Veltkamp and Messer commit to FAU football

Cole Scott,

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – After entering the transfer portal for the second straight season, quarterback Caden Veltkamp has reportedly decided to depart from the Hill and head south to play for the Owls at Florida Atlantic Univerisity.

But he’s not alone, as receiver Easton Messer will join him in Boca Raton to play under former WKU offensive coordinator and current FAU head coach Zach Kittley.

Just under a week after taking the field at FAU stadium to play in the 2024 Boca Raton Bowl, the talented pair will be returning to the area soon to prepare for the 2025 season.

For Veltkamp, his time in Bowling Green comes to a close after a spectacular high school career at South Warren High School and 17 games played in a Hilltopper uniform the past three seasons.

He opened the eyes of WKU fans with his outstanding play in the 2023 Famous Toastery Bowl, where he led the Tops to a marvelous comeback win over Old Dominion, and just a few games into 2024, he received the starting spot.

It’s safe to say he excelled in that role under offensive coordinator Will Friend and head coach Tyson Helton, as he was named the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year following a season where he tallied 23 passing touchdowns on 2,806 passing yards and seven rushing touchdowns on 162 rushing yards.

And for Messer, the in-state star from Louisville made an impact on the team as a redshirt freshman in 2023, where 42 receptions led to 484 receiving yards, four touchdowns, and a handful of C-USA honors, including spots on the All-Freshman team as a wide receiver and kick returner, and an Honorable Mention at kick returner.

His second full season on the field was a step up, as 2024 saw Messer rack up 55 catches for 793 receiving yards and four more touchdowns, landing him another C-USA Honorable Mention.

The production that the Hilltoppers will be losing from Veltkamp and Messer is a tough pill to swallow, but in today’s era of college football, the only way to bounce back is to recruit and find more talent inside of the portal.

There’s no question that WKU will look a lot different on the gridiron in 2025, but Coach Helton and his staff will be doing their best work in the offseason to return to the top of Conference USA, and this time bring the league title back to Bowling Green.

 

 

 

Connect with News 40

Download the WNKY News 40 Weather App