3/30/2023 football Edit

WKU's defense details progress after day five of spring practice

Drew Toennies • InsideHilltopperSports

Staff Writer

Western Kentucky closed out another week of spring practice on Thursday evening as the Hilltoppers' defense sat down with InsideHilltopperSports.com to discuss how the team has been progressing on the field in week two.

WKU defensive coordinator Tyson Summers, Bethune-Cookman transfer defensive lineman Jayden Loving and UT-Martin transfer defensive lineman Nonte Davis sat down to detail their progression on the field following day five.

Summers went in-depth on how the team has been looking at this point in the spring practice slate, detailing what he envisions for his defense next season.

"We just finished up day five. I think it's been a good camp at this point in time... Kind of our offseason motto was going from good to great. We're going to take the next steps this year and be one of the elite defenses in the country."

— Tyson Summers

With an assortment of talented defensive players from last year's team looking to enter the NFL Draft and the new faces from the transfer portal, Summers talked about how the team has been building chemistry on the field so far this spring.

Summers said that Western Kentucky is in the business of building relationships each and every day, getting accustomed with each other ahead of the upcoming 2023 season.

"We're trying to build it every day. We've got a lot of new faces, both players and coaches... We're in a relationship business as much as anybody in the country is. We're trying to build relationships each day, build it within each other, build it within us. I think it's a huge part of what we do."

— Tyson Summers

Loving, who transferred to Western Kentucky from Bethune-Cookman, discussed his recruitment process with the Hilltoppers, revealing that the team made him feel like family during his visit.

"When I came on my visit, it was more like a family. Everybody knew everybody. My little sister, the guys were playing ping-pong with her. I just felt like coming here is like a family where I can build and better myself here at Western Kentucky."

— Jayden Loving

Loving said that the major differences between being at Bethune-Cookman and at Western Kentucky is the high level of talent on the Hilltoppers' roster at multiple different positions.

The new member of the Hilltoppers' defense said that he's been working on a few different things on the field so far. He said that he's been working on his pass rushing and ability to combat the run game as there is a lot to get better at before the start of the season.

"Here, you got some talent at that level... I'm just adjusting, working on my pass rushing because it's really more of a passing game now. There's a lot to get better at."

— Jayden Loving

Davis, who transferred to Western Kentucky this past offseason from UT-Martin, said that what he's bringing to the field next season is positive energy and dominance, both on the field and on the Hilltoppers' defensive line.

Davis said that he's been adjusting well to the new atmosphere at Western Kentucky and was able to connect with former defensive tackle Brodric Martin, who was practicing with the team for a full week before the team's Pro Day showcase. He added that Martin was giving him advice and tips.

"Positive energy, dominance on the field and on the line... Brodric when he was here for a week. He's been watching me practice and he was good last year. He's just been helping me with tips to get better."

— Nonte Davis

With a tough schedule ahead, Davis went in-depth on how Western Kentucky's defense is preparing on the field so far. He said that as of now, the team is focusing on getting better, growing and using their steps, their hands and their eyes to make an impact on the field.

"We're just focused on ourselves right now. We're not really worried about our opponents right now. We're worried about getting better and ourselves as far as our steps, our hands, our eyes."

— Nonte Davis

Western Kentucky will continue the spring practice schedule next week, returning to Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium on Tuesday to pick things up where they left off.

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