Western Kentucky defensive lineman Hosea Wheeler has been named to the 2024 Conference USA Football All-Academic Team, the league announced Friday.

Wheeler has started all of WKU’s games this season at defensive tackle and has helped the Hilltoppers to a 7-3 overall record and 5-1 mark in CUSA play. He leads the team with 55 total tackles, including five for loss and two sacks, and also has one quarterback hurry, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and two blocked kicks.

The redshirt junior from Elk Grove, California, who was an All-CUSA selection last season, was named to the 2024 CUSA Preseason Watch List and the 2024 Lombardi Award Watch List prior to the start of the season.

Wheeler boasts a 3.41 GPA while studying business administration. He was a CUSA Honor Roll Member during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 academic years, and he was a member of the WKU Dean’s List in last fall.

The CUSA Football All-Academic Team features 11 members, including Wheeler. The team is voted upon by academic advisors, who cannot vote for their own student-athletes.

WKU will travel to Liberty to face the Flames on Saturday. Kickoff at Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, Virginia, is scheduled for noon CT.