Class Rated No. 1 in the Sun Belt Conference by Rivals.com

26 Signees Hail from Eight States, Including 12 from Florida

11 Players Rated Three-Star Recruits by Rivals.com, Most in Program History

SEASON TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE -– CALL 1-800-5-BIG-RED

WKU’s 2011 recruiting class is rated the number one class in the Sun Belt Conference by Rivals.com for the second consecutive year, with an all-time program high 11 of the 26 total signees rated as a 3-star player.  WKU signed players from eight states (12 from Florida, most of any state) and eight position groups, including six offensive and defensive lineman, three running backs and tight ends, and two quarterbacks, wide receivers, defensive backs and linebackers.    

The 2011 class also does not include defensive back Jonathan Dowling of Bradenton, Fla., who recently transferred to WKU and is currently enrolled in classes.  Dowling was rated a consensus four-star player by multiple recruiting services in 2010, and Rivals.com rated him as the 16^th best athlete in the country.   He originally signed with the University of Florida.  He becomes the first player in program history that has received a 4-star rating from Rivals.com.

Both of WKU’s recruiting classes signed under the direction of Head Coach Willie Taggart have been rated the conference’s top class.  The 2010 class featured 18 signees, five of whom were rated as 3-star recruits.  The 2009 class, the last class signed before Taggart’s arrival, was ranked fifth in the conference by Rivals.com and featured three 3-star players among the 26-member class.

“This is a great day, because we are continuing to dramatically upgrade our program,” head coach Willie Taggart said.  “I am very excited about the individuals we have added to our program from an academic, character and ability standpoint.  We targeted specific individuals at multiple position groups, and each of these guys we signed today will immediately make us more competitive.  We need and will have competition every day.  I also congratulate our entire coaching staff for their work ethic and dedication to signing a great class of student-athletes.”

Season tickets for the 2011 season, beginning at $36, are now available by calling 1-800-5-BIG-RED.  The season ticket package includes WKU’s six games in Bowling Green: Navy (Sept. 10), Indiana State (Sept. 17) and four Sun Belt Conference games (Arkansas State, Florida International, Louisiana-Lafayette, Troy).  Specific dates for all conference games have not yet been released by the Sun Belt Conference office.  WKU’s season opener vs. the University of Kentucky in Nashville is not part of the season ticket package.

Positions

Defensive Line              6                     

Offensive Line               6

Running Back               3

Tight End                     3

Defensive Back             2

Linebacker                   2

Quarterback                 2

Wide Receiver              2

States

Florida-12, Alabama-3, Georgia- 3, Illinois-2, Indiana-2, Texas-2, Kentucky-1, New Mexico-1

2011 WKU Football Signing Class (26 total signees)

Name                         Pos.     Ht.        Wt.       Hometown (Last School)

Boe Brand                  WR       6-0        155       Bradenton, Fla. (Southeast High School)***

Cameron Brown          WR       6-2        195       Frisco, Texas (Liberty High School)***

Cliff Burns                   OL        6-8        350       Roswell, N.M. (New Mexico Military Institute)

Lawrence Campbell     DE        6-4        210       Groveland, Fla. (South Lake High School)

John Evans                 RB        5-11      165       Sarasota, Fla. (Riverview High School)

Tim Gorski                  OL        6-7        245       Chicago, Ill. (St. Rita High School)

Mitchell Henry             TE        6-4        245       Elizabethtown, Ky. (Elizabethtown High School)***

Tyler Higbee                TE        6-5        200       Clearwater, Fla. (East Lake High School)

Dimitri Johnson            DE       6-3        215       Dolton, Ill. (Thornridge High School)

Champ Lewis               DB       6-2        175       Fort Myers, Fla. (Dunbar High School)***

James Mauro               QB       6-7        211       Hurst, Texas (L.D. Bell High School)

Dwayne Montgomery    OL       6-5        265       Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Dillard High School)

Quartterrio Morgan        RB      5-10      196       Jonesboro, Ga. (Mt. Zion High School)***

Jamichael Payne          DT       6-1        328       Auburn, Ala. (Auburn High School)

Eric Robinson-Berry      DB      6-1        185       Indianapolis, Ind. (Warren Central High School)***

Gavin Rocker                DE      6-2        225       Tyrone, Ga. (Sandy Creek High School)

Devin Scott                  TE       6-4        245       Indianapolis, Ind. (Warren Central High School)

Bryan Shorter               DT       6-2        275       Phenix City, Ala. (Central-Phenix High School)

T.J. Smith                    DE       6-2        210       Hazel Green, Ala. (Hazel Green High School)***

Dyron Speight              QB       6-0        181       Bradenton, Fla. (Southeast High School)

Marquis Sumler            RB       5-9        180       Pensacola, Fla. (Catholic High School)***

Daerius Washington      LB       6-0        190       Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Dillard High School)***

Curtis Williams             OL       6-4        330       Hialeah, Fla. (Champagnat Catholic High School)***

Darrell Williams            OL       6-6        260       Dublin, Ga. (West Laurens High School)

Terran Williams            LB       6-2        210       Bradenton, Fla. (Southeast High School)***

Delryn Wilson              OL       6-3        297       Tampa, Fla. (Jefferson High School)

***Denotes three-star recruit