LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – WKU Football defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach Clayton
White was listed as one of 41 nominees for the Broyles Award, it was announced on
Wednesday. The honor recognizes the top assistant coach out of approximately 1,500
in 130 FBS programs across the country.
White is only 1-of-22 defensive coordinators, 1-of-17 Group of Five coaches and
1-of-2 from Conference USA (UAB defensive coordinator David Reeves). He was
previously honored as a Broyles Award nominee during the 2017 season, his first on
The Hill, among 55 other coaches.
White’s full-time defensive coaching staff consists of Maurice Crum (linebackers),
Andy LaRussa (safeties), Jimmy Lindsey (defensive ends) and Kenny Martin (defensive
tackles).
Through 10 games this season, the 6-4 Hilltoppers rank among the best in the nation
in:
* Passing first downs allowed (64 total, tied for seventh)
* Completion percentage against (53.5% rate, tied for 11th)
* Passing defense (181.5 yards per game, 12th)
* Third down defense (29.7% conversion rate, 12th)
* First downs allowed (15.9 per game, tied for 13th)
* Red zone appearances against (23 total, tied for 15th)
* 10-yard rushes against (31 total, tied for 16th)
* Red zone defense (73.9% scoring rate, 18th)
* Total defense (320 yards per game, 22nd)
* Scoring defense (20.5 points per game, 25th)
WKU’s well-rounded defensive unit boasts eight players with multiple tackles for
loss, seven players with multiple quarterback hurries, seven players with an
interception, six players with multiple pass breakups and four players with at least
66 tackles.
As for individual highlights, defensive end DeAngelo Malone leads C-USA with 18
tackles for loss and nine sacks, while those numbers rank tied for second and sixth
in the nation, respectively. Another defensive end, Juwuan Jones, has nine tackles
for loss and 4.5 sacks on the season, building on his 2018 FWAA Freshman
All-American campaign.
Linebacker Kyle Bailey’s 7.7 tackles per game rank 11th in C-USA, while his two
interceptions vs. UAB have him tied for sixth. Safeties Devon Key and Antwon Kincade
have combined for 134 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 10 pass breakups, while each
of them grabbed an interception at Arkansas. The defensive tackles have also put
forth some stellar production, combining for 79 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 4.5
sacks and eight quarterback hurries in White’s 4-2-5 scheme.
A 20-member selection committee of distinguished former head coaches, broadcasters,
and a committee representing the FWAA will select 15 semi-finalists and five
finalists from the list of nominees and an overall winner. Those finalists will be
invited to travel to Little Rock, Ark. where the 2019 Broyles Award winner will be
announced on Tuesday, Dec. 10.
The Hilltoppers (6-4, 4-2 C-USA) are idle in Week 12 after their 45-19 win at
Arkansas. WKU’s next game will be on Saturday, Nov. 23, when the team travels to
Hattiesburg, Miss. to face Southern Miss (6-3, 4-1 C-USA) for a 2:30 p.m. CT kick
off.
