Western Kentucky and head football coach Tyson Helton have agreed to the parameters of a new four-year contract, a source confirmed to the Daily News on Saturday. First reported by ESPN, the new contract which would run through the 2028 season has not been announced by the school yet. Helton, who just completed his sixth season at WKU, has compiled an overall record of 48-32 since replacing Mike Sanford as head coach to start the 2019 season. The Hilltoppers have twice earned spots in the Conference USA Championship game during Helton’s tenure, losing 49-41 to UTSA in 2021 and falling 52-12 to Jacksonville State earlier this month.
WKU qualified for a bowl game this season to continue Helton’s streak of lead the Tops to a bowl game in each of his six years as head coach. The Hilltoppers’ 27-17 loss to James Madison in the Boca Raton Bowl on Dec. 18 snapped a three-game winning streak in bowls for Helton’s Hilltoppers. Helton is 4-2 in bowl games at WKU. Helton, who led the Hilltoppers to an 8-6 record this past season, has had just one losing season in his six years leading the program. COMING BACK WKU got its second player back from the NCAA transfer portal Friday. Offensive tackle Marshall Jackson, who earned All-CUSA second-team honors this past season, announced on his X (formerly Twitter) social media account that he has exited the portal and will return to WKU. The 6-foot-6, 304-pound Jackson is a Brandenburg native who played at Meade County High School. In four seasons at WKU, Jackson has appeared in 38 games for the Hilltoppers and moved into a full-time starting spot on the offensive line midway through the 2023 season. HEADING OUT The Tops had a late loss to the transfer portal Friday when redshirt senior linebacker Kylan Guidry, according to a 247Sports.com report. Guidry, a 6-4, 240-pound native of Opelousas, Louisiana, has spent the last three seasons at WKU after transferring from Kilgore (Louisiana) Junior College. Guidry moved into a starting spot midway through the 2023 season and finished the year with a team-high 54 tackles, including six for loss and three sacks. This past season, Guidry tallied 45 tackles including seven for loss and three sacks plus a forced fumble. MOVING ON The Hilltoppers had three more former players declare for the NFL draft to bring that total up to seven from this past season’s team. Redshirt senior wide receiver Dalvin Smith, a Glasgow native who spent six seasons at WKU and earned near-legendary status for his bowl game heroics, announced on his Instagram account Saturday his intention to go pro. Smith tallied 131 career catches for 1,571 yards and 21 touchdowns during his career at WKU as first a tight end and then as a wideout. A former high school quarterback, Smith completed 5-of-7 career passes for 164 yards and four touchdowns. He was at his best in bowl games, including a memorable performance in the 2023 Famous Toastery Bowl win against Old Dominion when Smith posted a season-high three touchdowns in the 38-35 overtime victory, including two one-handed grabs, as well as a season-high nine catches in the win. Smith also caught a touchdown pass and threw another in the 2022 New Orleans Bowl win against South Alabama, and tallied a touchdown catch against James Madison in the Tops’ loss earlier this month in the Boca Raton Bowl. Redshirt senior linebacker Sebastian Benjamin announced on his X social media account Sunday he plans to enter the NFL draft. Benjamin, a 6-2, 238-pound native of Philadelphia, spent two seasons at WKU after transferring from Saint Francis. This past season, Benjamin tallied 53 tackles including 5.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and a forced fumble. In 2023, he had 32 tackles with 4.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. On Friday, redshirt junior linebacker Terreance Ellis announced on X that he will enter the NFL draft. A 6-1, 218-pound Houston native, Ellis spent one season at WKU after transferring from Alcorn State. In 2024, Ellis played in all 14 games and tallied 48 tackles along with a forced fumble and a pass breakup. Ellis started his college career at Rice. NEW ADDITIONS The Hilltoppers continue to pick up commitments for the 2025 roster. On Friday, Central Michigan transfer offensive tackle Jemeil Jackson announced his commitment to WKU on his X account. Jackson, a 6-4, 285-pound native of Beaumont, Texas, opened this past season as the Chippewas’ starting left tackle but was injured in the third game of the season and did not play again. Before Central Michigan, Jackson spent three seasons at Fort Valley State. He was a two-year starter and captain, two-time All-CCA All-South Region selection, and earned CCA Football All-South Region First Team honors as a junior in 2023. Jackson was also named to the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference First Team in 2023. On Saturday, on3.com reported Florida State transfer tight end Jackson West has signed with the Hilltoppers. A 6-4, 235-pound native of Huntsville, Alabama, West just completed his redshirt junior season with the Seminoles. A perennial ACC All-Academic Team selection, West has been a steady contributor on special teams during his three seasons at Florida State. West, who did not record a catch during his career at FSU, played in all 12 games for the Seminoles this past season.
