OWENSBORO, Ky. – The Kentucky Wesleyan football program and head coach Tyrone Young have announced 63 signees as part of National Signing Day 2026.
"I could not be prouder of our coaching staff for the outstanding job they did identifying and recruiting an exceptional group of young men who are ready to make an immediate and lasting impact," Young said. "This class represents more than football. These young men are committed to making a difference in our community, on campus, in the classroom, and on the field. We made it a priority to recruit our home state of Kentucky, and we are proud of the strong foundation we built here while also expanding our reach into 11 additional states. Georgia and Tennessee were once again strong recruiting areas for us, built on long-standing relationships and trust."
"The potential of this brotherhood is exciting, but now it's about the work," Young continued. "The expectations are clear, and the standard is set. It's time to prepare, to develop, and to compete as we turn our focus toward our season opener. Welcome home, young men. Let's go make the W proud. DIG IN!"
The class includes 52 incoming freshmen and 12 mid-year transfers. Position-wise, the class stacked up in the trenches with 13 offensive linemen and 11 defensive linemen on top of 11 defensive backs, nine wide receivers, eight quarterbacks, six running backs, and six linebackers.
12 states are represented in this class: Kentucky (26 signees), Georgia (13), Tennessee (11), Indiana (3), Alabama (3), Arkansas (1), Illinois (1), South Carolina (1), Missouri (1), Colorado (1), Wisconsin (1), and Texas (1).
This is Young's fourth NSD class at the helm of the program. His first NSD class in 2023 included 44 signees, followed by 65 (a program record) in 2024 and 50 in 2025.
The class holds a 3.2 average GPA, continuing the trend of Young bringing in NSD classes with strong track records in the classroom after the 2025 class held a 3.13 average GPA.
With football being the largest athletics program at KWC, their student-athletes have a sizable impact on the campus and community each year.
"Today is one of the most rewarding days of the year for our program — a culmination of tireless work, long hours on the road, and genuine relationships built by our coaching staff," Vice President of Athletics Jason Vittone said. "I want to thank each coach for their dedication, their commitment to our vision, and the impact they've already made in shaping the future of Panther football. To the student-athletes, and families, who have chosen to commit to Kentucky Wesleyan — thank you for believing in our mission, embracing our culture, and trusting us with your next chapter. We're excited to see you grow not just as athletes, but as leaders in the classroom and in the community. Coach Young and his staff have delivered an exception group of recruits, and I look forward to watching them help shape our program. It truly is a great day to be a Panther."
Stay tuned for the full 2026 Kentucky Wesleyan football schedule, which is set to be released in the coming weeks.
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