BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — WKU Football's Class of 2019 earned numerous district, regional and state postseason honors as high school and junior college seasons wrapped up across the nation. The Hilltoppers currently have 17 signees announced for head coach Tyson Helton's first signing class.
Defensive tackle Ricky Barber from Doss High School in Louisville was named to the All-USA Today Kentucky Football First Team, All-State Courier-Journal Second Team, All-District 4-5A Team and Metro Louisville All-Area Team in 2018, then was picked to compete in the Best of the Bluegrass All-Star Football Game. In his junior season of 2017, he was named to the All-State Courier-Journal Third Team and Metro Louisville All-Area Team.
Defensive back Clayton Bush from South Warren High School in Bowling Green was named to the All-USA Today Kentucky Football First Team and All-State Courier-Journal First Team in 2018, then was picked to compete in the Best of the Bluegrass All-Star Football Game. In his junior season of 2017, he was named to the All-SKY Conference Second Team as a wide receiver.
Offensive lineman Jack Randolph of Franklin-Simpson High School in Franklin was named to the All-USA Today Kentucky Football First Team and All-State Courier-Journal Second Team, then was picked to compete in the Best of the Bluegrass All-Star Football Game. In his junior season of 2017, he was named to the All-SKY Conference First Team.
Defensive back T.J. Springer from Maplewood High School in Nashville was named to the All-State Class 4A Team and All-Region 4-4A Team in 2018. In his junior season of 2017, he was named to the All-Region 4-4A Team as a wide receiver.
Defensive back Desmond Johnson, from Valdosta High School in Georgia, earned back-to-back All-Region 1-6A Team honors in his junior and senior seasons. Meanwhile, defensive end Stephone Atkinson from Lake Minneola High School in Florida, was named to the Daily Commercial All-Area First Team.
Jordan Flack from Somerville, Ala., became the first Brewer High School offensive lineman to ever be named to the Alabama Sports Writers Association's All-State Team, and he was also listed on the Class 5A All-Area Team.
Offensive lineman Daylen Powell from Summerville High School in South Carolina was named to the All-USA Today South Carolina Football First Team and All-Lowcountry First Team. Fellow Palmetto Stater, tight end Josh Simon from Crestwood High School, was invited to the Progress Energy Bowl North-South All-Star Game.
From the JuCo ranks, offensive lineman Garrett Nickelson was named to the All-Conference First Team following his 2018 season at Blinn College in Texas. In 2017, as a senior at Clear Springs High School, he was named All-District 24-6A First Team.
Receiver Manny Allen from Rancho Verde High School in Moreno Valley, Calif., played in the 2018 Polynesian Bowl and was a nominee for that year's U.S. Army All-American Bowl Game.
In addition, wideout Tyler Smith from Salem High School in Ellenwood, Ga., played in the 2018 Elite Raw Talent All-American Bowl and wideout Dalvin Smith from Glasgow High School competed in the 2017 Best of the Bluegrass All-Star Football Game and was named to the All-SKY Conference First Team as a defensive back.
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