Head Coach Willie Taggart has earned a strong reputation for recruiting quality homegrown talent from around his home area of Manatee County, Fla.

But another strong pipeline looks to be emerging right in the state of Kentucky, this one from Louisville.

La’Mont McMurry, a Class of 2011 Rivals three-star athlete from Louisville St. Xavier High School, told the Herald on Tuesday he’s officially joined the WKU football program after not playing football for a year.

“I just feel so blessed to be in this situation with this program (at WKU)” he said. “We all have a lot to look forward to at this school. I believe WKU could even be on (ESPN) 30 for 30 one day.”

The 5-foot-9, 192 pound running back/wide receiver (with a 4.46 40-yard time), was supposed to go to prep school in California after his senior year but arrived late. He ended up enrolling at Kentucky Wesleyan College last semester but didn’t play football.

He said while he was at KWC, he talked to Louisville Head Coach Charlie Strong about going to Louisville and was planning to play for Cardinals.

Instead, McMurray has decided come to WKU.

He said he’s excited to join his friends transferring to WKU from the Louisville area, including Rivals four-star quarter back DaMarcus Smith and receivers Michael Fluellen and Jerell Moore.

“DaMarcus, Jerrell, and Mike (Fluellen), we’ve all always wanted to play together,” he said.” I felt this would be a better fit for me.”

He’s eligible to play in the fall for WKU, although he says he may use a red-shirt so he can “get used to the system.”

McMurry, who had offers after his senior year from Indiana, Kentucky and Louisville, had one of his best games his senior season against Louisville Central High School.

He led St. Xavier to the 35-20 win with three rushing touchdowns, totaling at least 196 yards on only 14 carries, finishing with a 14 yards per carry average for the game.

The star player for Louisville Central, Anthony ‘Ace’ Wales, was a junior that season. Now a senior, Wales could be the next Louisville area player in line to join the Toppers.  

Wales told the Herald Tuesday he’s deciding between WKU and Louisville.

The Rivals No. 14 all-purpose running back in the country, Wales will be announcing his college destination at his signing day ceremony at 12:30 CT Wednesday.