Bowling Green, Ky. - Two players on each side of the ball - defensive lineman Jared Clendenin, linebacker Taurean Smith, wide receiver Jake Gaebler and running back Tyrell Hayden - have been named team captains for the Western Kentucky University football team for this Saturday's game against Louisiana-Lafayette.

Kickoff between the Hilltoppers and Ragin' Cajuns is set for 6 p.m. (CST) at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium.

Clendenin and Smith both rank among the team leaders in tackles through five games this season. A sophomore from Stone Mountain, Ga., Clendenin has posted 25 total tackles - including 13 solo stops - and two tackles for loss on the year. He has also been credited with a pass breakup.

A senior from Perry, Ga., Smith has made 41 stops, with two tackles for loss and an interception. He has posted double-digit tackles in each of the last two games, finishing with 13 at Navy and 10 last week against Florida International. Smith currently ranks eighth in the Sun Belt Conference in tackles.

Hayden has carried the ball 16 times in the first five games for 56 yards - an average of 3.5 yards per carry. He also has a pair of catches for 26 yards. The Lexington, Ky., senior enters Saturday's game needing 107 rushing yards to reach 2,000 for his career.

Gaebler - a senior from Mundelein, Ill. - returned to action last week after missing the previous two games with an injury. He caught three passes for 24 yards against FIU, moving him into a tie for second on WKU's career receptions list with 131, and 10th on the career receiving yards chart with 1,465. He needs just 19 more catches to break Curtis Hamilton's school record of 149 receptions.