Dayton

Wade

Wade (5'10/180) reeled in 19 receptions for 170 yards last season for the Hilltoppers as a sort of hybrid scat back/receiver. However when Houston Baptist OC Zach Kittley was hired in the offseason, he brought in their quarterback and a few receivers from the program along with him. With a new OC sheriff in town, Wade saw his standing in the wide receiver pecking order plummet, as he saw just 16 reps to this point in the season, prompting the entry into the portal.

With Wade still out, WKU will be down two of their top-four pass-catchers for Sunday’s game. Fellow WR Xavier Lane will also miss the game with an undisclosed injury. Sort of a faux-running back for the Hilltoppers, Wade has earned 19 receptions for just 170 yards in 2020 thus far. Wade last played mid-October, so it isn’t terribly surprising he will be missing this game.

Wade was basically a glorified running back against Marshall. The same was the case in last week’s game against Middle Tennessee, too, so this is not exactly a new role for Wade. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound receiver does not always have enough physicality to win as a legit receiver, but is still worth finding ways to get the ball in his hands. Maybe Western Kentucky can come up with some creative ways to do so ahead of next week’s game against UAB.