Western Kentucky defensive back Upton Stout earned an invitation to the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, the NFL announced on Thursday.

Stout was one of the premier defensive backs in Conference USA last season, earning First Team All-CUSA honors for his efforts. He recorded 52 tackles, including 7.5 tackles for loss and a sack, along with an interception, a pass breakup and three quarterback hurries. Stout was recently named the American Team Player of the Week for his position group during practices for the Reese’s Senior Bowl.

Stout appeared in seven games with six starts for the Hilltoppers during the 2023 season and was a big-time playmaker in the secondary. Despite missing five games to injury, he finished the year with 29 total tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, an interception, five quarterback hurries and eight pass breakups. His interception came in the 52-22 victory over Houston Christian, and he returned the ball 53 yards for a touchdown. He posted his second defensive touchdown of the season in the regular-season finale at FIU on Nov. 25 when he recovered a fumble and returned it 16 yards to the end zone. He was named to the Jim Thorpe Award Watch List prior to the season.

Stout made an instant impact for the Hilltoppers during his first season at WKU in 2022 after transferring from North Texas. He started 11 games, and in his first game in a Hilltopper uniform, Stout helped WKU beat Austin Peay by returning an interception 34 yards for a touchdown. He picked off another pass in the next game at Hawaii and finished the year with four interceptions overall. His final one came in the team’s 44-23 victory over South Alabama in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. Stout made 44 tackles on the season, including a career-high eight in the New Orleans Bowl Victory. For his stellar season, Stout earned Freshman All-American Honorable Mention honors from CFN while also being named Conference USA Honorable Mention.

There were a total of 329 prospects invited to the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, which will take place in Indianapolis from Feb. 24-March 3. Stout was one of two players from CUSA invited. Fans can tune in for live coverage of the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine beginning Feb. 27 on NFL Network and NFL+. Defensive backs are slated to participate in drills started at 2 p.m. CT on Feb. 28.