WKU Football: Roster Tracker for 2024

Tracking the arrivals and departures from the WKU football roster ahead of the 2024 season.

The 2023 regular season is over and now comes the annual roster churn that we’ve witnessed repeatedly over the Tyson Helton era. After a disappointing 7-5 season, Helton will have to reinvent himself (and the roster) again in order to return towards the top of the CUSA standings. With the transfer portal opening and signing day just around the corner here is a comprehensive list of where WKU’s roster currently stands heading into the 2024 season.

Note: We’re now in year five of the transfer portal era and year three of one-time no sit transfers, so don’t be surprised to see a large group of players test the waters in the portal. We have a handful of examples of impact players returning to the Hill after entering the portal (Austin Reed, Jaques Evans, Talique Allen). We’ve got to hope that Helton & staff can do a good job of keeping a core in place or risk falling behind.

Note #2: This was just updated to include the roster updates on the Spring football roster. More to come after spring practice is over and new portal additions are added

Final Note: This is the final edit after the summer football roster has been posted on WKUSports.com

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Announced Signees (26)

*denotes they’re on spring football roster

• QB- Rodney Tisdale Jr. First Coast HS, Jacksonville, FL)

• DB- Demarko Williams (Ole Miss transfer)*

• S- Tate Titshaw (North Oconee HS, Bogart, GA)*

• DB- Kent Robinson (Texas A&M transfer)*

• DB- Jaymar Mundy (Hutchinson CC transfer)*

• DL- Jalil Rivera-Harvey (Marshall transfer)*

• OL- Stacey Wilkins (UL-Monroe transfer)*

• WR- Kisean Johnson (Alabama State transfer)*

• QB- TJ Finley (Texas State transfer)*

• P- Riley Stephens (Austin Peay transfer)*

• S- Devonte’ Mathews (Nicholls State transfer)*

• WR- Damari Jefferson (Oak Grove HS, Hattiesburg, MS)*

• LB- Miller Malone (Barbers Hill HS- Mont Belvieu, TX)

• LB- Chandler Matthews (Limestone University transfer)*

• OT- Gabriel Arnold (Merritt Island HS, FL)

• DE- Zsacari Minnis (Mount Dora Christian Academy- Mount Dora, FL)

• DL- Chukwunedu Okeke (Pebblebrook HS, Mableton, GA)

• OT- RJ Newsom Jr. (Itawamba Community College transfer)*

• S- Xavion Griffin (Vero Beach HS, FL)

• WR- Jaylen Hampton (New Hampstead HS- Savannah, GA)

• TE- CJ Kiss (Notre Dame College transfer) *

• ATH- Cameron Flowers (Warner Robins HS, GA)

• QB- Tucker Parks (Klein Collins HS- Spring, TX)*

• DL- Harper Holloman (Westlake HS, Atlanta, GA)*

• OL- Melvin Collins Jr. (Northwest Mississippi Community College transfer) *

• ATH- Dallen Ponder (Vanguard HS- Ocala, FL)

New on 2024 Roster as summer additions or potential Walk-ons (27)

Note: Weren’t formally announced by WKU as signees, probably are now walk-ons

• P- Cole Maynard (North Carolina transfer)

• LB- Terreance Ellis (Alcorn State transfer)

• WR- Demick Starling (Virginia transfer)

• S- Dave Herard (Virginia transfer)

• DB- Keyshawn Swanson (Troy transfer)

• WR- Bryce Childress (New Mexico State transfer)

• WR- Justin Brown (Georgia Tech transfer)

• CB- Letaj Wright (Fort Valley State transfer)

• DB- Jai Eugene Jr. (Tulane transfer)

• RB- Javon McMahan (McCallie HS, Chattanooga, TN)*

• RB- Jalen Hampton (Elon transfer)

• DE- Zach Edwards (Troy transfer)

• RB- George Hart III (Arizona State transfer)

• RB- Donovan Jones (Dacula HS, Dacula, GA)*

• S- Khrystian Washington (Mount St. Joseph transfer)*

• CB- Marvelous Owens (Butte College transfer)

• K- Jackson Smith (Kentucky transfer)*

• LS- Kolbyn Price (Bowling Green HS, KY)*

• K- Michael Buck (Lake Norman HS, Mooresville, NC)*

• OL- DeMarcus Elliott (Bowling Green HS, KY)*

• OL/LS- Gabe Claybrook (North Laurel HS, London, KY)*

• OL- Travon Taylor (Alabama State transfer)

• OL- Blake Austin (Troy transfer)

• DL- Brandon Tobias (Cardinal Gibbons HS, Fort Lauderdale, FL)

• LS- Drew Wilson (Michigan State transfer)

• LB- Keondre Williams (West Georgia transfer)

• WR- Koy Moore (Auburn transfer)

Commitments (1)

*Announced Commitment but isn’t listed on 2024 roster

^Committed on July 20th but not listed on 2024 roster

LB- Curtis Young (South Doyle HS, Knoxville, TN)*

Former Commitments (10)

• WR- Elijah Realzola (Warren HS- San Antonio, TX) (Committed to Trinity Valley Community College)

• DB- Jayden Hines (West Creek HS, Clarksville, TN)* (committed to Murray State)

• OL- Jarvis Adams Jr (Rome HS, GA) (committed to Kennesaw State)

• DT- Gabriel Iniguez (New Mexico State transfer) (committed to Utah State)

• S- Jakyre Horton (Cedar Grove HS- Ellenwood, GA) (committed to West Georgia)

• CB-Justin Content (Mill Creek HS-Dacula, GA) (committed to UTEP)

• DL- Edwin Moore Jr. (Columbia HS- Atlanta, GA) (committed to Western Carolina)

• OL- Daviyon Hawkins (Rockledge HS, FL) (committed to Eastern Kentucky)

• DE- Kanye Gaines (Leesburg HS, FL) (committed to Butler Community College)

• RB- Zackariah Simmons-Brown (Central HS- Phenix City, AL)

Withdrew from the transfer portal (8)

• LB- Trent Zappe

• WR- Denzil Alleyne

• CB- Anthony Johnson

• WR- Moussa Barry

• OL- Quantavious Leslie

• K- Nolan Mccord

• QB- Caden Veltkamp

• DB- Upton Stout

Entered the transfer portal/No longer listed on roster (41)

*denotes walk-ons

^Was a winter signee that already has re-entered portal after spring ball

WR- Tylon Webb* (transferring to Kentucky State)

LB- Rashion Hodge (transferring to Emporia State)

DB- Daniel Edwards

DB- Chavaris Dumas* (transferring to Murray State)

DL- Marquis Black (transferring to Gardner-Webb)

DL- Ryan Williams (transferring to Missouri State)

RB- Ta’Ron Keith (Bowling Green transfer)^ (transferring to USF)

LB- Lonnie Rice (transferring to Bryant)

DT- Keaton Law

TE- Alex Williams* (transferring to Western Illinois)

OL- Colt Jackson

OL- Mark Goode

DB- Rickie Davis Jr. (transferring to Tennessee Chattanooga)

LB- RJ Evans (transferring to West Georgia)

WR- Demarcus Johnson*

WR- Quinton Henry* (transferring to Fullerton College)

WR- Zach Burt*

DE- Jaques Evans (transferring to Baylor)

QB- Bronson Barron (transferring to Southern Utah)

WR- Blue Smith

WR- Ze’Vian Capers (transferring to Gardner-Webb)

LB- Aaron Key (transferring to UConn)

WR- Jimmy Holiday (transferring to Louisiana Tech)

DB- Kendrick Simpkins (transferring to Baylor)

S- Talique Allen (transferring to Southeastern Louisiana)

DT- Dareon Goodrum (transferring to Murray State)

WR- Josh Sterns (transferring to Gardner-Webb)

P- Jared White (transferring to Tarleton State)

DB- TJ Springer (transferring to Tennessee Chattanooga)

K- Antonio Chadha (transferring to Western Illinois)

P- Tom Ellard (transferring to Northern State)

OL- Wes Dorsey (transferring to UCF)

DB- Abdul-Lateef Audu (transferring to Incarnate Word)

LB- Desmyn Baker (transferring to Southern Miss)

DB- Amaari Smith (transferring to Tennessee Chattanooga)

OL- Vinnie Murphy (transferring to Tulane)

DB- Manny Moss (transferring to Central Georgia Tech)

OL- Wyatt Anderson (transferring to Valdosta State)

OL- Mason Williams (transferring to Incarnate Word)

DB- Josh Shodipo (transferring to Limestone University)

LS- Trey Naughton (transferring to Arizona)

Departing Seniors (13)

DL- Tyrese Black

WR- Craig Burt Jr.

LB- Niko Cooper

WR- Malachi Corley (declared for NFL draft)

DL- Keyontae Davis

RB- Davion Ervin-Poindexter

K- Cory Munson

QB- Austin Reed

RB- Markese Stepp

LB- Bryson Washington

DB- Rome Weber

DB- Davion Williams

DB- Takulve Williams

Returning (63)

(note probable walk-ons denoted as *, 12 total)

2024 Seniors (redshirts are italicized (17)

Elijah Young (RB), Michael Mathison (WR), Terrion Thompson (DT), Dalvin Smith (WR), Denzil Alleyne (DB), Kylan Guidry (LB), Devon Lynch (LB), Sebastian Benjamin (LB), Michael Moment (OL), Darrell Johnson Jr (OL), Colton Cable* (OL), Michael Ondelacy (OL), Quantavious Leslie (OL), Elvin Fofanah (TE), Trevor Borland (TE), Jaleel Walker (WR)*, Anthony Johnson Jr. (CB)

2024 Juniors (redshirts are italicized) (20)

LT Sanders (RB), Willie Taggart JR. (WR), Javy Bunton* (WR), Virgil Marshall (LB), Marvin Sims* (WR), Upton Stout (DB), Darius Thomas (JR), Ely George* (DB), Joshua Mensah (DB), Xavier Shaw* (DB), Anthony Brackenridge (LB), Dallas Walker (DL), Nathan Griffin* (LB), Nolan McCord (K), Wesley Horton (OL), Marshall Jackson (OL), Rex Robich (LS), River Helms (TE), Jayden Loving (DL), Hosea Wheeler (DT)

2024 Sophomores (redshirts are italicized) (22)

Easton Messer (WR), Caden Veltkamp (QB), Turner Helton (QB), K.D. Hutchinson (WR), Lofton Howard (LB), Lucas Carneiro (K), Jax Cooper* (WR), , Corey Landers* (RB), Nazir Ward (DB), Eli Jones* (LB), Koron Hayward (LB), Reginald Allen JR. (SO), Reid Jamerson* (DE), Alex Ford* (DB), Evan Wibberley (OL), Hayden Todd* (OL), Noah Meyers (TE), Aiden Miller* (TE) Marcus Patterson (DE), Deante McCray (DE), Moussa Barry (WR), Trent Zappe (LB)

2024 Freshman (redshirts are italicized) (4)

Jarvis Hayes (WR), Leavy Johnson (OL), Jalen Hand (DL), Ki’Shawn Harvey (DL)

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Note: This is a living document, we’ll continue to update as the offseason progresses