Phil Steele Publications announced its NCAA Football Preseason All-Conference Teams this week. Eight Hilltoppers made the Conference USA list.

WKU earned two representatives on the First Team, graduate quarterback Bailey Zappe and senior defensive end Deangelo Malone. Zappe transferred from Houston Baptist to WKU on December 27, 2020 after a career with the Huskies where he threw for over 10,000 yards and 78 touchdowns. In 2020, Zappe threw for 1,833 yards and 15 touchdowns in only four games. He set a record for the most passing yards ever by a FCS quarterback against an FBS defense when he threw for 567 yards against Texas Tech on Sept. 12, 2020.

For Malone, this is his second consecutive year making Phil Steele’s Preseason First Team. Malone is coming off of a six-sack 2020 season along with 11 tackles for loss. Malone was named C-USA defensive player of the year in 2020, as well as being named to the All C-USA First Team. He was also named to the Athlon Sports Preseason All C-USA Team on May 26. 

Defensive back Antwon Kincade was the lone Hilltopper on the Second Team. Kincade is coming off of a 2020 season that saw him named to Phil Steel’s All C-USA Third Team and Pro Football Focus’ All C-USA Second Team. For the 2020 season, he racked up 85 tackles along with 5.5 tackles for loss and eight passes defended. 

Tight end Joshua Simon and offensive tackle Cole Spencer were named to the Third Team, along with kicker Brayden Narveson and punter John Haggerty III. Simon caught 33 passes to go along with three touchdowns in 2020. Spencer played in all 12 games for Hilltoppers while being named to his second consecutive PFF All C-USA First Team last season. 

Haggerty played in all 12 games for the Hilltoppers last season and made the All C-USA Second Team. Narveson made All C-USA Second Team after making 92.86% of his field goals in 2020. 

Linebacker Will Ignont was the lone WKU representative on the Fourth Team. He played in one game for the Hilltoppers against Georgia State on December 26, 2020, collecting three tackles. He transferred from Tennessee to the Hill on Jan. 30, 2020 after accumulating 68 tackles, two for a loss, across 21 games with the Volunteers.      

Football reporter Wyatt Sparkman can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @Wyattsparkman3.