The recruiting class consists of 19 freshmen and a transfer. Blake Boyd, a 6-foot-3, 235-pound outside linebacker, transferred from Louisville after redshirting in the fall. A native of Madisonville, Ky., Boyd was a first-team all-state selection after posting 90 tackles including six sacks as a senior at Madisonville North Hopkins High School.
K.J. Black, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound quarterback from Louisville, Ky., threw for 3,421 yards and 18 touchdowns last season in leading Fern Creek High to the second round of the state playoffs. Rod Johnson was named first-team all-state by both the Associated Press and Louisville Courier-Journal as a senior after rushing for 2,015 yards and 31 touchdowns. The 6-foot, 235-pound fullback also recorded 1,1110 yards his sophomore season. Wide receiver Seth Tamme, a 6-foot, 175-pound Danville, Ky., native, caught 69 passes for 1,237 yards and 16 scores a year ago at Boyle County HS, helping the Rebels to an 11-2 finish and the quarterfinals of the state 3A playoffs. Derrick Elder was named second-team all-state after leading Louisville St. Xavier High to the state 4A championship game. The 6-foot-2, 310-pound offensive lineman was also part of the Tigers’ 2004 state championship squad.
The Hilltoppers also received commitments from four defensive players from the Commonwealth. Darius Baughman (pronounced BOFF-man) and DeMarco Williams both are outside linebackers, while Ronnie Letcher and Orlando Misaalefua are safeties. A 6-foot-1, 205-pound Danville resident, Baughman was an all-state selection after posting 79 total tackles, including seven for loss, last fall for Danville High. Williams, a 6-4, 215-pound Louisville native, played outside linebacker for Ballard High School. Letcher posted 119 total tackles in his three years at Richmond Madison Central HS while helping the Indians to 29 wins. The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder was an honorable mention all-state selection and the Dirstrict Player of the Year last fall.
Five players from Georgia — all on the defensive side of the ball — signed. Entonia Johnson, a 6-foot, 280-pound native of Hamilton, was selected Harris County High School’s most valuable player after amassing 45 tackles including six sacks a year ago. Mychal Patterson, a 6-4, 275-pound Stone Mountain native, recorded 62 total tackles in 2005 — including 41 solos and four sacks. Mike Gothard was selected Cobb County’s Linebacker of the Year after posting 126 tackles, including 10 behind the line of scrimmage, for George Walton Comprehensive High. The 6-foot-1, 225-pounder was also an all-region and all-county selection. A 6-foot-1, 180-pound safety from Marietta, Ghervon Blue was named first-team all-state after picking off six passes in 2005, returning three for touchdowns. Clint Mitchell was a first-team all-area selection after leading Stockbridge High with 63 tackles as a senior.
Jacob McLaurin is a 6-foot-5, 300-pound offensive lineman from Indianapolis, Ind., Warren Central High. A two-time all-area pick, McLaurin helped lead Warren Central to three state championships. Lloyd Pressley, a 6-foot-4, 260-pound native of Evansville, Ind., also plays on the offensive line. He was a first-team all-state selection by the Bloomington Herald-Times after posting the highest grade for a Reitz High School player in the last five years, adding all-conference, all-area and all-city honors.
WKU signed a pair of players from both Alabama and Ohio as well. C.J. Foster and B.J. Taylor both are from Tuscumbia, Ala., Deshler High. The former is a 5-foot-10, 165-pound cornerback who earned all-area honors and was selected for the north-south all-star game after registering 93 tackles and five interceptions as a senior. The latter, a 6-foot-2, 250-pound defensive lineman, was named first team all state after posting 145 tackles — including 35 tackles for loss and four sacks. Marquise Burns, a 6-foot, 210-pound inside linebacker from Dayton Colonel White High School, was chosen the conference Defensive Player of the Year after leading the Cougars in tackles and sacks. A 5-foot-9, 170-pound cornerback from Cincinnati, Erik Jones was a four-year starter at Winton Woods High School, earning first-team all-city and all-conference honors.
