Caden Veltkamp was spectacular once again as the next man up at quarterback for Western Kentucky in Saturday’s 49-21 road win against Middle Tennessee.

Now the redshirt sophomore from Bowling Green has landed a new role – first up.

With Tops starting quarterback TJ Finley sidelined with a lower leg injury, WKU head coach Tyson Helton named Veltkamp the starter for Saturday’s 6 p.m. matchup against unbeaten Toledo at Houchens-Smith Stadium.

It will be the first career collegiate start for Veltkamp, who last started a game at Houchens-Smith as a high school senior at South Warren in a 30-7 win against North Hardin in the Rafferty’s Bowl.

“TJ’s going to be out probably for several weeks,” Helton said of Finley, who was injured early in the first quarter Saturday against MTSU and did not return. “He has a lower leg injury, so Caden will be the starter. Caden did a really good job obviously in the game and looking forward to him continuing that momentum. I feel bad for TJ because he was putting together some good games and had done a really good job for us, but hopefully we can get him back in a couple weeks or so. But for right now, he’ll be out for the next couple weeks.”

Against MTSU on Saturday, Veltkamp entered the game in place of the injured Finley just 10 plays into the game – Veltkamp finished off that drive with a 4-yard touchdown pass to tight end River Helms, giving the Tops a quick lead in what was just the start of a dominating performance by the 6-foot-6 quarterback at MTSU’s Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Veltkamp was 27 of 30 passing for 398 yards and five touchdowns, and ran for another to lead WKU to its sixth straight win in the longtime “100 Miles of Hate” series against the Blue Raiders and secure a 1-0 start in Conference USA play.

Veltkamp’s 256.4 rating was the third-best ever in single game by a WKU quarterback, and his 17 consecutive completions to end the game was the second-longest stretch in a game by a WKU quarterback. His 90% completion percentage was the best mark ever in a game by a Hilltopper quarterback with at least 10 completions.

The accolades poured in for Veltkamp on Monday’s following his stellar relief outing against MTSU – he was named the CUSA Offensive Player of the Week and also named to the Davey O’Brien Award’s Great 8, which added him to that award’s official watch list. Veltkamp was also one of eight quarterbacks recognized as Manning Award “Stars of the Week.”

Veltkamp, who battled Finley for the starting job through fall camp after a breakout performance in a relief role in last season’s Famous Toastery Bowl win – in his first extended appearance for the Tops, the then-redshirt freshman rallied WKU from a four-touchdown deficit against Old Dominion by passing for 383 yards and five touchdowns in a 38-35 overtime win – the fourth-largest comeback ever in a bowl game.

Finley, who transferred to WKU in the spring from Texas State after a strong season for the Bobcats, had a decided edge in game experience and got the start in the Tops’ first three games. In a season-opening 63-0 blowout loss at then-No. 5 Alabama, Veltkamp took over late in the first half and played the entire second half but didn’t have much success in moving the Tops’ offense (4 of 9 passing for 11 yards).

Finley started the following week at home against Eastern Kentucky and Veltkamp did not see action. But when Finley went down with the injury, Veltkamp was ready to go.

“What I see from Caden is there’s really no fear in his eyes,” Helton said. “ … He feels very comfortable when he runs out there. Both times, in the bowl game and at Middle Tennessee, it’s tough for a quarterback to come off the bench – sometimes you’ve got to find your groove, get in a rhythm. Right out of the gate, he seems to always feel comfortable. So that’s a good sign. He just needs to continue to do that. He’s a good leader for our football team. He’s a confident player. He prepares well for each game.

“Again, I’m excited to see him have the opportunity to see him go lead our team at home. It’s going to take everything we’ve got against Toledo. They’re a good football team and good quarterback play is going to be needed in this game and I know he’ll provide that for us.”

Veltkamp credited the veteran Finley with helping prepare him to excel when the time came Saturday following the Tops’ win.

“The game is easy when the guy in front of you is the way that TJ is,” Veltkamp said. “TJ, always in practice, I’m behind him and he’s looking back and we’re talking about plays in practice and where we can go with the ball. So having him in front of me for sure helped me to be able to go out there and just play free.”

Now Veltkamp, who has completed 76 of 97 career passing attempts for 821 yards and 10 touchdowns – plus 82 rushing yards and a touchdown on 29 carries – is tasked with leading the Tops’ offense.

First-year WKU offensive coordinator Will Friend saw Veltkamp’s phenomenal night in the Famous Toastery Bowl first-hand and has seen him every day in practice since.

“I was at the bowl game last year, so I did get to see him play,” Friend said. “I wasn’t coaching, I was eating popcorn and spectating. But I did get to see him play. I watch him every day in practice and those type of things. Like any other position, a guy comes up and you weren’t the starter – something happens and you get called on. It’s good to see a guy go in and answer the call when needed and I thought he did a good job.”

KICKOFF TIME ANNOUNCED FOR WKU-BOSTON COLLEGE GAME

WKU’S game at Boston College on Sept. 28 will kick off at 11 a.m. CT at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, and will be televised on the ACC Network.

Boston College is 2-1 overall and 1-0 in ACC play this season. The Eagles picked up wins at Florida State and against Duquesne before falling at Missouri last weekend. Boston College hosts Michigan State on Saturday before the matchup with WKU (2-1).

The Sept. 28 meeting will be the first between WKU and Boston College.{&end}