The new Kentucky football staff isn’t wasting time making its presence felt on the in-state recruiting trail - and Atherton’s Garyon Hobbs is the latest name to watch.
Hobbs, a standout junior defensive back, announced his top 10 schools over the weekend, and Kentucky made the cut. Joining the Wildcats on that list: Michigan, Indiana, Notre Dame, Missouri, Louisville, Cincinnati, Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Vanderbilt. That’s a strong field, and it speaks volumes about the kind of attention Hobbs is drawing from Power 4 programs across the country.
At 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, Hobbs is built like a college-ready safety and projects to play that position at the next level. He’s currently rated as a three-star prospect and the No. 389 overall player in the 2027 class - but don’t let the stars fool you. Hobbs’ production and versatility tell a bigger story.
Kentucky’s pursuit of Hobbs has been steady. Pete Nochta, UK’s assistant general manager, has been the point man in communication with Hobbs, continuing a relationship that began under the previous staff.
Back in November 2023, then-assistant Vince Marrow was one of the first to extend Hobbs a Power 4 offer. Since then, Hobbs has been on campus for Junior Day in February and returned for the Kentucky-Ole Miss game in September, giving him multiple touchpoints with the program.
And Hobbs has done more than just flash potential - he’s delivered in a big way. He was a two-way force for an Atherton team that made school history in 2025, finishing 12-2 and reaching the Class 5A state semifinals before falling to Pulaski County.
On offense, he racked up 218 rushing yards and three touchdowns, plus 583 receiving yards and another seven scores. But it’s his defensive numbers that really pop: 71 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, three sacks, five interceptions (two of which he returned for touchdowns), and a fumble recovery.
That kind of production earned him First Team All-State honors from The Courier Journal - a well-deserved recognition for a player who impacted the game in every phase.
Hobbs isn’t the only in-state prospect drawing renewed interest from Kentucky’s revamped staff. Four-star 2027 defensive backs Allen Evans (Trinity) and Jordan Haskins (Bryan Station) also announced this week that they’ve been re-offered by the Wildcats. Those offers came from new assistant coach James Gibson, who’s expected to lead the defensive backs room in Lexington.
It’s still early in the 2027 recruiting cycle, but new head coach Will Stein is making a clear statement: Kentucky is going to prioritize its homegrown talent. And if Hobbs is any indication, the Bluegrass State has plenty to offer.