Tigers Football Preview: Western Kentucky

Tuesday, December 20

Boca Raton, FL

6:00 PM

University of Memphis

Western Kentucky

Tickets

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Dec 19, 2016 | Football

2016 Boca Raton Bowl Guide

Memphis to face Hilltoppers in Boca Raton Bowl Tuesday.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – It's Florida! It's fun 'n sun time! It's ocean and pool time!

Yes, the Boca Raton Bowl trip is a well-deserved reward for the University of Memphis football players and staff, and head coach Mike Norvell realizes that. But, Norvell also wants to make sure his squad knows there is a purpose for this trip: a bowl game victory.

The 2016 Boca Raton Bowl is set for a 6 p.m. (CT) kickoff Tuesday, Dec. 20. ESPN is televising the contest from FAU Stadium on the campus of Florida Atlantic University.

"By finishing strong, we put ourselves in a position to go to a beautiful place like Boca Raton," said Norvell, who is making his head coach debut in a bowl game Tuesday. "It's somewhere our guys are excited to go and play against a tremendous opponent.

"Getting to a bowl game is a great accomplishment, but it's about going and winning the game. Nowhere on our goal board does it say to just go to a bowl. We want to be bowl champions. But it's going to take great preparation and playing every second of those 60 minutes to have a chance for a win."

Indeed, Western Kentucky provides a stern test for the Tigers with the Hilltoppers' high-flying offense and stout defense, especially in the run game. Norvell is well aware of the weapons Western Kentucky has on both sides of the ball, but he is quick to point out that the game may be won by special teams – an area that receives some attention but largely goes under the radar.

"Western Kentucky is dynamic at receiver," said Norvell. "They have three, four guys that are really special with the ball in their hands. Their quarterback is really good at distributing the ball and letting them make plays. They also run the ball well, and they are one of the most-balanced teams we've face this season. On defense, they are multiple, and they like to attack and apply pressure. They are similar schematically to what we saw against Houston.

"One of the keys to this game is special teams. This is the best special teams units we will play against this season. They have a couple of dynamic returners, and they also have really good coverage units. Our guys know they are going to have to play at a high level."

Memphis and Western Kentucky are ranked fourth (26.95 ypg) and fifth (26.80), respectively, in kickoff returns, and both kick return units have at least one return for a touchdown (UM, 3; WKU, 1). Both squads also defend kick returns well, with Memphis ranking second (15.46 ypg) and Western Kentucky 23^rd (18.47) nationally in that statistical category.

An advantage the Tigers may have in the kick return game is senior kicker Jake Elliott. His 60 touchbacks, which are third-most nationally, has negated opponents' number of returnable kicks this season. Memphis will rely on Elliott's ability to kick touchbacks Tuesday, as Western Kentucky has the nation's top kick returner in Kylen Towner, who averages 40.8 yards per return. Towner, an All-C-USA second team pick, has one return for a score.

On the other side, Hilltoppers' opponents have 76 kick returns compared to only 22 touchbacks. The chance to return kicks is good news for the Tigers' tandem of Tony Pollard and Darrell Henderson. Pollard, the 2016 American Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Year, is ninth nationally in kick return yardage (28.4) and is tied for second in the country with two returns for touchdowns. Henderson has two returns for a 56.5 average and one score (99 yards at SMU).

The Memphis punt return coverage unit also will be tested Tuesday. Western Kentucky has the country's second-best punt return team at 17.93 yards per game. Leading the Hilltoppers on punt returns is All-Conference USA first teamer Nacarius Fant, who has returned two punts for scores. The Tigers' punting tandem of Spencer Smith and Nick Jacobs have had only seven of their punts returned, tied for sixth fewest in the nation. The Tigers have allowed only 9.4 yards per punt return.

The place-kicking game is nearly a wash between the two teams, with both kickers having outstanding seasons. Elliott, a Lou Groza Award semifinalist, has 114 points on a perfect 54-of-54 PAT and 20-of-24 field goals. He is 12-of-14 on field goals of 40 or more yards, including two 50-yarders. Hilltoppers sophomore kicker Skyler Simcox is 64-of-64 PAT and 15-of-20 field goals and also has two field goals of 50 or more yards.

Television: ESPN
Radio: 600 WREC/102.9 FM (Flagship station)
Internet Video: ESPN3.com
LiveTweet: @Tigersmedia, @MemphisFB

Tigers Tidbits/Five Notes To Know
• Tuesday's Boca Raton Bowl meeting with Western Kentucky is only the sixth encounter overall and the first since 1956 between the two programs. The series is tied at 2-2-1. Tuesday's match-up is the first between the two programs in a bowl and also at a neutral site. Four of the previous five meetings were in Memphis, with the lone game played in Bowling Green, Ky., coming in the 1934 season. The Tigers have a current two-game win streak in the series, including a 42-0 win in the last encounter Oct. 27, 1956. Western Kentucky's last win in the series was a 12-0 victory Oct. 21, 1936.

• When Memphis and Western Kentucky face off Tuesday, fans in attendance and those watching on ESPN will see two of the Football Bowl Subdivision's (FBS) winningest programs in recent seasons. In the last three years, the Tigers and Hilltoppers are in the FBS top-20 programs in both overall wins and winning percentage. Memphis is tied 16^th nationally with 27 overall wins and also tied 16^th nationally in winning percentage at 71.1 percent. Western Kentucky is tied seventh nationally with 30 overall victories and is 11^th nationally in winning percentage at 75 percent. The two programs also have done quite well in their respective leagues the past three seasons (2014-16). Memphis has a 17-7 record in American Athletic Conference play and won one conference crown the last three campaigns. Western Kentucky has a 19-5 mark in Conference USA and won two league titles from 2014-16.

• For Memphis, Tuesday's game with Western Kentucky is another recent "long-time, no-see" match-up. When the Boca Raton Bowl kicks off, it will be the first meeting between the two programs in 60 seasons. In the last 10 years (since 2007), the Tigers have played four "long-time, no-see" foes and have a 3-1 record in those contests. In the 2016 season opener, Memphis defeated Southeast Missouri 35-17. The game was the first meeting between the Tigers and Redhawks since 1934 – a span of 82 seasons. The other three "long-time, no-see" match-ups were Austin Peay in 2011 (last played 1957; 54 years), Middle Tennessee in 2007 (last played 1954; 53 years) and UT Martin in 2009 (last played in 1932; 77 years).

• With a victory Tuesday, head coach Mike Norvell can become the first Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) rookie head coach in 2016 to win nine games and also win a bowl game. The only other FBS rookie head coach that can have nine wins along with a bowl victory is BYU's Kalani Sitake. Sitake takes his 8-4 record into Wednesday's SDCCU Poinsettia Bowl against Wyoming. Toledo's Jason Candle had a 9-4 record, but dropped a 31-28 decision to Appalachian State in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl Dec. 17.

• The 2016 four-year seniors enter Tuesday's Boca Raton Bowl with 30 victories from 2013 through the Nov. 25 victory over Houston. With a win over Western Kentucky, those seniors would have 31 victories and become the second-winningest class by itself in program history. The 30 wins in a four-year span are tied for the second-most in the most program and are the most by a Tigers' four-year class since the 1963 senior group posted 33 victories from 1960-63. The 2016 four-year seniors' 30 victories are tied with the 1950, 1962 and 1964 classes. The 2016 seniors also are a part of the winningest three-year period in program history. The last three seasons (2014-16), Memphis has 27 wins, surpassing the previous three-year mark of 25 victories set from 1961-63.

Scouting Western Kentucky
The Hilltoppers enter Tuesday's Boca Raton Bowl with a 10-3 overall record and a 7-1 Conference USA mark. Western Kentucky won the C-USA title with a 58-44 victory over Louisiana Tech in the league's championship game Dec. 3. The Hilltoppers are in much the same situation as Memphis was a season ago with a coaching transition. Defensive coordinator Nick Holt is the Hilltoppers' interim head coach and is leading the team in the Boca Raton Bowl. Mike Sanford, a former Western Kentucky assistant coach, was named the Hilltoppers' head coach Dec. 14.

Western Kentucky enters the bowl match-up with one of the nation's most-prolific offenses. The Hilltoppers are ranked in the top-10 nationally in scoring offense (2^nd; 45.1 ppg), passing offense (5^th; 336.8 ypg) and total offense (7^th; 517.4 ypg). Leading the Western Kentucky attack is QB Mike White, who has thrown for 4,027 yards and 34 TD. He has only six interceptions in 386 passing attempts. White's two favorite targets – Taywan Taylor and Nicholas Norris – both have over 1,000 receiving yards. Taylor is tops on the squad with 1,586 receiving yards and 16 TD, and Norris is second with 1,253 yards and 13 TD. Taylor is fifth (122.0 ypg) and Norris 19^th (96.4 ypg) nationally in receiving yards per game.

What aids the Hilltoppers' passing game is the squad's rushing attack, which averages 180.5 yards per contest. RB Anthony Wales has 1,376 yards on 202 carries and also has 24 scores.

Taylor is an All-Conference USA first team pick, and White, Norris and Wales all were All-C-USA second team selections.

Not to be overlooked, but the Western Kentucky defense has put together an impressive 2016 campaign. The Hilltoppers are fourth nationally in rushing defense, allowing only 99.1 yards per game. All-C-USA first team LB Keith Brown led the league with 123 total tackles. Brown also was tops on the team in TFL (12.5), sacks (6.0) and PBU (9). Fellow All-C-USA first teamer and DB Branden Leston is second on the team with 87 total stops.