Western Kentucky’s offense continues to add players for the 2025 season.

The Hilltoppers plucked two more players out of the NCAA transfer portal over the past two days, with UAB transfer wide receiver Brandon Buckhaulter and Kansas State transfer tight end Justin Wolf announcing their commitments to WKU on social media.

Buckhaulter, who announced his commitment Tuesday, spent the past two seasons at UAB. A 6-foot-3, 205-pound native of Jackson, Mississippi, Buckhaulter’s redshirt junior season was cut short by injury after just three games in 2024. He totaled two catches for 18 yards.

In 2023, Buckhaulter played in 11 games for UAB and tallied five catches for 103 yards including a 75-yard touchdown reception against South Florida. He also had seven carries for 78 yards.

Buckhaulter began his college career at Ole Miss and spent two seasons with the Rebels. He redshirted as a freshman in 2021 and played in 11 games the following season, mostly playing special teams.

Wolf committed to WKU after spending this past season at Kansas State. A 6-4, 252-pound native of Breezy Point, New York, Wolf joined Kansas State as a preferred walk-on after playing three seasons at FCS-level Wagner. Wolf did not tally any statistics for the Wildcats this past season.

At Wagner, he played in 20 games with four starts during his career. In 2023, he tallied four catches for 43 yards and a touchdown in an injury-shortened season and had seven receptions for 55 yards and a score during his time at Wagner.

ALL IN THE FAMILY

The Hilltoppers lost backup quarterback Turner Helton out of the transfer portal. Helton, the nephew of WKU head coach Tyson Helton, has signed with Georgia Southern where he will play for his father, current head coach Clay Helton.

A native of Palos Verdes Estates, California, Turner Helton spent three seasons at WKU. This past season as a redshirt sophomore, he appeared in two games but did not attempt a pass.

Turner Helton saw action in three regular-season games in 2023, completing 11-of-12 passes for 97 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He  made his lone career start for WKU in the Famous Toastery Bowl and was 3-of-4 passing for 15 yards and an interception before being replaced by Caden Veltkamp – who has transferred to Florida Atlantic – in the Tops’ 38-35 comeback win in overtime against Old Dominion.

Georgia Southern landed another former Hilltopper on Wednesday, as tight end River Helms announced on his Instagram account that he has signed with the Eagles.

A redshirt junior this past season, the Lester, Alabama, native was a steady producer for the Hilltoppers. Helms spent four seasons at WKU after signing with the program out of high school, seeing extensive special teams action as a redshirt freshman before becoming an integral part of the offense in 2023 when he appeared in 12 of WKU’s 13 games with nine starts at tight end. He caught 22 passes for 289 yards and three touchdowns.

Helms started the first seven games of this past season at tight end before being sidelined due to injury. He finished the season with 228 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 19 receptions. His touchdowns came in WKU’s Sept. 14 win at Middle Tennessee and in the Oct. 16 win at Sam Houston.

Helms had a season-high 72 yards on four receptions at Boston College on Sept. 28. He was recognized after the season as a Phil Steele Postseason CUSA All-Conference Second Team Offense selection.

STAFF ADDITION

WKU announced the hiring of Jason Barnes as wide receivers coach on Wednesday.

Barnes joins the WKU coaching staff after spending the last two seasons at Charlotte, where he served as wide receivers coach in 2024 and as an offensive analyst in 2023.

He has also had stops at Coastal Carolina as an offensive analyst, at Bridgewater College as wide receivers coach and at Georgia Military College as wide receivers coach during his career. Barnes began his coaching career at Dutch Fork High School in South Carolina, where he spent six seasons.

Barnes played wide receiver at South Carolina from 2007-11, where he appeared in 51 games over the course of his career. Following his time in Columbia, the Charlotte, North Carolina, native played professionally with the San Diego Chargers and Winnipeg Blue Bombers.