OWENSBORO, KY - He may not even have a full year of coaching under his belt, but Head Coach Tyrone Young is already breaking records. Young has signed 44 new Panthers on this year's National Signing Day, the most in school history. Last year's class of 33 held the previous record, another class that had Young's recruiting prowess stamped all over it. 

"What a great day to be a Panther! I couldn't be more proud of our coaching staff that went on the road to recruit this winter" stated Head Coach Tyrone Young. "Coaches Brandon Frase, Glen Rowell, Tripp Grenier, RJ Wilson, and myself hit the road with just five coaches and be able to bring in a class like this is an amazing feeling. I would also thank the players on the current roster, their time spent on our official visits are second to none, and I couldn't be more thankful for that. Shout-out to our amazing ladies in Financial Aid and the whole Admissions team for their tireless work in getting our guys through the admissions and financial aid processes."

This incoming class isn't just talented athletically, they have had a lot of success in the classroom as well. This new wave of Panthers boasts a cumulative GPA of 3.32, and includes six players with a 4.0 or above GPA. Also included in this class are 27 team captains and 29 multi-sport athletes. 

Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Mark Shook said "I could not be more excited for this signing class because I know how much time, travel, trust, and work went into building this class from our football staff. These guys are scholars, leaders and men who will represent us well in every way. Recruiting is a really hard job, and it starts long before a prospect and family signs with a school. The relationships that must be built with not only the prospective student athletes but their families as well – and that makes this such a special day. I want every coach here to recruit for character, scholarship, toughness, dependability, and, finally, for the athletic talent that it takes to play at this level and to earn their degree from Kentucky Wesleyan College."

Nine states are represented in this class, with 25 coming from Kentucky, six from Tennessee, five from Indiana, three from Alabama, and one from California, Georgia, Florida, Illinois, and Ohio. Young will be re-loading on both sides of the ball, bringing in 22 offensive players and 20 defensive players. Along with that are two additional long snappers, a position that will be much needed as veteran long snapper Thomas Yarbrough graduated this year. Another spot Young loaded up on is the offensive and defensive line, which saw a lot of loss due to graduation this fall. Young has eight incoming offensive lineman and eight defensive lineman coming in to fight in the trenches. 

"Building this program until everything that I envision takes a true village and a lot of work behind it. With this signing day class you get what it means to truly embody our DIG IN culture. This class has tons of GRIT, DISCIPLINE, and WANT TO. We have several guys who have played for state championships and were participants in state semi final games. They understand the leadership and work ethic it takes to compete week in and week out in the G-MAC. We look forward to seeing our entire family together this August."- Coach Young
 
Since the program returned in 1983, this will be the largest and most impressive class ever signed. The good mix of positions brought in will no doubt set Young up for success in the near future.   

First Name Last Name Position  High School State Kani Smith Defensive Back Henderson County Kentucky Timarion Rogers Defensive Back Southern  Kentucky Brandon Monroe Defensive Back Transfer - Cal Lutheran California Jhordan Inniss Defensive Back Transfer - Bluefield State Florida Sydarien Vinson Defensive Back Transfer - Ventura College Alabama Brian  Newberry Defensive Line Transfer - Quincy University Ohio Camden Williams Wide Reciever Transfer - Eastern KY Kentucky Timothy Atwell Offensive Line Hart County Kentucky David "Trey" Hicks Offensive Line Tates Creek Kentucky Cole Bowen   Offensive Line Castle Indiana Travis Gieseking Offensive Line Highland Illinois Levi Herndon Offensive Line Newman Georgia Andrew Hobbs Offensive Line Central Hardin Kentucky Camden Phillips Offensive Line Russellville Kentucky Peyton Stafford Offensive Line Bullitt East  Kentucky Brenden Jones Tight End  Wilson Central Tennessee  Mason  Bell Running Back Oakland Tennessee Khalil James Running Back Oakland Tennessee Jase Neuble Running Back Wilson Central  Tennessee Devan Roberts Running Back Gibson Southern Indiana David Crawley Running Back Louisville Butler Kentucky  Ryan Rayno Running Back Logan County Kentucky William "Camron" Brogan Wide Receiver Bullitt East Kentucky Aaron Fazzari Wide Receiver  Ezell Harding  Tennessee  Nathan Sowder Wide Receiver Boonville Indiana James "Camrin" Williams Wide Receiver Larue County Kentucky Brayden Clark Quarterback Bardstown Kentucky Jacob Hutcheson Quarterback Boyd Bucannon  Tennessee Zachary Cantrell Long Snapper Somerset Kentucky Colin  Johnson Long Snapper Hancock County Kentucky Andrew Blanton Defensive Line Thomas Nelson Kentucky Gabriel Hodskins Defensive Line Owensboro Catholic Kentucky Kajuan Hardesty Defensive Line South Warren Kentucky Adam Hobbs Defensive Line Central Hardin Kentucky Jeremiah Lightfoot Defensive Line Bowling Green Kentucky Jared Shelton Defensive Line Cullman Alabama Zachary Clark Linebacker Owensboro Kentucky Xander Early Linebacker Owensboro Kentucky Cam'Ron  Goodwin Linebacker Bourbon County Kentucky Chistopher Jordan Linebacker Warren Central  Indiana Jaron Mills Linebacker Hopkinsville Kentucky John Purdy Linebacker Castle Indiana Sebastian Fredell Defensive Back Hancock County Kentucky