Will Stein’s First Signing Day at Kentucky Flies Under the Radar - But a Few Freshmen Could Make an Early Impact
When Kentucky last introduced a new head coach, Signing Day in early February was a marquee moment. Mark Stoops used it to plant a flag, locking in key recruits like Jason Hatcher, Ryan Timmons, and Marcus McWilson - names that would help lay the foundation for a program turnaround. Jojo Kemp and Austin MacGinnis, both signed that day, became household names in Lexington.
Fast forward to the start of the Will Stein era, and that same day passed with far less fanfare.
That’s not necessarily a knock on Stein - it’s just the reality of today’s recruiting landscape. The early signing period in December has become the main event, and by the time February rolls around, most high school seniors have already put pen to paper. That was especially true this year, as most of Kentucky’s 2026 class had already committed under the previous staff and signed in December - the very same day Stein was officially introduced as head coach.
That timing left little room for Stein and his new staff to evaluate the incoming class or build relationships with those recruits. Still, Stein made it clear he wasn’t going to come in and start cutting ties just because he hadn’t been part of the original recruiting process.
“I’ve been on a staff before where they dropped a kid on signing day,” Stein said. “To me, that’s asinine.
It’s really poor for a coach to do that. So I wanted to give all of these guys the opportunity to learn me, to be a part of this program.”
Some players opted out on their own. Four-star safety Messiah Tilson and another high school recruit from the previous staff chose not to sign with Kentucky.
Two junior college transfers did the same. And in a bit of a twist, three-star wideout Dallas Dickerson signed in December, only to be released from his scholarship before flipping to Georgia.
“This is not going to be for everybody,” Stein said. “They might have had relationships elsewhere and wanted to go elsewhere, and we said, ‘OK.’”
Rather than force square pegs into round holes, Stein pivoted. Kentucky added 33 transfers this cycle - a staggering number that’s understandably overshadowed the high school class. But Stein still sees value in the freshmen who did stick around.
“I will say, the guys that signed - excited about them,” he added. “I think some really good players.”
And if Kentucky is going to hit the ground running in Year 1 under Stein, he’s going to need a few of those young players to contribute right away. Here are three names to keep an eye on:
WR Kenny Darby
Darby was the first high school player to commit to Kentucky after Stein took over, and it wouldn’t be a shock if he ends up making an immediate impact. He’s the highest-rated recruit in the class and joins a wide receiver room that’s still very much in flux.
Kentucky swung for the fences in the transfer portal but missed on several top targets. They did land former Oklahoma standout Nic Anderson and Southern Utah’s Shane Carr just before the spring enrollment deadline, but both come in with question marks. That opens the door for Darby to carve out a role early - assuming he proves he’s ready.
There’s already a connection here: Darby was previously committed to LSU while UK offensive coordinator Joe Sloan was on staff there. And Stein’s track record at Oregon shows he’s not afraid to play freshmen if they’re ready. Last season, five-star freshman Dakorien Moore finished fourth on the Ducks in receptions.
Darby’s got that kind of upside. Don’t be surprised if he’s in the rotation from Day 1.
CB Andre Clarke
Clarke’s path to Kentucky was a winding one. He originally signed with Michigan in December, but after coaching changes in Ann Arbor, he was released from his commitment. That opened the door for Kentucky, who had been a finalist for him during his initial recruitment.
New defensive coordinator Jay Bateman has strong ties to Clarke’s home region in Virginia, and that familiarity helped seal the deal during January’s portal frenzy.
Clarke is one of just four high school signees who didn’t enroll early, so he won’t arrive in Lexington until June. That puts him a bit behind the curve, especially at a position where Kentucky returns three corners with starting experience and added Western Carolina transfer Hasaan Sykes.
Still, cornerback remains one of the thinner spots on the roster. Clarke may start camp behind the veterans, but his athleticism and special teams potential could get him on the field sooner rather than later.
WR Denairius Gray
Before Darby joined the class, Gray was the headliner among UK’s incoming freshman receivers. He was a long-time Auburn commit before flipping to Kentucky last summer, thanks to the recruiting efforts of then-wide receivers coach L’Damian Washington.
Gray’s recruiting stock has slipped a bit since then, but he’s still considered a four-star prospect by ESPN. And with Kentucky’s receiver room wide open behind presumed starters Anderson, Carr, and DJ Miller, there’s a real chance for Gray to earn snaps.
Yes, the other transfers bring college experience, but everyone is learning a new offense under Stein and Sloan. That levels the playing field a bit. If Gray can flash in spring and fall camp, there’s a path for him to see the field early - potentially right alongside Darby.
Looking Ahead
The transfer-heavy approach has dominated the headlines - and understandably so. But don’t sleep on this freshman class, even if most of it wasn’t hand-picked by the new staff. Stein is walking a tightrope in Year 1, trying to win now while building for the future.
That future could start sooner than expected if players like Darby, Clarke, and Gray hit the ground running.
They may not have been the stars of Signing Day, but they might just be the spark Kentucky needs in the early days of the Will Stein era.