Western Kentucky got positive news from the NCAA transfer portal on Thursday as one former Hilltopper returned to the fold.

Wide receiver Moussa Barry, who just completed his redshirt sophomore season at WKU, announced via his X (formerly Twitter) social media account that he plans to stay at WKU after entering the transfer portal for the second straight year.

Barry, a 6-foot-2, 194-pound native of Norcross, Georgia, arrived at WKU before the start of the 2023 campaign as a transfer from NCAA Division II program Mars Hill. His first career reception for the Hilltoppers came in the 2023 season opener when he hauled in a 51-yard touchdown catch from Austin Reed. Barry finished that season with nine catches for 145 yards and a TD.

This past season, Barry opened with a career-high four receptions for 27 yards in the season-opening loss at Alabama. Barry only appeared in seven games in 2024, totaling 10 catches for 100 yards and a touchdown – that score came in the finale against James Madison in the Boca Raton Bowl earlier this month, when Barry had two catches for 26 yards and a 17-yard touchdown reception from Caden Veltkamp in the Tops 27-17 loss.

MORE ADDITIONS

WKU continues to add to the roster via the transfer portal and the high school ranks in the Class of 2025.

On Tuesday, WKU got a commitment from a former CUSA rival when ex-Louisiana Tech defensive lineman Jayden Gray announced on social media he will join the Hilltoppers. Gray played in all 12 games for the Bulldogs this past season as a redshirt junior with two starts — including against WKU – and tallied 14 tackles including three tackles for loss (two sacks), a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry. The 6-2, 271-pound native of Fort Worth, Texas, spent two seasons at Louisiana Tech after two seasons at Iowa State.

The Tops picked up a Christmas Eve commitment from Karlfonza “Fonzy” Smith, a wide receiver rated as a three-star prospect by 247Sports.com. The 6-0, 175-pound Smith was a two-way star at Trinity Christian out of Fayetteville, North Carolina, who had previously committed to Charlotte – former Charlotte wide receivers coach Jason Barnes announced earlier this week he is now the new wide receivers coach at WKU.

At Trinity Christian, Smith tallied 81 career catches for 1,684 yards and 20 TDs, plus 41 carries for 521 yards and six scores. On defense as a strong safety, Smith totaled 127 tackles, six sacks and four interceptions in his high school career.

Also Tuesday, WKU landed a commitment from the portal as linebacker Montreze Smith announced plans to join the Hilltoppers. A native of Temple, Georgia, Montreze Smith is a 5-11, 210-pounder who just completed his freshman season with the Blue Devils after rating as a three-star prospect by ESPN.com, 247Sports.com and Rivals.com out of Carrolton High School. Smith saw action in four games this past season, totaling one tackle.

The Tops got a Christmas day commitment from former North Hardin standout La’Vell Wright, who spent this past season at Austin Peay after starting his collegiate career at Kentucky. A 5-11, 206-pound Louisville resident, Wright tallied a team-high 609 rushing yards and five touchdowns as a graduate student this past season for the Governors. he also had five catches for 32 yards.

Wright, originally a three-star prospect out of high school, spent three seasons at UK. In 2021, he played four games and used a redshirt year, tallying 118 rushing yards and a TD. In 2022, he tallied 39 carries for 130 yards and six catches for 28 yards but missed the 2023 season due to injury.

NEXT STEP

Two more former Hilltoppers have announced plays to enter the NFL draft in April.

Devonte’ Mathews, a senior defensive back who played one season for WKU after transferring from Nicholls State, announced his intention to enter the draft via social media on Wednesday. Mathews, a native of Phenix City, Alabama, was an impact addition this past season for the Tops. He led the team with 98 tackles while playing in all 14 games, tallying four fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, two interceptions and one tackle for loss to earn All-CUSA second-team honors as a defensive back.

Keyshawn Swanson, who completed his lone season in 2024 with the Tops after transferring from Troy, also announced on social media his plans to enter the draft. The 6-0, 192-pound native of Pensacola, Florida, finished third on the team with 63 tackles including 1.5 tackles for loss and a pair of pass breakups. Swanson played in all 14 games for the Hilltoppers this past season.

Mathews and Swanson join former WKU defensive back Upton Stout and running back Elijah Young as players off the 2024 squad who have declared for the draft.