The Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame Announced Another Big News For WKU Concerning quarterback Maverick McIvor And Four Other Significant Players
WKU Football had five players selected to the 2025 Kentucky Collegiate All-Commonwealth Team, as announced Tuesday by the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Representing the Hilltoppers are quarterback Maverick McIvor, offensive lineman Marshall Jackson, running back La’Vell Wright, linebacker Anthony Brackenridge, and defensive back Demarko Williams.
The All-Commonwealth Team is a preseason honor recognizing the top college football players across Kentucky. It celebrates not only athletic excellence but also academic performance, leadership, and commitment to team success.
“This marks the 12th straight year we’ve honored these exceptional young men from the 17 football-playing colleges and universities in Kentucky,” said Frank Minnifield, executive director of the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame. “They excel on the field and in the classroom, and many will go on to be community leaders throughout the state and beyond.”
Quarterback Maverick McIvor stands out among WKU’s newcomers this offseason. He transferred in from Abilene Christian, where he was one of the top quarterbacks at the FCS level. Over three seasons with the Wildcats, McIvor passed for 8,012 yards and 63 touchdowns, completing 655 of 1,089 attempts with just 21 interceptions.
In 2024, McIvor threw for 3,828 yards and 30 touchdowns to only seven interceptions, averaging 294.5 passing yards per game. He led Abilene Christian to the United Athletic Conference championship and into the FCS Playoffs, where they defeated Northern Arizona in the opening round. His performance earned him Second Team All-American honors from FCS Football Central and First Team All-UAC recognition.
Statistically, McIvor ranked in the FCS top 10 in several categories: fourth in total passing yards, fifth in passing yards per game, sixth in passing touchdowns, and ninth in total points responsible for. In 2023, he recorded 1,972 yards and 17 touchdowns, and in his first year with the program, threw for 2,212 yards and 16 scores. Before joining Abilene Christian, McIvor spent three years at Texas Tech but did not see game action.
Jackson, a native of Brandenburg, Kentucky, and Meade County High School graduate, has been a key starter at tackle for WKU over the past two seasons. In 2024, he started all 14 games at right tackle, playing a crucial role on an offensive line that powered the top passing attack in Conference USA. His efforts earned him All-Conference USA Second Team honors from league head coaches and a spot on the 2024 Phil Steele Postseason CUSA All-Conference Third Team.
Wright, from Louisville and a product of North Hardin High School, joined the Hilltoppers this offseason after spending the previous year at Austin Peay. He led the Governors in rushing with 609 yards and five touchdowns on 115 carries across 10 games, while also adding five catches for 32 yards. Before that, Wright spent three seasons at the University of Kentucky, where he appeared in 17 games. He missed the 2023 season due to injury but played in all 13 games in 2022, rushing for 130 yards and catching six passes for 28 yards. In 2021, he played in four games and redshirted, recording 118 yards and a touchdown on just nine carries as a true freshman.
Brackenridge is heading into his fourth season with WKU. He appeared in 11 games in 2024 before a season-ending injury in late November against Liberty. He started the first five games at linebacker and recorded 23 tackles, including 0.5 for loss, two quarterback hurries, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.
Williams is entering his second year at WKU in 2025. In his debut season, he played in 12 games and started 11, finishing with 37 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, and a pass breakup.
WKU is coming off an 8-6 campaign in 2024, highlighted by an appearance in the Conference USA Championship Game and the Boca Raton Bowl. The Hilltoppers will kick off their 2025 season with a Week 0 CUSA matchup against Sam Houston on Saturday, August 23, at Houchens-Smith Stadium.
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