On the same day Western Kentucky lost a potential starting quarterback to likely season-ending surgery, the Hilltoppers officially gained a target in the passing game.
In late March, Wake Forest transfer Steve Donatell confirmed that he had decided to continue his collegiate playing career at WKU. A couple of months later, the football program confirmed to the Bowling Green Daily News that the tight end has been added to the Hilltoppers’ roster.
As Donatell comes to WKU as a graduate transfer, he’ll be eligible to play immediately in 2016. This coming season will be his final year of eligibility.
Donatell began his career at Wake as a linebacker, starting the first three games of his redshirt freshman season at the position before a knee injury sidelined him for the remainder of 2013. The 6-6, 230-pound senior moved to tight end in spring practice last year and caught three passes for 31 yards.
WKU will be looking to replace the production lost at the position by All-American Tyler Higbee, a fourth-round pick of the Los Angeles Rams who caught 38 passes for 563 yards and eight touchdowns last season.