Hutchinson excited to lead on offense, Tops defense places emphasis on run game

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Thursday morning, the Tops took to Feix Field in week one of the team’s fall camp.

The group is working to build its chemistry ahead of the week zero meeting with Sam Houston and helping the new guys on the offense find their footing is redshirt junior K.D. Hutchinson.

Hutchinson served as a big play threat for WKU in 2024, crossing the goal line three times and racking up over 400 all-purpose yards.

The last handful of months saw changes for the receiver, who bulked up in the weight room and even changed jersey numbers from No. 15 to No. 2, a childhood favorite.

As he worked over the offseason to build off of his latest year, he was aided by some former Tops now in the pros.

“ It’s crazy. I’ll be talking to Malachi and even Upton and they just tell me, ‘Bro, you got to put on that weight, you got to get to that part.’ Upton told me, he was like, ‘Every time I walk through the facility, I see somebody,’ and I was like, bro, I got to get bigger,” Hutchinson said. “That was the big thing for me in the offseason, putting on weight, trying to stay healthy and trying to stay strong.”

Also eyeing a stronger 2025 is the WKU defensive line, who allowed the most rushing yards per game in Conference USA last season.

As Davis Merritt and Da’Von Brown take over the co-defensive coordinator positions, they have made that area the main emphasis, and it’s been evident early on in camp.

With newcomers such as Mackavelli Malotumau, Jakeem Fletcher and Eric Etienne plugging into the defensive front as transfers, the program is hopeful it can quickly establish a fresh identity thanks to their experience prior to the Hill.

“ Last year’s defense, they really ain’t stop the run that well, but this year we’re going to stop the run. We got linebackers that communicate and our D-line, we all up and tight,” Etienne said. “Coach James’s emphasis is that we stop the run. They can’t get through the run on first and second down, then third down, we’re throwing a pass rush. We’re going to get home every time, that’s all we do.”