BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Football announced the signings of 16 players on Friday, bringing the total number of signees in the 2025 class to 41.
The latest group is comprised of 15 Division I transfers, with 11 of those coming directly from the FBS level and four from the FCS level. The 16 incoming players include six offensive players, nine defensive players and one specialist. The 2025 class now features 19 offensive players, 21 defensive players and one specialist.
Brandon Buckhaulter | R-Sr. | WR | 6-2 | 198 | UAB/Ole Miss/Hartfield Academy | Jackson, Miss.
Buckhaulter comes to WKU after spending two seasons at UAB. The receiver appeared in 14 games for the Blazers and caught seven passes for 121 yards and a touchdown. He appeared in three games during his final season at UAB in 2024 before suffering a season-ending injury. In his first season with the program as a redshirt sophomore in 2023, Buckhaulter appeared in 11 games with five catches for 103 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown against South Florida. Buckhaulter spent the two seasons prior to his arrival in Birmingham, Alabama, at Ole Miss, where he appeared in 11 games, primarily on special teams. He did not see any game action in his first collegiate season in 2021 and redshirted. Buckhaulter prepped at Hartfield Academy, where he was rated a four-star prospect by ESPN and a three-star prospect by Rivals and 247Sports. ESPN ranked him the No. 65 wide receiver in the nation and the seventh-best player in Mississippi. He was an All-MAIS State selection during his prep career.
John Cannon | R-Sr. | K | 5-9 | 176 | USF/NSU University School | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Cannon transfers to WKU after spending four seasons at USF, including as the team’s primary kicker during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He went 12-for-16 on field goals in his final season with the Bulls, with a long make of 53 yards. He was 47-for-48 on PATs during the 2024 season, and finished second on the team in scoring. Between the 2023 and 2024 seasons, he made 64 consecutive PATs, which is the second-longest streak in USF history. Cannon was named MVP of the Hawaii Bowl after going 3-for-3 on field goals – a USF bowl record – and scoring 13 points – also a USF bowl record. In that 41-39 five overtime victory over San Jose State, he hit a game-tying 41-yard field goal – the longest in USF bowl history – with two seconds left, as well as a 36-yarder in the second overtime. In 2023, Cannon went 10-for-15 on field goals with a long of 45 yards. He was perfect on his 46 PAT attempts. His first career made field goal came in the 2023 season opener against WKU at Houchens-Smith Stadium from 37 yards. He saw action in one game in 2022 and redshirted after his first college season in 2021. Cannon played his senior prep season with TRU Prep Academy, which absorbed players from his NSU University School, since its program was idle due to the pandemic. He earned First Team Class 2A All-State honors after going 12-for-13 on field goals as a senior. In his career at NSU University School, he went 16-for-20 on field goals and 137-for-149 on PATs, scoring 176 points. He was 10-for-13 on field goals as a junior, and as a sophomore he earned First Team All-State honors after going 6-for-7 on field goals and 68-for 72 on PATs.
Jalen Emery | R-Sr. | DB | 5-10 | 189 | Houston/Shadow Creek HS | Pearland, Texas
Emery joins the Hilltoppers after starting his career at Houston, where he appeared in 21 games over three seasons and recorded 37 total tackles, one tackle for loss, and nine passes defended. He played in a pair of games during the 2024 seasons with two tackles and one pass defended, and the year prior he played in seven games with nine tackles and one pass defended. As a redshirt freshman in 2022, he played in 12 games and tallied 26 tackles, including one for loss, and defended seven passes. The 26 tackles were most by Houston’s freshmen during the season, and his seven pass breakups were tied for most among AAC freshmen. He was a member of the 2022-23 AAC All-Academic Team. He did not see any action and redshirted as a true freshman in 2021. Emery prepped at Shadow Creek High School in Texas, where he was considered a three-star prospect by 247Sports. The publication rated him the No. 117 overall cornerback and the No. 209 player in the state of Texas. He helped Shadow Creek to a perfect 16-0 Texas 5A Division I state title as a junior.
Eric Etienne | So. | DL | 6-1 | 305 | Norfolk State/Miramar HS | Miramar, Fla.
Etienne comes to WKU after a year at Norfolk State, where he played in nine games and posted 13 tackles, with three for loss and two sacks. Etienne prepped at Miramar High School in Florida. He recorded 63 tackles with 13 tackles for loss and four sacks as a senior, according to his team’s MaxPreps account. He also forced four fumbles and recovered two during that 2023 season at Miramar. As a junior, he had 27 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and three sacks.
Jakeem Fletcher | R-Sr. | DL | 6-1 | 305 | Alabama State/Tanner HS | Tanner, Ala.
Fletcher makes the move to WKU after spending four seasons at Alabama State. The defensive tackle played in 20 games over the last three seasons for the Hornets, with his most productive season coming in 2024. He played in 12 games and recorded 40 tackles and one forced fumble that season. He appeared in five games with five tackles the year prior, and had one tackle in three games in 2022. He did not see any action in 2021. Fletcher prepped at Tanner High School in Alabama.
