https://wildcatfaithful.net/ Exchange football recruiting tidbits and learn about our future stars. en Thu, 18 Jun 2026 15:16:23 GMT vBulletin 60 https://wildcatfaithful.net/images/misc/rss.png https://wildcatfaithful.net/ https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/kentucky-football/recruiting-aa/416339-how-kentucky-has-built-top-25-recruiting-class-without-being-the-highest-bidder Sun, 14 Jun 2026 09:33:36 GMT Kentucky football is rolling on the recruiting trail. Money is part of the equation but historic methods are still being used by Will Stein... Will Stein and his staff.

The first-year head coach was at the Lexington Rotary Club on Thursday for a speaking engagement on Thursday. During his time at the podium, Stein discussed the need for program investment as we all wait on a bill to pass for antitrust exemption so the NCAA can enforce rules. Money will be needed to field a roster but relationships still matter in recruiting.

How Kentucky has built top-25 recruiting class without being the highest bidder - On3]]> Recruiting Matt Dillon https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/kentucky-football/recruiting-aa/416339-how-kentucky-has-built-top-25-recruiting-class-without-being-the-highest-bidder https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/kentucky-football/recruiting-aa/416319-dl-jaylen-mercer-commits Sat, 13 Jun 2026 01:33:19 GMT
He is ranked #504 overall. ]]> Recruiting WildcatRick https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/kentucky-football/recruiting-aa/416319-dl-jaylen-mercer-commits https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/kentucky-football/recruiting-aa/416315-kentucky-football-changes-official-visit-plans Fri, 12 Jun 2026 15:48:16 GMT The Kentucky football recruiting operation is on an absolute heater. The Wildcats capped off their first official visit weekend of the summer with...
Kentucky initially planned to build on that momentum with a second round of official visitors in Lexington this weekend. Unfortunately, tragedy forced those plans to change.

Will Stein informed the Kentucky football team on Monday that defensive lineman Nic “Happy” Smith passed away. He was only 20 years old.

Since his sudden, unexpected death, the Kentucky football coaches have kept their focus on their players. Ahmad Breaux‘s mother, Candice, shared some insight into how they’re supporting the players during this difficult time.

“Not only did they share a private morning with our boys, they called us parents individually to check on US as well. Coach (Anwar) Stewart listened to everything I had to say and acknowledged my concerns and feelings; no interruptions and no rushing off the phone. What a class act Coach Stew is,” she said. “A little over a year ago, Ahmad experienced the loss of another teammate in the same manner. There are things in life that we have no control over. We needed that support today.”

In the wake of the loss, Kentucky canceled Wednesday’s Will Stein football camp. The Wildcats will not be hosting any official visitors this weekend. These recruiting events are built on excitement and energy around the future of the program. The Kentucky football program can’t fake excitement while they’re in mourning. It would just feel inappropriate.

Kentucky’s top recruiting targets have been understanding and accommodating. Guys like WR Tyler Fryman, WR Ty Johnson, and QB Jake Nawrot are expected to move back their official visits one week.

Kentucky Football Changes Official Visit Plans - On3



]]> Recruiting Matt Dillon https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/kentucky-football/recruiting-aa/416315-kentucky-football-changes-official-visit-plans https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/kentucky-football/recruiting-aa/416263-4-iol-dominic-black-commits Wed, 10 Jun 2026 17:25:21 GMT to UK over VT, Tennessee, Michigan St, and Indiana. Another HUGE pickup.
Another HUGE pickup.]]> Recruiting WildcatRick https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/kentucky-football/recruiting-aa/416263-4-iol-dominic-black-commits https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/kentucky-football/recruiting-aa/416219-3-star-reed-gerken-commits Mon, 08 Jun 2026 22:02:23 GMT Recruiting NCCat https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/kentucky-football/recruiting-aa/416219-3-star-reed-gerken-commits https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/kentucky-football/recruiting-aa/416212-matt-ponatoskis-baseball-draft Mon, 08 Jun 2026 20:38:53 GMT This article sure sounds like QB Matt Ponatoskis will forgo college football if he is drafted in the upcoming baseball draft. I sure misread his...
https://www.aseaofblue.com/kentucky-...aft-approaches]]> Recruiting Los Gatos https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/kentucky-football/recruiting-aa/416212-matt-ponatoskis-baseball-draft https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/kentucky-football/recruiting-aa/416167-4-dt-malachi-brown-and-3-lb-drew-williams-commit Sun, 07 Jun 2026 18:54:15 GMT Glad site seems to be up and running again. While we were away, a couple important commitments today from Brown and Williams. Staff pursued both...
While we were away, a couple important commitments today from Brown and Williams. Staff pursued both hard. 1/2 on my other list, which I said was uninformed btw ?

Lotta momentum. Think there’s another to go today.]]> Recruiting NCCat https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/kentucky-football/recruiting-aa/416167-4-dt-malachi-brown-and-3-lb-drew-williams-commit https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/kentucky-football/recruiting-aa/416118-finishing-the-2027-class Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:18:24 GMT
I'm still a little fuzzy/out of depth on how the final HS numbers will turn out vs. portal players in completing the roster given the 105 player limit increase. Duncan's decommit puts us at 18 current commits.

I posted in another thread that I believe UK is likely to get to 24-26 commits at least in terms of guys that would be considered to be potential rotation guys pre-roster number expansion. Was thinking we were done in the secondary but feel we may get one more.

My uninformed prediction to finish:

4* WR Tyler Fryman
3* WR Austin Coles
4* OG/OT Dominic Black
3* OG Reed Gerken
4* DT Malachi Brown
4* LB Cole Crawford
3* CB Emerson Lewis

I think this is realistic and would add the proverbial bow to a very very solid first full class for Stein (while also remembering the late '26 class pickups of 4* WR Darby and 4* CB Clarke).
]]> Recruiting NCCat https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/kentucky-football/recruiting-aa/416118-finishing-the-2027-class https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/kentucky-football/recruiting-aa/415536-three-star-rb-mason-ball-commits-to-kentucky Sat, 23 May 2026 19:36:24 GMT Arkansas 3rd best player commits to KENTUCKY Mason Ball. That is 4 more pick ups this week. I would think Stein is about done with HS recruiting. He... Arkansas 3rd best player commits to KENTUCKY Mason Ball. That is 4 more pick ups this week. I would think Stein is about done with HS recruiting. He will want some room for portal guys. Recruiting Pobilly https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/kentucky-football/recruiting-aa/415536-three-star-rb-mason-ball-commits-to-kentucky https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/kentucky-football/recruiting-aa/415507-edge-griff-galloway-commits Fri, 22 May 2026 18:30:02 GMT Another commit for UK football, EDGE Griff Galloway (https://www.on3.com/rivals/griff-galloway-239992/) from NC. ... EDGE Griff Galloway from NC.

https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-w...riff-galloway/

]]> Recruiting Los Gatos https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/kentucky-football/recruiting-aa/415507-edge-griff-galloway-commits https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/kentucky-football/recruiting-aa/415482-kentucky-lands-commitment-from-kelsey-gerald-rb-3 Thu, 21 May 2026 15:43:43 GMT Kelsey Gerald picks UK over Auburn, Florida State and Indiana. https://x.com/Rivals/status/2057475177563189475
https://x.com/Rivals/status/2057475177563189475]]> Recruiting Pobilly https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/kentucky-football/recruiting-aa/415482-kentucky-lands-commitment-from-kelsey-gerald-rb-3 https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/kentucky-football/recruiting-aa/415432-4-miles-brown-cb-commits Tue, 19 May 2026 16:28:37 GMT Staff is cooking, as the kids say. Always love plucking a player from UT’s grasp. Sounds like we turned up the heat late while UT was asleep at the... the heat late while UT was asleep at the wheel perhaps.

Really promising secondary class so far]]> Recruiting NCCat https://wildcatfaithful.net/forum/kentucky-football/recruiting-aa/415432-4-miles-brown-cb-commits