After finally breaking its nation-long losing streak last season, Western Kentucky finally has something to smile about heading into the 2011 campaign.

Rising senior running back Bobby Rainey was one of the top rushers in the country last season, the Hilltoppers return virtually every starter on defense, and coach Willie Taggart recently signed the top-rated recruiting class in the Sun Belt Conference, according to both Rivals and Scout.com.

"What means the most to me is that we got Division I football players that wanted to be here," Taggart said. "That's what means the most. We're going to get their all, and I know that. They wanted to be here.

"They had some pretty good options elsewhere and decided to come here, and that's what gets you excited. I feel like every last one of these guys is No. 1, and they'll all help our football program."

Taggart signed 26 players -- 12 from the state of Florida -- to his second consecutive top-rated Sun Belt class. Eleven of those players were rated as three-star recruits by Rivals.com.

In addition, Western Kentucky returns its starting quarterback in rising junior Kawaun Jakes, three spots along the offensive line and its entire receiving corps from 2010.

"Fresh blood is always good, it makes you more of a competitor," Taggart said. "But the current guys here are starting to realize that they're still pretty good, too. They're starting to become true believers -- and we've got to get them all believing that they're the best thing since sliced bread."

TOP OF THE CLASS

LB Daerius Washington (Dillard High School, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) -- A speedy athlete who plays sideline to sideline, Washington is one of the more versatile defenders in the 2011 class. A linebacker by trade -- and the highest-rated prospect in the class according to Rivals.com -- it wouldn't be out of the question to see him get time in the defensive backfield.

RB Quartterrio Morgan (Mt. Zion High School, Jonesboro, Ga.) -- The Hilltoppers may have found their initial replacement for honorable mention All-American Bobby Rainey -- who is set to graduate following the 2011 season. With speed and size, Morgan chose Western Kentucky after originally committing to Georgia Tech. The promise of being a feature back in a run-heavy offense seemed too difficult to pass up.

DB Eric Robinson-Berry (Warren Central High School, Indianapolis) -- Originally a Louisville commitment, Robinson-Berry should add speed to the Western Kentucky defensive backfield from the moment he walks on campus. His high school coach says he's been clocked at a sub-4.3 40-yard dash, and he is thought of as one of the better overall athletes in the Midwest.

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