With the transfer portal heating up and the February signing period looming, the Kentucky Wildcats are in full roster-reload mode under new head coach Will Stein. The early signing period brought in a dozen high school recruits, but make no mistake-this class isn’t finished. Stein and his staff are still hunting for talent, and they’ve just thrown their hat into the ring for one of the top uncommitted defensive linemen in the country.
Kentucky Enters the Mix for Dylan Berymon
Dylan Berymon, a blue-chip defensive tackle out of Ouachita Parish High School in Monroe, Louisiana, is back on the market after decommitting from Texas in November. He didn’t sign during the early period, which left the door wide open for programs still looking to bolster their defensive front.
LSU and Nebraska made their pitches, but neither sealed the deal. Now, Kentucky has officially entered the conversation.
Defensive line coach Anwar Stewart extended a scholarship offer to Berymon, signaling serious interest. Stewart’s future with the program hasn’t been formally confirmed, but indications are he’ll be retained for his seventh season-a move that would provide some much-needed continuity on the defensive side of the ball during this transitional offseason.
For Kentucky, this is a swing worth taking. Berymon is a top-250 national prospect and the kind of player who can anchor a defensive line for years. Adding him would be a major win in the trenches for a program that’s trying to make a statement in the SEC under new leadership.
Beyond the Portal: High School Recruiting Still Matters
While the transfer portal grabs most of the headlines-and rightfully so in today’s college football landscape-Kentucky isn’t neglecting its high school recruiting efforts. The Wildcats are still looking to add to their 2026 class before attention shifts to the 2027 cycle. And with Berymon now in play, the Cats are in the mix for another high-upside talent out of Louisiana, a state that’s been good to them lately.
Just last week, Kentucky landed a commitment from four-star wide receiver Kenny Darby out of Bossier City’s Airline High School. Darby, ranked No. 188 nationally, headlines a 2026 class that’s quietly building a solid foundation.
A Closer Look at Kentucky’s 2026 Class (So Far)
Here’s a breakdown of the 2026 high school signees and JUCO additions already on board:
- Kenny Darby, WR, Bossier City (La.) Airline - 4-star, No. 188 overall
- Matt Ponatoski, QB, Cincinnati (Ohio) Moeller - 4-star, No. 226 overall
- Denairius Gray, WR, Hollywood (Fla.)
Chaminade-Madonna - 3-star, No. 522 overall
- Dallas Dickerson, WR, Bogart (Ga.)
North Oconee - 3-star, No. 589 overall
- Lincoln Watkins, TE, Port Huron (Mich.)
Northern - 3-star, No. 609 overall
- Ben Duncum, DL, Austin (Texas) Lake Travis - 3-star, No. 748 overall
- Isaiah McMillian, CB, Katy (Texas) High - 3-star, No. 943 overall
- Justyn Hartley, LB, Hoover (Ala.)
High - 3-star, No. 953 overall
- Prince Jean, WR, Valdosta (Ga.)
High - 3-star, No. 1,049 overall
- Cameron Miller, OT, Hammond (Ind.)
Morton - 3-star, No. 1,072 overall
- Davis McCray, WR, San Antonio (Texas) Cornerstone Christian - 3-star, No. 1,295 overall
- Delvecchio “Deuce” Alston II, RB, Trussville (Ala.) Hewitt-Trussville - 3-star, No. 1,421 overall
- Jordan Knox, iOL, Rock Hill (S.C.) Northwestern - JUCO
- Braxton Urquhart, CB, Hoover (Ala.) High - JUCO
This class is a blend of skill-position playmakers, developmental linemen, and a few JUCO pieces who could contribute early. The headliner is Darby, but Ponatoski gives them a potential quarterback of the future, and Duncum adds some size and versatility to the defensive line.
The Road Ahead
With the portal window officially opening in less than two weeks, Kentucky’s staff is about to enter one of the most critical stretches of the offseason. Expect Stein and company to be aggressive in filling holes with experienced talent.
But don’t overlook the importance of what happens in February. High school additions like Berymon could end up being foundational pieces for the future.
The Wildcats are still shaping their identity under Stein, but the early signs suggest a program that’s not afraid to recruit nationally, take calculated swings, and build depth across the board. Whether it’s through the portal or the prep ranks, Kentucky is clearly in roster-building mode-and they’re not done yet.