Will Stein’s Vision for Kentucky Football Starts with Homegrown Talent and Multi-Sport Athletes
Will Stein isn’t just building a roster at Kentucky - he’s building a culture. The new Wildcats head coach, fresh off his stint as Oregon’s offensive coordinator, is putting a premium on athleticism, competitiveness, and character. And for Stein, that often starts with multi-sport athletes.
“I love kids that run track, play basketball, wrestle - you name it,” Stein said. “If all you do is play football, that’s fine, but I love seeing that athleticism and competitiveness show up in other sports.”
That mindset says a lot about where Stein wants to take the program. He’s not just recruiting football players - he’s looking for complete athletes who embrace competition year-round and take pride in representing their school.
That pride, loyalty, and versatility? It’s exactly what he sees in senior safety Ty Bryant.
Ty Bryant: The Blueprint for the New Kentucky
Bryant isn’t just a returning starter - he’s the kind of player coaches build programs around. Last season, he led Kentucky with 76 tackles and four interceptions, the latter tying for the SEC lead.
Add in a couple of tackles for loss and a pass deflection, and you’ve got a stat sheet that jumps off the page. He was the only Wildcat to earn All-SEC honors - and it’s easy to see why.
But Bryant’s impact goes far beyond the numbers. At Frederick Douglass High School, he was everywhere - defensive back, wide receiver, punt and kick returner, gunner on special teams, even the holder on placekicks.
He finished his high school career as the school’s all-time leading tackler with 273. And if that wasn’t enough, he was also a five-year letterman in baseball and carried a 4.3 GPA in the classroom.
That’s the kind of resume that gets attention, and Bryant had plenty of it. LSU, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Georgia, Alabama - all came calling.
But he stayed in Lexington, one of 52 players returning from last year’s roster. For Stein, that decision was massive.
“Lexington kid. He’s a program builder.
He’s a leader. He’s all-conference.
He is a phenomenal person,” Stein said. “His dad played football here with my dad, so there’s a connection.
But more than that, he’s a damn good ballplayer, and we wanted to make sure he was on this team.”
Evaluating the Roster, Even From Oregon
Even before he officially took over in Lexington, Stein was already hard at work evaluating the roster. While still coaching at Oregon during the College Football Playoff, he was breaking down film of Kentucky’s current players and staying in constant communication with general manager Pat Biondo and assistant GM Pete Nochta.
“The first thing we did was look at this current roster and figure out who we really needed to keep for 2026,” Stein explained. “It’s a ton of film study, doing our research, and figuring out who fits the character we want on this team - and then, schematically, who fits what we’re looking for at each position.”
That early work paid off. Stein praised Biondo - calling him the best GM in the country - and credited both him and Nochta for helping spearhead the roster-building process. Together, they’ve laid the foundation for what Stein believes is a strong returning core.
Building a Staff with Kentucky Roots
As Stein assembled his coaching staff, he made one thing clear: he wanted people who understood the program and could connect with players. One of the first - and easiest - decisions he made was retaining defensive line coach Anwar Stewart.
“When I thought about Kentucky football before I got here, I thought they had really good D-lines. Anwar is a big piece of that puzzle,” Stein said.
“You just feel a bond with somebody when you get here. He was doing whatever it took to retain players and bring in new talent.”
Stewart, a Kentucky alum who’s coached the defensive line since 2020, brings more than just continuity - he brings credibility. And for Stein, that mattered.
“When you’re building a staff, you want to do it your way. But you also want people who know this place and believe in it.
Anwar was one of those guys I needed early on - and he’s proven he’s the right guy for the job.”
Jamarrion Harkless: Another Douglass Star Comes Home
One of the newest additions to Stewart’s D-line room is a familiar face in Lexington: Jamarrion Harkless. The 6-foot-3, 345-pound defensive tackle is transferring in from Purdue, where he played in 22 games and started 12 over three seasons. Like Bryant, Harkless is a Frederick Douglass alum and was part of the school’s Class 5A state championship team.
“Big interior body that can cause havoc up front,” Stein said. “He’s got a lot of pride in this city. I’m excited about him.”
Stein credited defensive coordinator Jay Bateman and the rest of the staff for identifying and landing Harkless through the portal, calling him a “big addition” to a unit that’s quietly shaping up as one of the team’s strengths.
A Clear Identity Taking Shape
From multi-sport high school athletes to homegrown stars and deeply rooted staff members, Stein’s vision for Kentucky football is starting to come into focus. It’s about more than just talent - it’s about toughness, loyalty, and building something sustainable.
Whether it’s keeping a cornerstone like Ty Bryant, bringing in a familiar face like Harkless, or making sure the right people are in the building, Stein is setting a tone early. And if the early returns are any indication, Kentucky fans have reason to believe this new era is in good hands.