• Name: Chukwunedu Okeke
• Class: 2024
• Position: Defensive Line
• Height/Weight: 6'4", 285
• High School/Previous School: Pebblebrook HS (Mableton, GA)

Reigning from the Peach State, Okeke commits to an increasingly stronger 2024 recruiting class for the Hilltoppers, including the likes of other defensive players in defensive tackle Edwin Moore Jr. and linebacker Kanye Gaines.

Okeke, a versatile defensive end, held offers from programs like Syracuse, Maryland, Memphis and Miami (Ohio) before ultimately committed to the Hilltoppers. Okeke visited Western Kentucky in June.

What intrigues defensive coordinator Tyson Summers and defensive line coach Carson Hall about the 2024 prospect?

STRENGTHS:
• As it was mentioned before: versatility. Okeke has the build and frame of a true defensive end, but his ability to play across the line shouldn't go without notice.
• Okeke does a good job penetrating the interior and rushing the passer in traffic. Uses his hands to work through blocks well.
• Relentless pursuit of the passer. Plays through the play with speed and a solid motor.
• Length and build. Mentioned before, but the incoming senior is six-foot-four and 285 pounds before he's even stepped into a division one weight room. The upside is a major green flag.
• Speed. Carries his weight well and is able to pick up speed quickly in inside and out of the pocket.

WEAKNESSES:
• Plays high. If he could bury his weight and length into a consistent, textbook technique every snap, he's instantly a more dynamic player.
• Flexibility. Need to see more bend and reach in his game.
• Okeke would benefit greatly from an expanded toolbox of hand techniques. Currently, his moves are limited.
• Would like to know more about how he handles edge responsibilities and the run game.

Overall, Okeke is exactly the kind of player coach Hall has in previous experience. Having developed highly touted NFL talent at Georgia, Hall appears to have his high on upside and versatility as he enters his first recruiting cycle at Western Kentucky. Okeke would develop into a threat early on as a Hilltopper.

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A native of Paris, France, Moundi appeared in 32 games for Panola College (Tex.) last year and averaged 12.8 points and 10.1 rebounds per game while shooting 59.5% from the field. WKU assistant coach Hank Plona extended the offer. Along with the Hilltoppers, Moundi has picked up recent offers from South Carolina State, Radford, Northwestern State, and Southeast Missouri State.

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BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Baseball left-handed pitcher Cam Tullar signed a free agent deal with the Los Angeles Angels following the 2023 MLB Draft on Tuesday. He joins CJ Weins in Major League Baseball after he was drafted in the sixth round by the Boston Red Sox on Monday.

In his lone season on The Hill, Tullar pitched 33.1 innings over 18 appearances and finished 2-1 with a 3.78 ERA. He struck out 49 batters against just 14 walks and allowed opponents to hit just .234 against.

Prior to coming to WKU, Tullar spent two seasons at Mississippi State and two seasons at Wabash Valley Community College. At Mississippi State, Tullar appeared in 45 games, recording 57 strikeouts in 43.2 innings pitched.

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Rising 2024 defensive tackle Chukwunedu Okeke will make his commitment on Monday. The 6-foot-4, 285-pound prospect is coming off a visit to Western Kentucky in June and the Hilltoppers are definitely trending up in his recruiting process heading into his announcement.

Okeke has other notable offers from Syracuse, Memphis, Maryland, Georgia Southern, Florida Atlantic, and others.

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Hilltoppers just picked up a commitment from Williams' RB teammate, Zackariah Simmons-Brown. Now, they are trying to add more talent from Phenix City (Ala.) Central

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Western Kentucky is still looking to add another guard and a center to their roster for the upcoming season. Obviously, a lot of familiarity with Murdix and new WKU head coach Steve Lutz. Murdix played his high school ball at Springfield (Ill.) Southeast, so being a bit closer to home could play a factor but they'll be a lot of interest from other programs I'm sure.

Coming off a knee injury at the end of the season and won't be 100% until December 15th, per ThePortalReport.com

2022-23 (Senior)
Became just the second SLC Defensive Player of the Year in program history and was tabbed to the All-Defensive Team for the second year in a row… led the league in assists, assist:turnover ratio and steals… ranked 14th in the nation in steals (2.3 spg) and 23rd in assists (5.4 apg)… broke the school record for assists in a game with 15 against Nicholls at home… became the first player in program history to have 15-plus points and 15-plus assists in a game… tied the school record for steals in a game with seven against UTSA… averaged 13.4 points per game on the year and 15.7 in conference… shot .826 (100-121) from the free throw line… was 9-of-22 (.409) from long range in conference… tallied 23 double-figure scoring games and four 20-plus performances… poured in a career-high 27 points at Texas A&M-Commerce to go along with eight assists and six rebounds, and was a perfect 9-of-9 from the free throw line… registered 25 points at Nicholls and was 8-of-13 from the floor… registered 23 points and hit nine field goals at Southeastern… tallied 21 points and eight assists at UIW… dished out at least six assists 13 times… grabbed at least five steals twice… made his last 11 free throws on the year… ended with a 168:68 assist:turnover ratio… won SLC Player of the Week on Jan. 30 after averaging 16.0 points, 12.0 assists and 7.0 rebounds per game against Nicholls and McNeese… won SLC Player of the Week again on Feb. 20 after averaging 19.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 3.5 steals on the road at Nicholls and McNeese… finished with 17 points and six assists in the SLC semifinals against the Cowboys… started in 30 of 31 games he played in… second on the team with a .489 field goal percentage… up to 758 career points, 303 assists and 136 steals

Per Western Kentucky Athletics:

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Boston Red Sox selected WKU Baseball right-handed pitcher CJ Weins in the sixth round of the 2023 MLB Draft on Monday afternoon. Weins' selection marks the first Hilltopper to be drafted to the MLB since the New York Yankees selected Jake Sanford in the third round of the 2019 MLB Draft.

By being picked 178th overall, Weins became the 58th Hilltopper to be selected into the MLB. He is the first Hilltopper to be selected by the Red Sox since Larry Shikles in 1986.

After starting his career at Wabash Valley Community College, Weins transferred to South Carolina ahead of the 2021 season and appeared in 16 games during his time as a Gamecock. The Chicago, Ill. native transferred to The Hill for his final year of eligibility and helped the Hilltoppers achieve their most prolific season since 2009, including two wins in the Conference USA Championships in 2023. Weins lead all Hilltopper pitchers in appearances as the go-to-guy in the late stages out of the bullpen.

In his one season on the Hill, Weins totaled 27 appearances, including eight saves and 42 strikeouts in 31.0 innings pitched. He allowed a .170 opponent batting average with just eight walks and only five extra-base hits. Weins notched a season-high five strikeouts against Evansville, earning the save in the final 2.0 frames to help end the Tops eight-game skid with a win over the Purple Aces.

The MLB Draft will continue on Tuesday with rounds 11-20.

DALLAS – Conference USA announced its 2023 Hall of Fame Class today. The five-person class is made up of four student-athletes and one coach from four different sports and five institutions.

Meet the CUSA Hall of Fame Class of 2023

Tobi Amusan is the second honoree from UTEP and the second women’s track & field student-athlete to be inducted. Former running back Kenneth Dixon is the first selection for Louisiana Tech. Standout wide receiver Roddy White becomes the fourth person from UAB to receive the honor. Also joining the 36 current members of the Hall of Fame as the first women’s basketball head coach is Tulane’s Lisa Stockton. WKU volleyball player Alyssa Cavanaugh, who passed away in December 2020, enters the 2023 Class as the first selection from WKU.

“Each of our 2023 inductees has made an important impact on their respective sports and the history of our league,” said Judy MacLeod, Conference USA Commissioner. “It is our honor to recognize this exceptional group for induction as our fifth Hall of Fame class. We are appreciative of their contributions and are looking forward to shining a spotlight on their stories, as well as celebrating their legacy to our conference.”

The league’s Hall of Fame Committee selects the nominees and the league’s Athletics Directors serve as the voting panel for the CUSA Hall of Fame. The inaugural class made its debut in 2019 with 20 student-athletes, three coaches and two administrators. Current and future CUSA Hall of Fame class size will be a minimum of one inductee and a maximum of five inductees per year. Nominees not selected in this class will remain on the ballot for future years.

Alyssa Cavanaugh, WKU, Volleyball (2014-18)

• Michael L. Slive Female Athlete of the Year (2017-18)
• Four-time AVCA All-American
• Four-time CUSA First Team All-Conference
• Two-time CUSA Player of the Year (2016, 2017)
• First WKU player to earn three All-American honors in a single season
• CUSA Freshman of the Year (2014)
• Ranks third in WKU volleyball history with 1,816 career kills and fourth all-time with 3.78 kills per set across her career
• Appeared on the WKU Dean's List and CUSA Commissioner's Honor Roll
• Diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in 2018. After Be The Match bone marrow drives and promotions throughout the 2018 volleyball and basketballs seasons, Cavanaugh’s father, Eric, was a perfect match and completed a successful transplant in February 2019. Unfortunately, Cavanaugh continued to face challenges from the after-effects of the procedure and diagnosis.
• Helped raise awareness for the Bone Marrow & Cancer Foundation; an organization that helped the Cavanaugh family throughout her leukemia journey
• Cavanaugh passed away Christmas morning, December 25, 2020. Her legacy lives on through the WKU Volleyball program and Conference USA, as the league announced in June 2021, that the Volleyball Player of the Year award had been renamed to the Alyssa Cavanaugh Player of the Year Award

Western Kentucky defensive tackle Brodric Martin was a third-round draft pick, 96th overall, by the Detroit Lions in this past April's NFL Draft. He was the highest C-USA player selected in the 2023 version of the NFL Draft. Martin's selection also makes him the sixth-highest Hilltopper to be drafted in the program's history.

Below we breakdown his contract, information courtesy of OverTheCap.com.

2023:
Base Salary: $750,000
Prorated Bonus: $214,378
Cap Number: $964,378

2024:
Base Salary: $991,095
Prorated Bonus: $214,378
Cap Number: $1,205,473

2025:
Base Salary: $1,232,190
Prorated Bonus: $214,378
Cap Number: $1,446,568

2026:
Base Salary: $1,473,285
Prorated Bonus: $214,378
Cap Number: $1,687,663

Total:
Base Salary: $4,446,570
Prorated Bonus: $857,512
Cap Number: $5,304,082



Wide receiver Daewood Davis signed as an undrafted free agent with the Miami Dolphins. Here is a breakdown of his contract below:

2023:
Base Salary: $750,000
Prorated Bonus: $1,666
Cap Number: $751,666

2024:
Base Salary: $915,000
Prorated Bonus: $1,666
Cap Number: $916,666

2025:
Base Salary: $1,030,000
Prorated Bonus: $1,666
Cap Number: $1,031,668

Total:
Base Salary: $2,695,000
Prorated Bonus: $5,000
Cap Number: $2,700,000



Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie also signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs, here is a breakdown of his rookie deal.

2023:
Base Salary: $750,000
Prorated Bonus: $3,333
Guaranteed Salary: $90,000
Cap Number: $753,333

2024:
Base Salary: $915,000
Prorated Bonus: $3,333
Cap Number: $918,333

2025:
Base Salary: $1,030,000
Prorated Bonus: $3,334
Cap Number: $1,033,334

Total:
Base Salary: $2,695,000
Prorated Bonus: $10,000
Guaranteed Salary: $90,000
Cap Number: $2,705,000

Ocala (Fla.) Vanguard wide receiver Cam'Ron King has a Top 3 that consists of Western Kentucky, Florida Atlantic, and Georgia Southern.

He's already visited Florida Atlantic and Georgia Southern. A trip to Western Kentucky is on his schedule later in July on the 24th and 25th.

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"What I like about their program is they are going to throw the ball and take shots deep and get their players into the open field," King said of his interest in Western Kentucky. "I also love the coaches' atmosphere. They are ready to develop players and get them ready to win games. They've been winning games consistently too, that's a big part."

Throughout his recruiting process, the 6-foot-1, 184-pound prospect has been building a relationship with WKU wide receivers coach Michael Spurlock.

"For starters, he's been where I'm trying to get, which is the NFL. So, he knows what it takes to get to the next level. Personality wise, very nice dude. You can tell he's ready to work. He's not all fancy like some coaches are. That's what I like about him. He seems like a coach you can come to and talk to about other stuff besides football."

Spurlock sees King as a prototypical do-it-all receiver for the Hilltoppers.

"He says I can play outside and in the slot. I'm long and I can take the top off."

Heading into his visit with the Hilltoppers later this month, King says WKU is No. 1 in his recruiting process currently.

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Peach Jam and Adidas updates featuring Western Kentucky targets in the 2024 class and beyond

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Western Kentucky was his first offer back on January 2nd and he visited campus in June. Had other notable offers from UAB, Middle Tennessee, Army, and others. Good pickup for the Hilltoppers and new running backs coach Andre Crenshaw. Rushed for 823 yards and nine touchdowns on a Phenix City (Ala.) Central squad that is always loaded with talent.

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ICYMI from @drew_toennies

2024 forward Trent Noah, a talented in-state forward out of Harlan County (Ky.), recently added another offer to his resume from Western Kentucky.

The 6-foot-7, 200-pound forward out of Harlan, KY. sat down with InsideHilltopperSports.com to go in-depth on his interest in Western Kentucky, revealing how long the program has been involved in his recruitment.

Noah said that Western Kentucky has been involved in his recruitment for as long as he can remember. He added that it feels great to hold an offer from the Hilltoppers as it's always nice to have interest from an in-state school.

"It feels great to pick up an offer from WKU," Noah stated. "Having an in-state school believe in me is always good. WKU has been involved in my recruitment for as long as I can remember. I've been in communication with them ever since."

The rising in-state prospect said that he's connected with all of the Hilltoppers' coaching staff, initially connecting with former WKU assistant coach Martin Cross before talking with head coach Steve Lutz recently.

Noah said that since day one, nothing has changed regarding his recruitment with the Hilltoppers.

"I've mainly talked with all of the staff. Of course, I've talked with Coach Lutz a lot and enjoy talking to him. I've also talked with Coach Cross a lot when he was at WKU with the old staff. I communicated with him a lot and with the current staff, nothing has changed."

Noah said that he's incredibly eager to learn more about the Hilltoppers' program and intends to stop by to visit sometime soon.

The rising senior added that he's currently working with the Hilltoppers' staff to find a good day to visit campus.

"I'm super eager to learn more about WKU and get to know the staff even better. We're currently trying to work out some dates that I could possibly get to campus."

In addition to the recent offer from Western Kentucky, Noah has also collected opportunities from a long list of other notable programs. The rising in-state star currently holds over 20 offers.

WKU extended a couple of new basketball offers recently...

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- The 6-foot-7 forward holds a long list of offers that include Auburn, Cincinnati, Georgetown, Clemson, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Miss. State, Memphis, and others.

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- Along with WKU, Jenkins has other notable offers from Vermont, Xavier, Boston College, Brown, Fairfield, and UMass.

New faces on the coaching staff this upcoming year, our friends at TopperTalk break it all down:

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Schools can now host 70 official visitors per year, an increase from the previously allotted 56

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Recent visitor to Western Kentucky, hearing he's leaning towards the Hilltoppers. Currently has a Top 3 of Middle Tennessee, WKU, and Georgia Southern. Will likely project as a guard in college.

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Very good pickup for the Hilltoppers. Plays OL and DL, but looks like WKU likes him along the DL. Moore, Jr. also had offers from Tulane, James Madison, UConn, App State, Middle Tennessee. He also took an official visit with Miami (Oh.) earlier this month.

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