Western Kentucky Recruiting Outlook

WKU:

• Sidney Hammond, Dodge City C.C. (Dodge City, KS), WDE, 6-2/255
• Quin Jernighan, Lavergne (La Vergne, TN), WR, 6-2.5/194  
• Reese Ryan, Lexington Catholic (Lexington, KY), PRO QB, 6-2/170  
• Parker Howell, C.P.A. (Nashville, TN), SDE, 6-5/275  
• Devon Quincy, Lafayette (Lexington, KY), OLB, 6-3/220  
• Antwan Hadley, Butler C.C. (El Dorado, KS), CB, 6-3/205  
• Aldwin Jackson, Seneca Academy (Louisville, KY), CB, 6-1/180  
• Tavita Faaiu, City College of San Francisco (San Francisco, CA), WDE, 6-4/245  
• Cullen Reynolds, Madisonville North Hopkins (Madisonville, KY), OC, 6-5/300  
• Heath Wiggins, Graves County (Mayfield, KY), DT, 6-2/258  
• Devon Wharton, Christian County (Hopkinsville, KY), S, 6-3/205  
• Nick  Coffey, Russell County (Russell Springs, KY), TE, 6-5/235  
• Jason Johnson, Pahokee (Pahokee, FL), ATH, 6-2/190  
• Devin Nixon, Viera (Melbourne, FL), ATH, 6-0/185  
• Marquez Trigg, Glasgow (Glasgow, KY), RB, 5-10.5/197  
• Hunter Holland, Buford (Buford, GA), OT, 6-4/270  
• Ty'Ron Horton, Dupont Manual (Louisville, KY), DT, 6-3/255  
• Tyler Jefferson, Doss Magnet Career Academy (Louisville, KY), TE, 6-6/210  
• Jordon Gonzalez, Dupont Manual (Louisville, KY), CB, 6-0/185  
• Tyler Camp, Mary Persons (Forsyth, GA), OC, 6-3/300  
• Dontavion Jackson, Lafayette (Lexington, KY), WR, 6-2/175  
• Omarius Bryant, Southwest Mississippi C.C. (Summit, MS), DT, 6-4/300  
• Drell Green, Bacon County (Alma, GA), ATH, 6-1/185  
• Bryant Pirtle, De Sales (Louisville, KY), OLB, 6-1.5/205  
• Andre Thomas-Cobb, Lehigh Senior (Lehigh Acres, FL), WR, 6-4/200  

The Hilltoppers have made a significant splash in the final days of recruiting with a jump from somewhere in the 110s to 88th ranked nationally, putting them 6th in the Conference USA standings. WKU currently has 25 commits for the upcoming season with a surprising 13 coming from in-state programs. While racking up in Kentucky, the Hilltoppers also earned commits from Tennessee, Kansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and California with four players being JUCO transfers.

WKU, in their first year under head coach Jeff Brohm, ended the season at 8-5 with their first bowl win in school history. The Hilltoppers' losses were so close in many cases with 4 of the 5 losses coming by 8 or fewer points during the 2014 season. The offense, with many of the 2014 starters returning, was deadly last fall and could be one of the nation's best in 2015. If the defense can show any semblence of slowing down opponents, the Hilltoppers could compete for a CUSA crown.

Returning Starters (6 or more starts in 2014):
Offense (7):
Taywan Taylor (7 starts, 45 catches, 767 yards, 7 TD, Honorable mention All-CUSA, WR), Brandon Doughty (13 starts, 4,830 passing, 49 TD, 2nd team All-CUSA, QB), Jared Dangerfield (13 starts, 69 catches, 825 yards, 11 TD, 2nd team All-CUSA, WR), Leon Allen (11 starts, 1,542 rushing, 13 TD, 51 catches, 476 yards, 3 TD, 2nd team All-CUSA, RB), Brandon Ray (13 starts, OL), Darrell Williams (10 starts, OL), Forrest Lamp (13 starts, Honorable mention All-CUSA, OL)

Defense (9):
Marcus Ward (12 starts, 63 tkl, 2 tfl, 1 fr, DB), Nick Holt (13 starts, 111 tkl, 7 tfl, 1.5 sacks, 3 pbu, 3 pd, 1 fr, Honorable mention All-CUSA, LB), Dejon Brown (11 starts, 78 tkl, 8 tfl, 2 sacks, 1 ff, LB), Prince Charles Iworah (13 starts, 37 tkl, 2.5 tfl, 1 INT, 5 pbu, 6 pd, 1 ff, DB), Branden Leston (7 starts, 63 tkl, 3 tfl, 1 sack, 4 INT, 5 pd, 1 fr, DB), Derik Overstreet (7 starts, 31 tkl, 3.5 tfl, 2 sacks, 1 fr, DL), Gavin Rocker (13 starts, 45 tkl, 7.5 tfl, 5.5 sacks, 1 fr, 1 ff, DL), Bryan Shorter (9 starts, 44 tkl, 7.5 tfl, 5.5 sacks, 1 fr, DL), Devante Terrell (9 starts, 27 tkl, 1.5 tfl, 1 sack, 1 fr, DL), Wonderful Terry (0 starts, 2nd team All-CUSA, 43 tkl, 3 tfl, 2 INT< 6 pbu, 8 pd, 1 fr, 1 ff, DB)