with 36 career receptions for 380 yards and two TDs.

Iyiegbuniwe had a solid preseason by racking up 11 tackles in 3 games and earned his spot on the Chicago Bears roster. He was drafted 115th overall in the fourth round by the Bears.

Lamp is back to the Chargers for his second season. After missing all of last year with a torn ACL, he is competing for the starting right guard position.

Taylor had an impressive preseason by bringing in six receptions for 113 yards and added two touchdowns. He returns for his second season, looking to build on his rookie campaign (16 catches, 231 yards, one TD).

White completed 44 of 70 passes this preseason. He’s listed as the third-string quarterback and was drafted in the fifth round with the 171st pick.

Doyle, Lamp and Taylor are all members of WKU’s All-Century Team.{&end}