McIvor, offense shine in Red & White Spring Showcase

Published 7:29 pm Saturday, April 12, 2025

By Jeff Nations

Maverick McIvor is staking his claim as the next big thing at “Quarterback U.”

The Abilene Christian transfer quarterback had a stellar day Saturday in the Red & White Spring Showcase, leading WKU’s first-team offense on five touchdown drives in five attempts against the defense.

McIvor, a three-year starter at FCS-level Abilene, completed 18-of-23 passes with four touchdowns in the controlled scrimmage, which did not keep score but did feature tackling this year. Two of McIvor’s TD strikes went to redshirt freshman wide receiver Cameron Flowers.

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“I think we finally put a great day together,” McIvor said. “We went five-for-five on the offensive side, so we felt really confident. This guy (Cameron Flowers) had a great day. We had a great day. Finally feeling confident in the pocket. The playbook is starting to slow down for me, for us, and we’re starting to put good days back-to-back.”

Flowers, a Conference USA All-Freshman Team selection in 2024 after playing in five games and tallying one catch for 13 yards, finished the scrimmage with six catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns and one run on a reverse that went for eight yards.

“First, I’d like to thank my teammates for putting me in position,” said Flowers, a native of Warner Robins, Georgia. “(McIvor) had a great day, too. The OC (Rick Bowie) called great plays and tried to get me open and we just executed.”

WKU’s defense fared much better when McIvor and many of the first-teamers weren’t on the field. The Tops’ defense – wearing white jerseys – held WKU quarterbacks Rodney Tisdale Jr. and Tucker Parks to no touchdown passes – just a 48-yard field goal by Michael Buck – and Jaylen Lewis Xavion “Tutu” Griffin came up with interceptions for a unit under the new leadership of co-defensive coordinators Da’Von Brown and Davis Merritt.

Griffin’s pick on the last series of the game provided a positive ending for the defense.

“I knew it was coming, and the way the receiver lined up – he lined up on the hash – I played outside leverage and I just knew it was coming,” Griffin said. “I saw the ball in the air, and I just had to go get it.”

McIvor got the WKU offense rolling on the first series of the game, completing 5-of-6 passes for 52 yards capped by an 8-yard TD pass to Moussa Barry.

Two series later, McIvor hooked up with Flowers on a 31-yard touchdown strike.

Running back George Hart III finished off the Tops’ next scoring drive with a 3-yard touchdown run, two plays after McIvor found tight end Noah Meyers for a 31-yard reception.

Meyers got his own touchdown via McIvor, an 18-yard scoring reception for the Tops’ fourth TD of the afternoon.

McIvor finished off his final series by finding Flowers once more on a 14-yard touchdown pass.

“We’ve been trying to get our completion percentage up through the spring and this day really helped us,” McIvor said. “I thought our 1s went out there and executed at a high level today and we’ve got to keep it going into the fall.”

WKU coach Tyson Helton, who has more than 50 newcomers on the roster with more expected to arrive and depart when the next NCAA transfer portal opens next week, said Saturday showed plenty of encouraging signs for next season’s team.

“I thought it was a good competition today,” Helton said. “It was good to see the offense come out and have a hot hand – scored early and got momentum. That was good to see. The defense came up with some critical third down stops. That was good to see. A lot of players played and we got a lot of evaluation today. So it was a good ending to a very, very successful spring practice.”

Before the Showcase, the team gathered with former players for the WKU Football Alumni Spring Banquet and team award ceremony.

McIvor was named the team’s Spring Offensive MVP, while sophomore defensive end Harper Holloman was named Spring Defensive MVP. Flowers was named the Spring Offensive Most Improved Player, and redshirt sophomore linebacker Koron Hayward was named Spring Defensive Most Improved Player.

“I’m blessed,” Holloman said. “The hard work I put in every day, day in and day out, extra film, ice tub, taking care of my body, listening to the coaches and just doing my job, it’s just helped me every day. I’m just blessed.”

Redshirt senior offensive lineman Marshall Jackson was the recipient of the Al Almond Award, which has been given since 1968 to a Hilltopper player who displays devotion to character, loyalty, ability and love of fellow man. Wide receiver Justin Brown earned the Jimbo DeVries Outstanding Walk-On Award, which has been presented since 2008. The Darryl Drake Award, presented in honor of a player who has displayed remarkable perseverance, was given to defensive back Virgil Marshall.

The Hilltoppers are scheduled to open the 2025 season with a Week 0 Conference USA game against Sam Houston on Aug. 23 at Houchens-Smith Stadium.

Sports Editor, Bowling Green Daily News

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