WKU Football: Defensive coordinator Clayton White named Broyles Award nominee

November 13, 2019

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.