Western Kentucky tight end Kyle Fourtenbary celebrates Saturday, October 20, 2018, after scoring a touchdown during Old Dominion's 37-34 win at Houchens-Smith Stadium. (Bac Totrong/photo@bgdailynews.com)

Western Kentucky junior tight end Kyle Fourtenbary has been named to the 2019 John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List.

The Opelika, Ala., native is one of 60 players to be listed, including only one of five from Conference USA.

Fourtenbary enters the 2019 season with 44 receptions for 398 yards and two touchdowns in his career at WKU. As a sophomore in 2018, Fourtenbary made 36 catches for 302 yards and two scores, while also adding a two-point conversion.

Last year, Fourtenbary started in 11 contests and played in all 12 games, recording multiple receptions in nine games and 20-plus receiving yards in eight contests. His two scores came Sept. 15 at Louisville and Oct. 20 vs. Old Dominion, respectively. Fourtenbary had career highs of six catches and 54 yards against the Monarchs, as well as a long reception of 28 yards Sept. 22 at Ball State.

Former Hilltoppers honored by the John Mackey Award include Mik’Quan Deane, Deon Yelder, Tyler Higbee, Mitchell Henry and Jack Doyle.

Given annually to the most outstanding collegiate tight end, the award recipient has been selected by a vote of the John Mackey Award selection committee since 2000. The 2018 Mackey Award recipient will be announced Dec. 11, and then presented live Dec. 12 at The Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet Show on ESPNU.

The Hilltoppers open the 2019 season with a 6:30 p.m. kickoff Thursday, Aug. 29 vs. Central Arkansas in the debut of new head coach Tyson Helton. WKU returns 16 starters on offense and defense, the third-most nationally, while the team’s 10 returning starters on offense rank as the most in the nation.

WKU’s Joest named to Rimington Watch List

Western Kentucky junior center Seth Joest has been named to the 2019 Rimington Trophy Award Watch List, it was announced Friday.

The Versailles native started all 12 games and played all 898 offensive snaps as a sophomore in 2018.

Joest ranked second among C-USA centers with a 16.9 overall cumulative rating by PFF College’s Signature Stats, which included +12.2 for run blocking and +8.1 for pass blocking. He ranked second among C-USA centers with a 73.4 rating by PFF College’s Premium Stats; his 85.6 run block rating and 85.6 pass block rating both led the league.

Joest is one of 80 players to be listed, including one of 11 from Conference USA.

The Rimington Trophy is presented annually to the most outstanding center in NCAA Division I college football. Since its inception, the award – celebrating its 20th anniversary – has raised over $4.2 million for the Boomer Esiason Foundation, which is committed to finding a cure for cystic fibrosis.

The Hilltoppers open the 2019 season with a 6:30 p.m. kickoff Thursday, Aug. 29 vs. Central Arkansas in the debut of new head coach Tyson Helton. WKU returns 16 starters on offense and defense, the third-most nationally, while the team’s 10 returning starters on offense rank as the most in the nation.

Tops add running back Amos to 2020 recruiting class

Western Kentucky reached down into the Peach State for another Class of 2020 football commitment Friday as running back Rashad Amos announced via Twitter that he’ll be joining the Hilltoppers.

Amos, a 6-foot, 210-pound running back, is the third Georgian to join WKU’s 2020 recruiting class after earlier commitments from safety Talique Allen (Fort Valley, Ga.) and athlete Travis Collier (Douglasville, Ga.).

Amos, who is from Tyrone, Ga., picked the Hilltoppers over reported offers from eight other schools, including Ball State, Coastal Carolina and Troy.

Amos has not been rated by 247Sports Composite or Rivals. He is the first running back and seventh commitment in all for the Hilltoppers’ 2020 class.

WKU’s Current Class of 2020

Talique Allen, S, Peach County HS, Fort Valley, Ga.

Rashad Amos, RB, Sandy Creek HS, Tyrone, Ga.

Travis Collier, ATH, Douglas County HS, Douglasville, Ga.

Mark Goode, TE, LaRue County HS, Hodgenville

Brandon Higgs, CB, Hillcrest High School, Simpsonville, S.C.

Colt Jackson, OL, South Warren HS, Bowling Green

Shamar Sandgren, WR, Bluffton HS, Bluffton, S.C.