What Kentucky’s path to a top 25 recruiting class looks like
The pace on the recruiting trail is starting to pick up for Kentucky in the class of 2024. There have been two commitments added this week, and the high school haul is now up to six players. Over the next two weeks through the Fourth of July holiday, things should not slow down.
June official visits appear to be complete at the Joe Craft Football Training Facility. Now it’s time to figure out what the realistic ceiling can be for this Kentucky class. Three times under Mark Stoops, Kentucky has signed a top-25 recruiting class. In 2014 (12), 2020 (12), and 2022 (12), Kentucky signed double-digit top-500 high school prospects, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. The 2023 class (9) was the next closest, and the Cats finished that cycle at No. 27 in average star rating.
For this upcoming exercise at KSR+, we will be using the 10 top-500 prospect figure as a threshold. For Kentucky to ink a fourth top-25 class in 11 years, the coaching staff needs to sign that many top-500 recruits. Kentucky currently has just one in the fold (Cutter Boley). Where could the other nine come from?
High blue-chip
The 2022 recruiting class was a special one for Kentucky football due to the amount of high four-star prospects that the Wildcats added on signing day. Kiyaunta Goodwin, Barion Brown, and Tyreese Fearbry were each top-200 recruits who picked UK over some big competition. This was the first haul to sign at least three of these players in one class.
The Wildcats could have a chance to sign three again in this cycle which could bolster the overall recruiting ranking. Cutter Boley is already in the class and there are three other players to watch.
— Brian Robinson (4-star, No. 142 overall): The top-five prospect in Ohio has completed visits to Kentucky, Michigan, Penn State, and Maryland in June. Kentucky appears to be in great shape. I have logged an RPM pick for the Wildcats to land Robinson and still feel very good about that. Robinson would be the program’s third highest-ranked defensive signee of the Mark Stoops era behind only Justin Rogers and Trevin Wallace.
— Cam Coleman (5-star, No. 10 overall): Probably the biggest pipe dream still available on the board, Coleman just announced his top eight schools and Kentucky made the cut. The Wildcats have hosted the No. 3 ranked wideout for unofficial visits but could not get Coleman in Lexington for an official visit in June. Clemson, Auburn, and Texas A&M were the three programs that received official visits in June. Hugh Freeze‘s program could be tough to beat for the local prospect.
— Jonathan Daniels (4-star, No. 73 overall): The Pensacola (Fla.) Pine Forest rising senior was a surprise official visitor for Kentucky in June, and the Wildcats made a splash. Georgia received an official visit, and Daniels is scheduled to visit Florida State this weekend. Kentucky is fighting to remain a factor in this big boy recruitment where LSU is also involved.
— Hardley Gilmore (4-star, No. 111 overall): The Pahokee (Fla.) High wideout was on campus for an official visit over the weekend and also re-classified to 2024. Kentucky appears to have a shot with Gilmore. The ranking is in the 2025 class, but the wideout shouldn’t fall out of the top 200 when his new ranking is finished.
— Jac’Qawn McRoy (4-star, No. 188): McRoy has visited Kentucky multiple times and just wrapped up his official visit in Lexington. Arkansas and Oregon are the top competition for the massive right tackle prospect. A decision is scheduled to be announced on June 30.
Top-300 prospects
Where Kentucky has had more success is finding players in the 200-300 range when it comes to four-star prospects. Deone Walker, Dane Key, Chris Oats, Lynn Bowden, Josh Paschal, Darian Kinnard, and C.J. Conrad were each big recruiting in this area and were able to carve out strong roles and become multi-year starters at Kentucky.
The Cats are in on some of these tier-B four-star prospects.
— Jalewis Solomon (4-star, No. 225 overall): Kentucky hosted the South Georgia native for an official visit while Florida State, South Carolina, and Texas A&M are also involved. The athlete could play wide receiver or safety at the next level. The Seminoles could be tough to beat having had Solomon on campus in Tallahassee a handful of times throughout the recruiting process.
— Terhyon Nichols (4-star, No. 270 overall): The Cincinnati (Ohio) Withrow product’s first official visit was to Kentucky followed by stops at Pittsburgh and Penn State. Michigan is scheduled to host Nichols for a visit this weekend. Both Alabama and Ohio State are lurking in this recruitment. Kentucky figures to have a great shot at landing Nichols.
— Cameron Keys (4-star, No. 283 overall): Another recruit from the Florida panhandle, Kentucky received Keys’ first official visit before a trip to Vanderbilt last weekend. Missouri will now get a chance to make a pitch this weekend. On paper, UK is in great shape to land this top-300 prospect.
Borderline 4 stars
After you get out of the top 300, the margins become thin when it comes to determining three/four-star prospects. However, there is value to be found in the 300-500 range. Grant Godfrey, Khamari Anderson, Kendrick Gilbert, Anthony Brown, and Avery Stuart were all good pulls for Kentucky last year from this area in the rankings. Jordan Dingle and J.J. Weaver are current starters that also came from this window.
These high three-star and low four-star prospects can make a big impact. Kentucky is firmly in the hunt for a handful of wide-open recruitments.
— Damarion Witten (4-star, No. 354 overall): An Ohio State vs. Kentucky battle is brewing for the flex tight end out of Cleveland (Ohio) Glenville. The Buckeyes will get Witten back on campus for an official visit this upcoming weekend. Ryan Day’s program could be hard to beat if Ohio State puts on the full-court press.
— Kendall Jackson (4-star, No. 365 overall): Kentucky is battling Florida for the Gainesville (Fla.) Buchholz product who has deep ties to the Gators. However, the Wildcats made a big splash during Jackson’s official visit and appear to have more than a puncher’s chance at the moment.
— Dominic Nichols (4-star, No. 379 overall): As Michigan loads up on EDGE prospects, Nichols remains uncommitted. That could be a very good thing for Kentucky. Wisconsin is also in a good spot for the DMV native. A defensive front class with Nichols, Brian Robinson, and Kendall Jackson would be an outstanding pull for Kentucky.
— Dominic Kirks (4-star, No. 385 overall): The Cleveland defensive line prospects canceled a Kentucky official visit to get a trip scheduled with Wisconsin, but the Cats still made the top five. Trips to Pittsburgh and Washington were also made this move. UK likely needs to get an official visit on the books with Kirks, but are not out of this recruitment yet.
— Tovani Mizell (3-star, No. 490 overall): A former Georgia commit, the South Florida native took official visits to North Carolina and Kentucky in June. The Wildcats look like the team to beat and could be landing a commitment soon from the two-way tailback who can provide real pass game value.
Can Kentucky get to 10?
Cutter Boley stands alone, but the quarterback prospect is a big fish. Another 2025 reclassification could give Kentucky another big fish if Hardley Gilmore decides to join the party. However, this is a game about quantity as much as quality.
To get into the top 25, Kentucky will need to find at least nine more top-500 recruits to join the class. As June quickly comes to a close, we have 13 targets that Kentucky has at least a puncher’s chance with. Getting nine of those baker’s dozen will be a tough ask.
Rankings are fluid throughout the process, and some things can change. However, some other targets will emerge later in the recruiting calendar. At this time last year, Khamari Anderson and Jayvant Brown were both unlikely and not on the radar. Each ended up signing with Kentucky in December. Things can change quickly.
The Wildcats are in on some premium targets, but closing still needs to be done. Meanwhile, some more high-quality targets likely need to emerge. National Signing Day is less than six months away. High school recruiting is a marathon but time is starting to run out.
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