247Sports’ latest update to the 2028 recruiting rankings brought a strong Kentucky flavor to the Top247.
Four Bluegrass State natives landed in the group, led by Christian Academy of Louisville defensive lineman Kellan Hall. Hall now sits as the nation’s No. 1 defensive lineman and No. 2 prospect overall, earning a 5-star designation and a 98 rating on the site’s 100-point scale. Kentucky has not signed a 5-star recruit since Kiyaunta Goodwin in the 2022 class.
Another Kentucky native drawing major attention is Marion Tabor Academy cornerback Grayden Reid, who comes in as the country’s No. 5 cornerback and No. 27 overall prospect. Reid, who is originally from Louisville, has offers and interest spread across the country, but he was in Lexington for last weekend’s win over LSU. Kentucky is expected to stay in the mix deep into the process.
Murray interior offensive lineman Ryan Walls also checked in near the top of the board. He’s ranked No. 12 among interior offensive linemen and No. 142 nationally. Walls has made a few trips to Kentucky and holds the Wildcats, along with Alabama and others, in high regard.
Owensboro Catholic offensive tackle John Paul Carrico rounds out the Kentucky natives in the Top247. Carrico is the nation’s No. 17 offensive tackle and No. 156 prospect overall, with Ohio State, Kentucky, Tennessee and several other programs still in the picture.
The updated rankings also included a long list of prospects who have already visited Lexington. That group features Chattanooga Baylor School athlete Antwaun Adams, the No. 1 athlete and No. 18 overall prospect; Carbondale, Ill. offensive tackle Joseph Frierdich, the No.
5 OT and No. 37 player nationally; Tampa Carrollwood Day EDGE Antonio Thomas Jr., the No. 8 EDGE and No. 51 overall; and San Augustine, Texas offensive tackle Jamarios Canton, ranked No. 9 at his position and No. 62 overall.
Other visitors already in that mix include Cincinnati Princeton wide receiver Lorenzo McMullen Jr. at No. 11 at receiver and No. 77 overall, West Chester Lakota West linebacker Judah Blair at No. 8 linebacker and No. 119 overall, Jacksonville The Bolles School running back Xander Edwards at No. 6 running back and No. 124 overall, Moreno Valley Vista del Lago quarterback Josiah Boyd at No. 9 quarterback and No. 133 overall, Portage Central linebacker Camden Noe at No. 8 athlete and No. 146 overall, Bradenton IMG Academy safety Phoenix Evans at No. 18 safety and No. 166 overall, Chillicothe running back Cartae Ligon at No. 11 running back and No. 167 overall, Rutherford tight end Quinn Weber at No. 10 tight end and No. 186 overall, and New Lenox Providence Catholic offensive tackle Ben Coleman at No. 26 offensive tackle and No. 234 overall.
There are also several top-ranked prospects with Kentucky visits lined up later this season: Springfield, Ohio offensive tackle Kavon Blackmon, the No. 4 OT and No. 34 player overall; Virginia Beach Landstown quarterback Anthony Turner, the No. 5 quarterback and No. 64 overall prospect; Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
EDGE Cam Toomey, the No. 10 EDGE and No. 71 overall prospect; and Katy, Texas cornerback David Olotu-Judah, the No. 8 cornerback and No. 73 prospect overall.
In Other News...
Kentucky Is Suddenly In The Hunt For 3 Program-Changing Recruits
Kentucky footballs new era under Will Stein is already showing up on the recruiting trail, where the Wildcats are being mentioned with three of the most coveted names in the 2028 class. Wide receiver Jordan Anderson, defensive lineman Kellan Hall and cornerback Grayden Reid have all drawn strong attention nationally, and multiple recruiting analysts have noted that Kentucky has been actively pushing for each of them. For a program trying to build momentum early with a younger class, that kind of visibility matters.
Joe Price, Jay Bateman and Allen Brown have all been involved in those efforts, giving Kentucky a staff presence around three prospects who could alter the trajectory of the class if the Wildcats can stay in the mix. The long lead time only adds to the intrigue, since these are the kinds of recruitments that can swing on relationships, development plans and continued persistence over time. Right now, Kentucky appears to be positioned in the conversation in a way that would have felt much harder to imagine not long ago. [Read more 🡒]
Kentuckys 1950 Title Claim Still Comes Down To One Debate
Kentuckys long-running football argument with Oklahoma has a clean backdrop this week, because the schools have barely crossed paths at all. The Wildcats and Sooners have met only three times before their upcoming SEC matchup, and the history between them goes right back to one of college footballs most debated seasons, when Kentucky added a retroactive national title claim from 1950.
That season still turns on which standard you trust more. Kentucky points to its Sugar Bowl win over Oklahoma as the seasons defining result, while Oklahoma finished the regular season atop both major polls. Add in the fact that Tennessee and Princeton also claim national titles from that year under different systems, and the old question remains as unresolved as ever: who really owned 1950? [Read more 🡒]
Mark Popes First Kentucky Team Just Got An Early SEC Reality Check
Kentuckys basketball reset under Mark Pope has already entered the part of the calendar where preseason optimism meets leaguewide skepticism. At SEC Media Days in Birmingham, the conferences preseason projections placed the Wildcats seventh on the mens side, even as two Kentucky players landed on the preseason All-SEC teams. It was a reminder that the first year of a new era does not come with much benefit of the doubt, even for a program with this much expectation baked in.
The womens team drew a stronger early nod, coming in at fifth in the league and getting Clara Strack on the preseason All-SEC First Team. Both teams are now turning their attention to actual basketball, with the men set to begin exhibition play against Little Rock as the season starts to take shape. For Kentucky, the rankings are only preseason noise, but they do offer an early snapshot of where the league thinks the Wildcats stand before the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]