Gabe Arnold | Fr. | OL | 6-6 | 319 | Merritt Island HS | Merritt Island, Fla.
Gabe Arnold comes to WKU from Merritt Island High School in Florida, where he was considered a three-star prospect at offensive tackle by 247Sports and On3, and a two-star prospect according to Rivals. Arnold also played along the defensive line during his high school career.
𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒊𝒍𝒍 ✍️
— WKU Football (@WKUFootball) December 20, 2023
👤 Gabe Arnold
📲 @GabrielArnold0
🏈 OL
🏠 Merritt Island, Fla.
🏫 Merritt Island HS#GoTops | #NSD24 pic.twitter.com/cVeXEExbFg
Melvin Collins Jr. | Jr. | OL | 6-4 | 328 | Northwest Mississippi Community College | Terry, Miss.
Melvin Collins Jr. arrives at WKU via Northwest Mississippi Community College, where he has played the past two seasons. He was a Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference All-Conference First Team – North selection and received All-Region 23 recognition this past season after helping his team to a 7-3 record and a No. 13 final NJCAA ranking. He played in six games the season prior and helped the Rangers to the NJCAA Division I Football Playoffs. He prepped at Hartfield Academy under Craig Bowman, where he helped the Hawks to a 9-3 record and a runner-up finish in the MAIS Class 6A playoffs as a senior.
𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒊𝒍𝒍 ✍️
— WKU Football (@WKUFootball) December 20, 2023
👤 Melvin Collins
📲 @thereal_ATH
🏈 OL
🏠 Terry, Miss.
🏫 Northwest Mississippi CC#GoTops | #NSD24 pic.twitter.com/p74XaVG2qz
Cameron Flowers | Fr. | WR | 5-11 | 169 | Warner Robins HS | Warner Robins, Ga.
Cameron Flowers makes his way to WKU from Warner Robins High School in Warner Robins, Georgia. The receiver is rated a three-star recruit by 247Sports, Rivals, and On3. In 2022, Flowers was a two-way player – seeing snaps at both receiver and cornerback – for a team that went 10-5 and made the AAAAA title game. He caught 31 passes for 684 yards and 10 touchdowns that season, and contributed in the return game as well. Flowers also runs track and plays basketball at Warner Robins High.
𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒊𝒍𝒍 ✍️
— WKU Football (@WKUFootball) December 20, 2023
👤 Cam Flowers
📲 @CameronFlowers_
🏈 WR
🏠 Warner Robins, Ga.
🏫 Warner Robins HS#GoTops | #NSD24 pic.twitter.com/zav2eHv66F
Xavion "Tutu" Griffin | Fr. | DB | 6-0 | 182 | Vero Beach Senior HS | Vero Beach, Fla.
Xavion "Tutu" Griffin comes to WKU from Vero Beach High, where he was considered a three-star prospect at defensive back by 247Sports and On3, a two-star recruit by Rivals. As a senior in 2023, Griffin totaled 46 tackles, with 8.5 for loss, three quarterback hurries, three interceptions, six passes defended and two blocked kicks. As a junior at Port St. Lucie Centennial High in 2022, he totaled 38 tackles, five pass breakups and an interception.
𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒊𝒍𝒍 ✍️
— WKU Football (@WKUFootball) December 20, 2023
👤 Xavion "Tutu" Griffin
📲 @xaviongriffin15
🏈 DB
🏠 Vero Beach, Fla.
🏫 Vero Beach Senior HS#GoTops | #NSD24 pic.twitter.com/5inM8NDq9C
Jaylen Hampton | Fr. | WR | 6-1 | 197 | New Hampstead HS | Atlanta, Ga.
Jaylen Hampton comes to WKU from New Hampstead High School, where he was rated a three star prospect at receiver by 247Sports, Rivals, and On3. He had 73 catches for 1,158 yards and 14 touchdowns in 10 games as a senior, according to his team's MaxPreps account, and added 86 yards and five scores on 11 rushing attempts. As a junior in 2022, he caught 48 passes for 712 yards and 10 touchdowns as he helped his team to a berth in Georgia's AAAA playoffs.
𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒊𝒍𝒍 ✍️
— WKU Football (@WKUFootball) December 20, 2023
👤 Jaylen Hampton
📲 @JaylenHampton17
🏈 WR
🏠 Savannah, Ga.
🏫 New Hampstead HS#GoTops | #NSD24 pic.twitter.com/c7i701rtCh
Harper Holloman | Fr. | DE | 6-2 | 244 | Westlake HS | Atlanta
Harper Holloman joins the Hilltoppers after a prep career at Westlake High School in Atlanta. He is rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports, Rivals, On3, and ESPN. As a junior in 2022, he recorded 58 tackles, with nine for loss and five sacks, two fumble recoveries and an interception, helping Westlake to a 9-4 record and a regional quarterfinal appearance in Georgia's AAAAAAA playoffs.
𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒊𝒍𝒍 ✍️
— WKU Football (@WKUFootball) December 20, 2023
👤 Harper Holloman
📲 @harp_1k
🏈 DL
🏠 Atlanta, Ga.
🏫 Westlake HS#GoTops | #NSD24 pic.twitter.com/jk5sGA6T7N
Damari Jefferson | Fr. | WR | 5-9 | 173 | Oak Grove HS | Hattiesburg, Miss.
Damari Jefferson is a wide receiver out of Oak Grove High School in Mississippi, where he was considered a two-star prospect by Rivals. He posted 42 receptions for 700 yards and 11 touchdowns on his way to First-Team All-State honors as he helped his team to a 13-1 record and a Class 7A state title as a senior.
𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒊𝒍𝒍 ✍️
— WKU Football (@WKUFootball) December 21, 2023
👤 Damari Jefferson
📲 @DamariJefferson
🏈 WR
🏠 Hattiesburg, Miss.
🏫 Oak Grove HS#GoTops | #NSD24 pic.twitter.com/XuxnlArmBz
CJ Kiss | R-Jr. | TE | 6-4 | 239 | Notre Dame College | Gahanna, Ohio
Kiss comes to WKU after a productive career at Division II Notre Dame College. He did not play in 2023 due to injury, but was productive for the Falcons prior to that. In 2022, Kiss appeared in all 12 games his team played and was one of Notre Dame's top receiving threats in the red zone. He was tied for the team lead with four touchdown receptions, and on the year caught 20 passes for 198 yards on his way to All-MEC First Team honors. In 2021, he caught 17 passes for 254 yards and four touchdowns and was named All-MEC Second Team. He played in three games for the Falcons in 2020, with three receptions for 39 yards, and redshirted during his first year with the program in 2019. He prepped at Gahanna Lincoln High, where he played football and baseball.
𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒊𝒍𝒍 ✍️
— WKU Football (@WKUFootball) December 20, 2023
👤 CJ Kiss
📲 @cjkiss17
🏈 TE
🏠 Columbus, Ohio
🏫 Notre Dame College#GoTops | #NSD24 pic.twitter.com/sSdCtEomsP
Miller Malone | Fr. | LB | 6-1 | 196 | Barbers Hill HS | Mont Belvieu, Texas
Miller Malone joins WKU after prepping at Barbers Hill High School in Texas, where he was considered a three-star prospect at linebacker by On3. During his junior season in 2022, Malone posted 103 tackles, with 24 for loss and five sacks, and had four forced fumbles, according to statistics posted on hudl.
𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒊𝒍𝒍 ✍️
— WKU Football (@WKUFootball) December 21, 2023
👤 Miller Malone
📲 @MillerMalone4
🏈 LB
🏠 Monte Belvieu, Texas
🏫 Barbers Hill HS#GoTops | #NSD24 pic.twitter.com/MzuRwqdpDr
Devonte' Mathews | Sr. | S | 5-10 | 196 | Nicholls State | Phenix City, Ala.
Devonte' Mathews comes to WKU from Nicholls State, where he spent one season after starting his college career at West Georgia. Last season as a junior at Nicholls, Mathews was third on the team in total tackles, posting 52 in 10 games played. He had two tackles for loss, a pair of interceptions he returned for a combined 60 yards, four pass breakups, and a fumble recovery he returned 58 yards for a touchdown. In 2022 at West Georgia, he posted 43 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, and two pass breakups. He had 35 tackles in 2021. West Georgia did not compete in 2020 and he redshirted in 2019. He prepped at Central High School in Alabama, where he was rated a two-star prospect by 247Sports, led his team to a 14-0 record and a state championship as a senior, and was named All-State as a defensive back as a junior by the Alabama Sports Writers Association.
Chandler Matthews | R-Sr. | LB | 6-1 | 224 | Limestone University | Dillon, S.C.
Chandler Matthews makes his way to The Hill after spending the previous four seasons at Division II Limestone University. During his career at Limestone, he appeared in 33 games with 213 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, four sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. In his most recent campaign in 2023, Matthews posted 78 tackles in 10 games, with 8.5 tackles for loss and three sacks from his linebacker position. He recorded an interception, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. As a junior in 2022, he played in all 12 games and had 97 tackles, with 8.5 for loss, a sack, and a fumble recovery. He prepped at Latta High School in South Carolina, where he was a three-year starter and earned Region VII-AA All-Region and 2A SCHSL All-State honors as a senior.
𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒊𝒍𝒍 ✍️
— WKU Football (@WKUFootball) December 21, 2023
👤 Chandler Matthews
📲 @Cmatthews_12
🏈 LB
🏠 Dillon, S.C.
🏫 Limestone#GoTops | #NSD24 pic.twitter.com/vDM99BQ7zT
Zsacari Minnis | Fr. | OLB | 6-3 | 218 | Eustis HS | Eustis, Fla.
Zsacari Minnis comes to WKU after prepping at Eustis High in Florida. As a senior, he recorded 88 total tackles, with 19.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. He also had an interception and three fumble recoveries helping his team to a 7-4 record and a berth in the Class 2S playoffs.
𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒊𝒍𝒍 ✍️
— WKU Football (@WKUFootball) December 20, 2023
👤 Zsacari Minnis
📲 @Zsacarim6ix
🏈 OLB
🏠 Eustis, Fla.
🏫 Eustis HS#GoTops | #NSD24 pic.twitter.com/vS31cvHVZH
Rodney Newsom Jr. | R-So. | OL | 6-3 | 295 | Memphis/Itawamba Community College | Eads, Tenn.
Rodney Newsom joins the WKU offensive line after a year at Itawamba Community College, where he appeared in all nine of his team's games this past season. He received Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference North Division honorable mention status. Newsom spent two seasons at Memphis prior to joining Itawamba, and prepped at Briarcrest Christian in Tennessee.
𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒊𝒍𝒍 ✍️
— WKU Football (@WKUFootball) December 20, 2023
👤 Rodney Newsom Jr.
📲 @rodneymuney
🏈 OL
🏠 Eads, Tenn.
🏫 Itawamba CC#GoTops | #NSD24 pic.twitter.com/E9q3zwQ0nh
Chukwunedu Okeke | Fr. | DL | 6-3 | 284 | Pebblebrook HS | Mableton, Ga.
Chukwundedu Okeke arrives at WKU from Pebblebrook High School in Georgia, where he was ranked a three-star prospect by 247Sports and On3. Okeke recorded 41 tackles in 10 games as a senior in 2023, according to his team's MaxPreps, with nine tackles for loss, six sacks, three quarterback hurries, and a forced fumble.
𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒊𝒍𝒍 ✍️
— WKU Football (@WKUFootball) December 20, 2023
👤 Chukwunedu Okeke
📲 @44chukwunedu
🏈 DL
🏠 Mableton, Ga.
🏫 Pebblebrook HS#GoTops | #NSD24 pic.twitter.com/70bAgceHcU
Tucker Parks | Fr. | QB | 6-1 | 193 | Klein Collins HS | Spring, Texas
Tucker Parks joins WKU after prepping at Klein Collins High School in Spring, Texas. He's rated a three-star quarterback prospect by 247Sports and On3, and a two-star recruit by Rivals. As a junior in 2022, Parks threw for 2,533 yards and 31 touchdowns on 162-of-237 passing, added 825 yards and 13 touchdowns rushing, and he was named First Team All-District that year.
𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒊𝒍𝒍 ✍️
— WKU Football (@WKUFootball) December 20, 2023
👤 Tucker Parks
📲 @TuckerParks3
🏈 QB
🏠 Spring, Texas
🏫 Klein Collins HS#GoTops | #NSD24 pic.twitter.com/zo7uigVw3B
Dallen Ponder | Fr. | Ath | 5-9 | 173 | Vanguard HS | Ocala, Fla.
Dallen Ponder comes to WKU from Vanguard High School in Ocala, Florida. Ponder is rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports and On3, and a two-star prospect by Rivals. Ponder, a receiver at Vanguard, posted 33 receptions for 472 yards and five touchdowns in 13 games as a senior, according to his team's MaxPreps account. The season prior he caught 27 passes for 361 yards and five scores. Ponder also ran track in high school.
𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒊𝒍𝒍 ✍️
— WKU Football (@WKUFootball) December 20, 2023
👤 Dallen Ponder
📲 @DallenPonder
🏈 ATH
🏠 Ocala, Fla.
🏫 Vanguard HS#GoTops | #NSD24 pic.twitter.com/8bxP1h0tPH
Riley Stephens | R-Sr. | P | 6-3 | 182 | UCF/Austin Peay | New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
Riley Stephens makes his way to WKU from Austin Peay, where he spent the last three seasons after beginning his career at UCF. He served as Austin Peay's kickoff specialist all three seasons, and averaged 61.7 yards on 208 attempts with 115 touchbacks, and was also the team's punter in 2023. He has seven career tackles and one forced fumble. Stephens kicked off 74 times for 4,619 yards and 47 touchbacks during the 2023 season for the Govs, and punted 58 times, averaging 42.7 yards per punt with 11 traveling 50-plus yards and 17 landing inside the 20-yard line. He redshirted his first season in college with the Knights. He prepped at Dr. Phillips High School in Florida.
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