This story will be updated as more commitments become available.
After a nine-win season that concluded with a bowl win, WKU Football will prepare for the offseason, starting with the transfer portal.
The 2026 NCAA Transfer portal for football ran from Jan. 2-16, with an additional five days given to Indiana and Miami because the National Championship game was played Monday, Jan 19.
Despite the window being closed, players who have entered the portal can commit to a team at any point. Along with players, some notable coaches have chosen to take their wisdom elsewhere to other programs
Below is a list of WKU players or coaches who have committed to a different team or players who have committed to WKU through the portal.
Coach Departures
Offensive Coordinator Rick Bowie
Bowie joined head coach Tyson Helton’s staff as a package deal with quarterback Maverick McIvor from Abilene Christian. In 2024, Bowie led the Wildcats to a 9-4 record as offensive coordinator, which saw McIvor have a breakout year.
He will now be the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Texas San Antonio
Co-Defensive Coordinator Da’Von Brown
Brown spent three years with the Hilltoppers, two years as the defensive backs coach before being promoted to co-defensive coordinator in 2025. Brown will become defensive backs coach and co-defensive coordinator at California-Berkley.
Defensive Lines Coach Kali James
James joined the staff in February 2025 after spending a year at Jackson State, where he led the Tigers to a Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship and a bowl win. He now leaves to join James Madison as a defensive lines coach.
Director of Player Personnel Nick Lamattina
Before becoming the director of recruiting in 2024, Lamattina served as the assistant director of player personnel. He is leaving for the University of Cincinnati for the same position.
Transfers Out
Offensive Lineman Laurence Seymore
The All-American offensive lineman played 840 snaps for WKU, allowing just one sack in his last two years. The former four-star out of high school has an eligibility issue however, which claims he may be unable to play at Texas unless he receives an eligibility extension waiver.
Running Back Marvis Parrish
Parrish appeared this past season in a triple backfield alongside George Hart III and La’Vell Wright, rushing for a team leading 576 yards. Despite this, he managed only two touchdowns, (one rushing and one receiving), and will look to carry that momentum into a Michigan State backfield as a primary option.
Running Back La’Vell Wright
The second head on the three-headed monster in the backfield, Wright rushed for 471 yards and 10 touchdowns, then added 88 yards receiving and a touchdown. Wright leaves the Hill to play for PITT.
Tight End Noah Meyers
Meyers recorded 357 yards and three touchdowns, two of which came against Middle Tennessee State. The former tight end one will be joining Wright in the Atlantic Coast Conference as he departs for head coach Fran Brown’s team in Syracuse.
Offensive Lineman Caleb Nitta
Before becoming a Hilltopper, Nitta was one of the top graded Group of 5 centers according to PFF with a 69.3 grade. The former Hokie started nine games for the Hilltoppers and will be taking his talents to play in Norman for the Oklahoma Sooners, who are fresh off a college football playoff appearance.
Defensive Lineman Chukwunedu Okeke
The freshman edge rusher appeared in just one game, recording an assisted tackle in WKU’s week zero matchup versus Sam Houston. Okeke joins a James Madison team who, like Oklahoma, comes off a college football playoff appearance.
Defensive Lineman Harper Holloman
The Conference USA All-Conference Honorable Mention recorded 39 tackles, 19 solo, two sacks, and recorded an interception in the team’s November 22nd matchup versus LSU. Holloman heads to Morgantown to play for West Virginia.
Linebacker Miller Malone
Miller played for two years on the Hill, recording a total of 41 tackles. The sophomore from Texas will return home to play for the Houston Cougars.
Linebacker Koron Hayward
The sophomore linebacker spent three years on the Hill, recording 28 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, and an interception. Like Miller, Hayward will be returning to his home state of Texas to play for the TCU Horned Frogs.
Defensive Back Nazir Ward
Ward earned CUSA All-Honors in his first of three years on the Hill. The sophomore defensive back has recorded 46 total tackles, a half sack, six pass deflections, and one interception.
Ward will join fellow Hilltopper Noah Meyers in Syracuse.
Defensive Back Dylan Flowers
Flowers transferred to WKU after spending his first year of collegiate play at BYU. The senior defensive back has recorded 36 total tackles and forced a fumble, and will be taking his talents to play for the Duke Blue Devils
Defensive Back Jai Eugene Jr.
The sophomore defensive back joined WKU after spending his first year with Tulane. After recording five pass deflections and a half sack in his 2025 campaign, he will join Meyers and Ward in Syracuse.
Defensive Back Korbyn Green
Green will return to her hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma to play for the Golden Hurricanes. As a Hilltopper, he mustered just one solo tackle last year.
Kicker Jack Cassidy
The former 5-star from Ireland made all three of his field goals, coming from 41, 53 and 55. His 55-yarder came against Florida International on Oct. 14, his first ever make. Cassidy will join Harper Holloman in Morgantown, as he will now be kicking for West Virginia.
Transfers In
Quarterback Brock Glenn
Glenn is a Florida State transfer who spent his last three seasons with the Seminoles, throwing for 895 total yards, six touchdowns and seven interceptions. In his 2025 campaign, the sophomore threw two touchdowns on six attempts.
Defensive Back Jacob Crosby-Mosley
As a redshirt-freshman last season, Crosby Mosley appeared in just one game for the Demon Deacons.
Offensive Lineman Rhett Larson
Larson transfers in from fellow CUSA school Sam Houston, where he appeared in all 13 games for the Bearkats and started in nine in 2024. With him on the line, Sam Houston averaged 390 yards per game and allowed just 15 sacks.
Wide Receiver Zion Taylor
Taylor has spent both of his two collegiate years with Georgia Tech, amassing 130 yards receiving and one touchdown.
Defensive Lineman Nathan Gonzales
The former Indiana State Sycamore recorded 26 tackles, eight solo, five tackles for loss and three sacks last season.
Offensive Lineman Tyreek Major
The sophomore offensive lineman appeared in seven games for South Florida last season.
Linebacker Garrison Madden
Madden spent the last three years with the University of Southern California. He recorded 11 total tackles, seven being solo.
Offensive Lineman Tai Ray
After not playing in 2023 due to redshirting, Ray played in all 13 games for PITT last season. He posted a 77.7 pass-block grade according to PFF.
Wide Receiver Jyzaiah Rockwell
Rockwell played his first two years of collegiate ball at Sam Houston before transferring to Prairie View A&M. He racked in 72 catches for 1,132 yards and seven touchdowns for the Panthers last season.
Defensive Back D’Cambren Verrett
Verrett played in 11 games for Texas A&M Kingsville, recording 43 total tackles and one tackle for loss.
Offensive Lineman Alec Johnson
Johnson saw all 12 games for Georgia State last season. He was part of an offense that had 4,514 yards of total offense.
Offensive Lineman Roq Montgomery
The Alabama transfer did not play in 2025 but was an offensive line and special teams rotation player in 2024.
Linebacker Geajorm Akpaloo
The sophomore racked up 13 tackles, with seven of them being solo tackles for Coastal Carolina.
Running Back Sincere Baines
Posted 711 yards rushing and three touchdowns for Maine. He had five games with at least 80 yards rushing for the Black Bears
Offensive Lineman Alex Lopez
Lopez has played in one game in two seasons due to a redshirt in 2024. His first start was against Alcorn State with the Mississippi State Bulldogs
Wide Receiver Jeremiah Carroll
In 2024, Carroll appeared in 12 games, starting 10 of them. He led Carson-Newman with 364 yards receiving and four touchdowns.
Hilltoppers still in portal
Wide Receiver Moussa Barry
Wide Receiver Marvin Sims
Wide Receiver Isaiah Myers
Defensive Lineman Robby Harrison
Defensive Back Jaavan Mack
