As faxes roll in for 2012 National Signing Day, check out bios from each of WKU’s newest football players and. Images via Rivals.com.

AUSTIN AIKENS

6-foot, 185-pound wide receiver

Aikens’ father said his son was WKU’s “No. 1 recruit” after the three-star wide receiver from Plant High School in Tampa, Fla., visited and verbally committed last weekend. He held offers from Boston College, Cincinnati and Florida International, among others.

READ: Austin Aikens’ Rivals Profile

WATCH: Austin Aikens Highlights

 

 

 

LEON ALLEN

5-foot-11, 215-pound running back

A two-star recruit out of Willie Taggart’s former high school, Manatee High, Allen helped lead the school to a 2011 Class 7A state championship. He served as a dual-threat back his senior season, totaling 834 rushing yards and 336 receiving, and was named to the South roster for the Florida FACA North-South All-Star Game.

READ: Leon Allen’s Rivals Profile

WATCH: Leon Allen highlights

 

 

TRAVIS ELLIOTT

5-foot-10, 210-pound running back

A two-star all-purpose back out of Ryle High School, Elliott had his senior season cut short by a knee injury. But he still finished his high school career with 4,745 yards, including 2,200 yards rushing with 32 touchdowns during his junior season.

READ: Travis Elliot’s Rivals Profile

WATCH: Travis Elliot highlights

 

 

 

TYLER ENGLISH

6-foot-3, 275-pound offensive lineman

A member of Louisville Trinity High School’s Class 6A championship team a season ago, English verbally committed to WKU on Jan. 10. The two-star offensive lineman by Rivals.com chose the Toppers over such schools as Air Force, Eastern Michigan, Miami of Ohio and Western Michigan.

READ: Tyler English’s Rivals Profile

WATCH: Tyler English Highlights

 

 

 

BRETT HARRINGTON

6-foot-1, 190-pound defensive back

A junior college transfer with two years of eligibility left, Harrington played defensive back and returned kicks/punts at Alfred State Community College while totaling 40 tackles and three interceptions last season.

READ: Brett Harrington’s Rivals Profile

WATCH: Brett Harrington highlights

 

 

 

FORREST LAMP

6-foot-4, 260-pound offensive lineman

After playing both ways in high school, Lamp, a two-star recruit by both Rivals.com and Scout.com, committed to WKU in early January. He helped lead his Venice High School (Fla.) team to a 17-6 record over the last two years and was named to the South team in the 2011 FACA North-South All-Star Game.

READ: Forrest Lamp’s Rivals Profile

WATCH: Forrest Lamp Highlights

 

 

JULIAN LESLIE

6-foot-3, 215-pound defensive end

A two-star recruit out of Miami’s Coral Reef High School, Leslie played both ways in high school, lining up at tight end on offense. He was named a member of the Nike South Florida All-Star Team in 2011 and committed back in December.

READ: Julian Leslie’s Rivals Profile

WATCH: Julian Leslie Highlights

 

 

 

TYRONE PEARSON

6-foot-3, 275-pound defensive lineman

A defensive tackle out of Louisville Seneca High School, Pearson signed with WKU over offers from Louisville and Kentucky, among other BCS-conference offers.

READ: Tyrone Pearson’s Rivals Profile

WATCH: Tyrone Pearson Highlights

 

 

 

 

MARQUEZ PRIDE

6-foot-3, 265-pound defensive lineman

A two-star recruit by Rivals.com, Pride posted 78 tackles — 12 for loss — last season at Bob Jones (Ala.) High School. He was named the Huntsville Times’ Elite Football Defensive MVP after the 2011 season and was named an Alabama Class 6A All-State and All-Region performer.

READ: Marquez Pride’s Rivals Profile

 

 

 

 

DAQUAL RANDALL

6-foot, 225-pound linebacker

A three-star recruit and rated in the top 35 in the country at his position by Rivals.com, Randall helped lead Palmetto (Fla.) High School to a 12-2 record last season. He carried the Palmetto defense with 122 tackles, following up on 169 tackles tallied between his sophomore and junior seasons, and finished with 358 career tackles. Randall was selected to play in the Florida North-South All-Star game after his senior season.

READ: Daqual Randall’s Rivals Profile

WATCH: Daqual Randall highlights

 

 

DEVANTE TERRELL

6-foot, 275-pound defensive lineman

A three-star prospect out of Lake Gibson (Fla.) High School, Terrell tallied 192 tackles in high school — 63 of those during his senior season — and was honored as a first team all-county and all-district performer in 2011 by the FACA.

READ: Devante Terrell’s Rivals Profile

WATCH: Devante Terrell highlights

 

 

 

ANTHONY WALES

5-foot-10, 183-pound running back

The surprise of the day, Wales elected to sign with WKU over an offer to gray shirt at Louisville. He’s nursing a shoulder injury from Central High School’s state football championship victory in December. Wales fell just short of being Kentucky’s all-time leading rusher, running for 8,213 yards during his high school career. He was also recruited by Kentucky and Illinois.

READ: Anthony Wales’ Scout Profile

WATCH: Anthony Wales highlights

 

 

 

CALVIN WASHINGTON

6-foot-4, 265-pound defensive lineman

Rated the eighth-best junior college defensive end by Rivals.com, Washington finished last season with 38 tackles at defensive end and is rated a three-star recruit.

READ: Calvin Washington’s Rivals Profile

WATCH: Calvin Washington Highlights