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Published Apr 20, 2023
WKU's LB room recaps practice, previews Spring Game
Drew Toennies  •  InsideHilltopperSports
Staff Writer
Twitter
@drew_toennies

Western Kentucky was back in action at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium on Thursday afternoon to close out the spring practice schedule as the Hilltoppers' offense and defense prepare to face off against each other in the annual Spring Game.

The Hilltoppers' linebacker room sat down with InsideHilltopperSports.com to go in-depth on what the team has accomplished on the field defensively, detailing defensive focuses for Western Kentucky's Spring Game on Saturday.

WKU assistant coach and inside linebackers coach Davis Merritt, a former defensive quality control coordinator at Georgia and one of the latest additions to the Hilltoppers' coaching staff, revealed what the inside linebackers have been working on.

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"Attitude and effort for my group specifically, chasing the ball, lineman assignment, basic fundamentals. And then developing that core relationship as a unit. We're trying to work on and improve our technique each and every day."
Davis Merritt

After several scrimmages, Merritt said that the offense has been doing a really good job of changing up the tempo.

Merritt said that the defense's job in the Spring Game is to get lined up fast, play fast and play physical.

"Our offense does a great job. They change up tempos, they got really good players. Our job is to get lined up fast so when they change the tempo, we gotta get lined up, play fast, play physical."
Davis Merritt

WKU linebacker Bryson Washington, a huge contributor to the Hilltoppers' defense last season, detailed what he's been working on and progressing on the field during the spring practice slate.

With multiple defensive talents from last year's team looking to play in the NFL next season, Washington said there's some big shoes to fill, revealing he's trying to help the defense as a group.

"Filling some big shoes. We had a lot of good players trying to go to the league right now and I'm just trying to be the next one up and help the whole group as a defense."
Bryson Washington

Washington said a huge focus for the defense as a unit over the course of spring practice has been to be even better than they were last season.

He additionally said that everybody on the defensive side of the ball have been working well together and have been operating as a complete unit.

"Be better than we were last year. We had a lot of first place, second place and defensive stuff. We want to keep that going and be better than we were last year."
Bryson Washington

WKU linebacker Kylan Guidry, another returning linebacker from last season, said that the main focus for the defense has been to play fast, play physical, make tackles and play together.

"Just playing fast, giving good effort, being physical and making tackles... Just playing together. If things go bad, just keep on going."
Kylan Guidry

Guidry said that the Hilltoppers' defense feels good heading into the Spring Game this weekend as the defense will get better from competing against the offense.

"We feel good. Iron sharpens iron. They're an up-tempo offense, so we get into shape just by going against them every day."
Kylan Guidry

Western Kentucky will reconvene at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium on Saturday to kickoff the Hilltoppers' annual Spring Game.

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