Moussa Barry back on the Hill after NCAA grants eligibility waiver
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU football is ready to open the year at Nevada on September 5, that date is certain. But for one Hilltopper, his status for the matchup and for the rest of the season was up in the air this offseason.
“ I almost cried on the phone when Coach Helton called me and told me that I got accepted. It was just, it was crazy,” wide receiver Moussa Barry said.
Barry caught two passes for 32 yards in the 2025 New Orleans Bowl, celebrated the big win, and then his future plans became a question mark.
Before transferring to the Hill, Barry played four games in 2022 for the Division II Mars Hill Lions, but was limited due to injury as a freshman.
To continue his time at WKU, he was forced to apply for an extension of eligibility due to that medical hardship, and in the final days of July this year, Barry received the good news of a successful waiver from the NCAA.
“He had it all taken away from him, and didn’t flinch, and that’s what we preach in our room, having the right demeanor and urgency every day, and being consistent,” WKU wide receivers coach Jason Barnes said. “He kept working, kept training, kept believing, and God blessed him with another opportunity, man. So glad, so blessed to have him here back.”
“I had just got done working out, as soon as I’m taking my cleats off, Coach Helton called, told me my waiver got accepted, and I just said, ‘Coach, when can I come back?’ Barry said.
“He said, ‘I want you up here as soon as possible.’ I went home, packed, called my peoples, and it was on and rolling.”
His summer in Georgia was spent working to both earn a living and to stay in shape, with a playing career up in the air.
That mentality and work ethic has gotten him this far in life, and it’s proven to wear off on others in the WKU wide receiver room, too.
“He’s a great guy, a great leader. You know he’s gonna bring the competition to an edge, and he’s gonna make everybody better,” redshirt sophomore wide receiver Cameron Flowers said. “Like, we stay up here late at night, catching jugs, and he’s just a great guy to be around.”
Barry has already proven himself as reliable and productive within Western’s offense, finishing as the third-highest receiver just one year ago.
Now, he’s out for one more ride to help the Tops rise to the top of Conference USA.
“I’m just super grateful to be back, and to all the Tops fans out there, you will get my all every week, every day, even in practice,” Barry said. “You will get my all, and I promise not to let y’all down this year, we as a whole.”
