Tops add to Class of 2027 commits
Published 12:49 pm Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Head Coach Tyson Helton talks to his team following the Red and White Spring Showcase at Houchens-Smith Stadium on Saturday, April 11, 2026. (Grace McDowell / The Daily News)
Western Kentucky’s football program continues to recruit for the future with multiple additions to the Class of 2027.
The Tops have picked up numerous commitments to the program in the past week as the 2027 group continues to grow.
East Nashville Magnet School quarterback Dallas Covington announced his commitment to WKU on social media. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound had offers from Conference USA rivals Liberty, Middle Tennessee and Delaware in addition to Memphis, East Carolina, Marshall and Buffalo plus others, according to the 247Sports.com recruiting website. Covington completed 121 of 159 passes (76.1%) with 22 touchdowns in 12 games for East Nashville as a junior last season, according to Maxpreps.com.
Langston Abernathy, a 6-foot, 183-pound wide receiver from Suwanee, Georgia, also announced his commitment to WKU this week. At Peachtree Ridge High School last season, Abernathy tallied 20 catches for 199 yards and a touchdowns in eight games, according to Maxpreps.com.
Abernathy picked WKU over reported offers from Troy, Colorado State, Toledo and UMass, according to 247Sports.com.
The Tops added a commitment from 6-3, 185-pound athlete Velon Henderson from Murfreesboro, Tennessee. At Oakland High School last season, Henderson played as both a wide receiver (seven catches for 103 yards) and cornerback (nine tackles). Henderson garnered offers from Colorado, Vanderbilt, Jacksonville State, FIU, Florida Atlantic and Miami (Ohio), accorded to 247Sports.com.
Email newsletter signup
WKU picked up another wide receiver commit on Wednesday when Florida native Michael Stringer announced he’ll join the program. Stringer, who played last season at American Heritage High School in Plantation, Florida, is a 6-foot, 190-pound wideout. Stringer tallied 25 catches for 358 yards and a touchdown last season, according to MaxPreps.com.
Stringer had reported offers from MTSU, East Carolina and Tulane.
The Tops added another Tennessee recruit Wednesday when Gatlinburg native Brayden Maples announced his commitment. A 5-11, 200-pound running back at Sevier County High School, Maples was a Tennessee Mr. Football semifinalist and is a two-time all-state selection. He ran for 1,272 yards on 174 carries and added 25 catches for 250 yards, tallying 29 total touchdowns for a squad that finished 14-1.
Maples held numerous offers including from Kentucky, Indiana, Liberty, Marshall and Appalachian State, according to 247Sports.com.
Another East Tennessee prospect committed this week to the Tops as offensive lineman Carmello Peoples announced his decision on social media. A 6-6, 300-pounder, Peoples played last season at Tyner Academy. He also held an offer from Toledo, according to 247Sports.com.
WKU has also picked up some additions on the defensive side for the 2027 recruiting class.
Jamaine Lewis, a 6-2, 300-pound defensive lineman from Birmingham, Alabama, Fi-rass Ibrahim, a 6-1, 185-pound defensive back from Lawrenceville, Georgia, and Isiah Osby, a 6-2, 185-pound safety from Hampton, Georgia, all announced their commitments this week.
Lewis, who played last season at Hueytown (Alabama) High School but will be at A.H. Parker High School this year, held numerous offers including from CUSA rivals Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, Liberty and Missouri State as well as South Carolina, Memphis and Southern Miss.
Ibrahim held more than 20 offers with CUSA rivals Kennesaw State, MTSU and FIU among them as well as Pittsburgh, Tulane and Old Dominion. He tallied 54 tackles, three interceptions and four pass breakups as a junior.
Osby held more than a dozen offers including Liberty, James Madison, Delaware and Army, according to 247Sports.com.
Class of 2027 commitments
Langston Abernathy | WR | 6-0 | 183 | Peachtree Ridge HS | Suwanee, Ga.
Rashad Bobo | LB | 6-1 | 225 | Lake Cormorant HS | Cormorant, Miss.
Dallas Covington | QB | 6-3 | 180 | East Nashville Magnet HS | Nashville
Ken Gilyard Jr. | OL | 6-5 | 328 | Cardinal Ritter College Prep | St. Louis, Mo.
Velon Henderson | ATH | 6-3 | 185 | Oakland HS | Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Fi-rass Ibrahim | DB | 6-1 | 185 | Brookwood HS | Lawrenceville, Ga.
Jamaine Lewis | DL | 6-2 | 300 | A.H. Parker HS | Birmingham, Ala.
Brayden Maples | RB | 5-11 | 200 | Sevier County HS | Gatlinburg, Tenn.
Isiah Osby | S | 6-2 | 185 | Lovejoy HS | Hampton, Ga.
Carmello Peoples | OL | 6-6 | 300 | Tyner Academy | Chattanooga, Tenn.
Jack Stivers | TE | 6-5 | 240 | Trinity HS | Louisville
Michael Stringer | WR | 6-0 | 190 | American Heritage HS | Plantation, Fla.
About Jeff Nations
Sports Editor, Bowling Green Daily News
More by Jeff
