The Kentucky Wildcats are wasting no time under new offensive coordinator Will Stein, diving headfirst into the 2027 recruiting cycle with a flurry of scholarship offers already extended. With Stein and his revamped coaching staff settling in, the Wildcats are casting a wide net across the country, targeting elite-level talent early and often. Here's a breakdown of the recruits who’ve already picked up offers from Kentucky - and the staffers leading those efforts.
Defensive Line Targets
Defensive line coach Anwar Stewart is taking the lead on several key defensive prospects. One of the early standouts on Kentucky’s radar has drawn offers from Georgia, Texas, Ole Miss, Michigan, and Texas A&M - a who’s who of recruiting powerhouses. Stewart’s involvement signals just how serious Kentucky is about competing for top-tier defensive talent.
Another defensive prospect with offers from Oklahoma, Auburn, Arkansas, Colorado, and UCLA is also being recruited by Stewart. The competition is fierce, but Kentucky’s early engagement could make a difference down the line.
Stewart is also pursuing a third high-profile recruit, who’s been offered by Alabama, LSU, Miami, Texas, and Notre Dame. That’s SEC and national blue blood territory, and Stewart will have his work cut out for him - but Kentucky’s early interest could be key.
Quarterback Spotlight
At quarterback, Joe Sloan, Kentucky’s offensive coordinator, is personally handling the recruitment of a dynamic dual-sport athlete who also stars in basketball and baseball. On the football field, he’s coming off a monster season: 219 completions on 300 attempts for 3,370 yards, 37 touchdowns, and just 5 interceptions, plus 104 carries for 641 yards and 21 rushing touchdowns.
He’s a true dual-threat, and schools like Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Iowa, Auburn, and Arkansas have already taken notice. Sloan’s involvement here is no coincidence - this is a foundational piece for Kentucky’s offensive future.
Offensive Line Building Blocks
Offensive line coach Cutter Leftwich is also busy. He’s the primary recruiter for multiple linemen who’ve drawn offers from schools like Texas, Ole Miss, Texas Tech, Baylor, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi State, and Wake Forest. The SEC trenches are no joke, and Leftwich is clearly focused on building a unit that can hold its own against the best.
Skill Position Talent
Wide receivers coach Joe Price III is taking an aggressive approach as well. He’s leading the recruitment of several pass-catchers and skill players with offers from Florida State, Miami, Michigan, Penn State, Tennessee, Georgia, LSU, Oregon, Alabama, and Ohio State - a list that reads like a College Football Playoff bracket.
One of those players, Henry, was on campus for Kentucky’s Junior Day at the end of January - a promising sign of mutual interest.
Another target, Wright, is a multi-sport athlete who also plays basketball and has been offered by Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia, LSU, and Oregon. Price is the point man here, and his ability to connect with versatile athletes could pay dividends.
Then there’s Honore, a Georgia commit since June, who’s turning heads not just on the football field but on the track. In his first year running track, he posted multiple sub-11.0 100-meter times, including a blazing 10.83 personal best, and ran the leadoff leg on a 4x100m relay team that clocked a 41.69. Despite his commitment, Kentucky - and Price - are staying in the mix.
Secondary and Defense
Cornerbacks coach Allen Brown is also getting involved, targeting a defensive back who’s picked up offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Florida State, Pittsburgh, and Oklahoma State. Brown’s focus on the secondary will be key as Kentucky looks to reload its defensive backfield.
Other Notable Developments
A few more names to keep an eye on:
- A recruit who decommitted from Cincinnati in December and visited Lexington for Junior Day on January 31. He’s now back on the market, and Kentucky is in the mix.
- Phillips, another Junior Day visitor, has drawn offers from Louisville, Vanderbilt, SMU, and Colorado.
- Additional recruits have been offered by programs like Georgia Tech, Oregon, Texas A&M, USC, UCLA, North Carolina, NC State, and Baylor - showing just how competitive this early stage of recruiting already is.
- One particular athlete, Lancelin, is another multi-sport standout who plays basketball and runs track. Kentucky is going head-to-head with Texas A&M, Miami, Auburn, Mississippi State, and Baylor for his signature.
The Bigger Picture
What’s clear from this early recruiting push is that Will Stein and his staff aren’t easing into their new roles - they’re attacking the trail with urgency and ambition. Whether it’s quarterbacks, linemen, skill players, or multi-sport athletes, Kentucky is targeting high-upside prospects with national-level interest. And with key assistants like Stewart, Sloan, Leftwich, Price, and Brown playing active roles, the Wildcats are building relationships that could pay off in a big way.
It’s still early in the 2027 cycle, but if this first wave of offers is any indication, Kentucky plans to be a serious player in the years ahead.