New year, new players, familiar expectations – it’s more of the same for Western Kentucky’s football team.

The Hilltoppers, picked to finish second in the Conference USA preseason media poll, have plenty of impact players returning from last year’s squad – and plenty to replace as well, with the normal graduation and early exits for professional football combined with what has become the yearly roster turnover due to the NCAA transfer portal.

Coming off 8-5 season capped by a thrilling come-from-behind 38-35 overtime win against Old Dominion in the Famous Toastery Bowl, the Tops hope to continue that late-season momentum after falling short as last year’s preseason favorite to win CUSA – defending champion Liberty is picked again as the preseason favorite.

“I really like our football team, a lot of good men that are very passionate about trying to have a very successful season,” WKU head coach Helton said during WKU”s Football Media Day on Tuesday at E.A. Diddle Arena. “A lot of new faces, like always – you know, college football today you’re going to have a lot of turnover and we had a lot of turnover from last year so there’s going to be a lot of new faces out there. I think the guys have done a tremendous job competing over the summer. I think we got a lot better as a football team over the summer.

“I like the culture of our locker room, I like the guys that we’ve added. Now we’ve got to put the pads on, go out there and compete and see who the guys are going to be that are running out on the field for us.”

Much of the preseason speculation has centered on who will be WKU’s starting quarterback this coming season. Two-year starter Austin Reed, who led the Tops’ explosive offense to two straight bowl wins, is now battling for a job with the NFL’s Chicago Bears.

Caden Veltkamp, who spent much of last season a third-string option before coming off the bench to produce that spectacular comeback win against ODU by passing for five touchdowns and nearly 400 yards, will battle newcomer TJ Finley for the starting role. Finley, who had a record-setting year as Texas State’s starter last season and previously started games at both LSU and Auburn, has a decided edge in game experience.

“We have a couple really good quarterbacks that we need to let go out there and compete,” Helton said. “I’ll make a decision probably two weeks left before the first game. When I make that decision, that will be who runs out there first, who’s starting for the first game. Nothing ever stays the same and there’s always competition. I think we have a really, really good quarterback room, so whoever that person is they need to perform and they need to perform well. And I do think it takes all those men in that room for us to win.”

There are other battles on the horizon as fall practice gets underway, with a group vying to fill the void left by NFL draftee Malachi Corley and several other important wide receivers, plus transfer losses of standout linebacker JaQues Evans and defensive back Kendrick Simpkins among others.

Helton likes the group his staff has assembled, even if nearly 50% of the players are new to the program.

“I think at receiver, we’ve got some good depth there and there’s a lot of bodies there,” Helton said. “Some of the veterans, some of the names that you know – the Dalvin Smiths, the Easton Messers, K.D. Hutchinson, Mike Mathison is back – but we’ve added several guys too, some really good players. So there’s going to be a lot of competition there. We’ve got to figure out where that pecking order will be. And then also in the secondary, a lot of new faces in the secondary. I really like how we did in recruiting there. I think (WKU defensive coordinator Tyson) Summers and his staff did a really good job of upgrading in the secondary, but there’s a lot of new bodies there as well so we’ve got to let those guys compete.

“A couple new d-linemen that we’re excited about, so there will be some competition in the interior part of the d-line. We added a couple linebackers that might be able to help us to earn some starting positions. Like anything, we’re looking at close to half the roster that’s new – which I don’t mind, I think everybody in college football is kind of like that today. But we’ve got to let those guys compete and see where we’re at.”

Smith, a Glasgow native who had a breakout performance in WKU’s bowl win with three touchdown catches, is ready to see his team rise to the top of CUSA in what will be his final season.

“Going into this final year, I’m really expecting to finally cap everything off with a conference championship,” Smith said. “We’ve been there in (2021), it didn’t go our way but now I want it to end in our favor and just to go out with a bang.”

WKU will have a new offensive coordinator for the fifth straight year, as Will Friend takes the reins after arriving from Mississippi State, where he served last season as offensive line coach. He had previously led a Colorado State offense that ranked among the nation’s leaders during his tenure there.

“I was really excited to get Will onboard here,” Helton said. “Will and I coached together and have known each other for 20-plus years, been at multiple stops together. We think a lot alike. He is a tremendous offensive mind. He is a veteran offensive line coach, SEC offensive line coach. I think that’s really where he’s most known, but what people don’t know about Will is that he can do it all. I think he is a player’s coach, I think our guys have responded really, really well to him. And it takes a lot off of my plate because I know when he’s in that room, he’s in a unit meeting, he’s coaching those guys and it might as well be me standing in front of those guys talking to them.

“So it’s been really good for me. I get to focus on situations and different things that I want to do offensively, and let him handle the offense.”

Friend, who coached against WKU two years ago when Auburn pulled away from a 17-all halftime score to win at home, said he’s long kept an eye on the Hilltopper program.

“One thing about this group and a little bit of the culture in coming here – coach (Helton) has done a really good job with the way they work,” Friend said. “From the first day we were here, they work extremely hard. They practice hard, really on both sides of the ball. So that’s been a joy and look forward to continuing to improve there.”

While Friend brings a new look to the offense, Summers is back for his third season leading the Hilltopper defense. Under Summers, the Tops have ranked among the nation’s leaders in forcing turnovers with a commitment to getting pressure on the opposing quarterback.

“I think we’re really strong in every aspect of the group,” WKU redshirt junior defensive tackle Hosea Wheeler said. “I don’t think we have a weakness at any position. There’s a lot of leaders on this team. We came see them a few more practices together to come together as a whole, but I love this defense and there’s a lot of great guys on this defense and I’m going to love to play with them.”

The Tops have just over a month to get ready for an Aug. 31 matchup against perennial national power Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, followed by the home opener against in-state rival Eastern Kentucky on Sept. 7. Then it’s back on the road for the CUSA opener against Middle Tennessee on Sept. 14. A home date against Toledo follows on Sept. 21, then it’s back on the road for another P5 test against Boston College before the Tops get into the thick of their conference slate with a home game against UTEP on Oct. 10.

“Right out of the gate, Alabama – they’re going to be a top team in the country, so you get to kind of see what you’re made of early,” Helton said. “I always talk about it’s your full body of work, you’ve heard me say that all the time. It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish and it’s your full body of work. And in the past here, we’ve been pretty good down the stretch in November. So we need to do that again, but there is a lot of competitive football teams.

“I like how our schedule sets up, I really do. It allow us if we’re having success and winning to be one of the premier Group of Five programs that everybody’s talking about and be a part of that national conversation. That’s what you’re looking for every year, just be a part of the national conversation in some area, in some form or fashion.”