Kentucky Making Serious Noise in the Race for No. 1 QB Elijah Haven
If you’re looking for the hottest quarterback developers in college football right now, start your search in Lexington. That’s right-Kentucky.
The Wildcats are building something serious under the radar, and a big reason why is the dynamic duo of Will Stein and Joe Sloan. Together, they’ve crafted a quarterback-friendly environment that’s quietly becoming one of the most attractive destinations for elite signal-callers.
Let’s start with Stein. The guy has built a reputation as a quarterback whisperer, and the proof is in the production.
When he took over the Oregon offense, Bo Nix didn’t just improve-he exploded. Nix went from solid to sensational, throwing for 4,508 yards and 45 touchdowns.
That’s nearly 1,000 more yards and 16 more scores than the year before. Under Stein, Nix went from a good college quarterback to a Heisman finalist.
Then came Dillon Gabriel. Same story-different uniform, same result.
Another Heisman finalist. Stein’s system and coaching approach consistently put quarterbacks in position to thrive.
And while Dante Moore didn’t make the Heisman stage during Stein’s final season at Oregon, his growth was undeniable. Moore threw for 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns-massive leaps from what he showed at UCLA. It was clear: Stein knows how to get the most out of his guys.
But Stein’s not working alone in Lexington. Joe Sloan is on staff too, and he brings his own elite résumé to the table.
Sloan coached Jayden Daniels during his Heisman-winning season at LSU. That’s a serious 1-2 punch in the QB development department.
Which brings us to Elijah Haven.
Haven isn’t just another talented high school quarterback-he’s the guy in the 2027 class. The No.
1 QB prospect. The No. 2 overall player in the country, per 247Sports.
And until recently, it looked like Alabama had the inside track. That made sense.
He’s a Baton Rouge native, and the Crimson Tide have long been a magnet for top-tier quarterback talent.
But now? Kentucky’s making a real move.
According to On3’s Steve Wiltfong, the Wildcats are emerging as a legitimate contender for Haven. The connection here is obvious-Joe Sloan’s deep roots in Louisiana, and specifically Baton Rouge, give Kentucky a powerful inroad.
Sloan knows Haven. Haven knows Sloan.
That relationship is starting to matter in a big way.
“Five-star quarterback Elijah Haven visits Alabama... and is trending towards the Crimson Tide,” Wiltfong reported. “Because of the relationship with Sloan, the thought around the Wildcats program is that they’re quickly becoming a dark-horse for the Baton Rouge Dunham School product.”
This isn’t just wishful thinking. Kentucky’s quarterback room is already taking shape with purpose.
They landed Kenny Minchey out of the transfer portal for this season. They signed four-star Matt Ponatoski to develop for the future.
And now they’re going all-in on Haven-the crown jewel of the 2027 class.
That’s not just ambition. That’s strategy.
And the fact that Kentucky is gaining real traction with a five-star quarterback from deep inside SEC country? That’s a sign this program is turning heads and shifting expectations.
The next big step is getting Haven to Lexington for a visit. If that happens, things could escalate quickly.
Will Stein has already shown he can elevate quarterbacks to elite levels. If he and Sloan can land Elijah Haven-stealing him from Alabama, no less-it could accelerate Kentucky’s rise by years.
Don’t look now, but the Wildcats might be building something special.