WKU Football announced some big new additions to its 2023 roster Tuesday, Jan. 17. The Hilltoppers added nine players through the transfer portal from nine different colleges. 

The Hilltoppers brought in players from all levels spanning from community colleges to huge football programs like Tennessee and Nebraska. 

Former Tennessee wide receiver Jimmy Holiday is one of the headliners of these incoming transfers to WKU. Holiday enrolled at Tennessee in 2020 as a three-star recruit. With limited playing time in 2022, Holiday tallied six receptions, 106 yards and a touchdown.

Another one of the Hilltoppers’ big additions from the transfer portal came at the wide receiver position in Blue Smith. Smith is transferring from Cincinnati after having transferred from Ohio State to Cincinnati in 2019. 

Smith enrolled at Ohio State originally in 2018 after being ranked as a four-star recruit and the 39th best player in his class, according to Rivals. 

In addition to Holiday, WKU brought in another three-star from the 2020 class in DL Marquis Black, who began his collegiate career at the University of Nebraska. 

The Hilltoppers also added a defensive back from a power-five school, Daniel Edwards. Edwards will be joining WKU after leaving the University of Illinois. 

Along with the players coming in from well-known schools, the Hilltoppers will be adding some talented players from some lesser-known schools. 

One of these players is quarterback Bronson Barron out of Weber State. Barron threw for over 5,000 yards and 36 touchdowns in 26 games at Weber State. 

In addition to Barron, the Hilltoppers will be adding tight end Trevor Borland out of Buffalo on the offensive side of the ball. 

On the defensive side, WKU will be adding defensive lineman Kenyonte Davis out of UT Martin, linebacker Rashion Hodge out of Iowa Western CC, and defensive lineman Jayden Loving out of Bethune-Cookman College.

Sports reporter Camden Bush can be reached at [email protected]