Will Stein’s Recruiting Push Signals a New Era for Kentucky Football
Will Stein hasn’t wasted a second since taking the reins at Kentucky. If there was any doubt about how serious he is about building a winner in Lexington, his work on the recruiting trail is putting it to rest-fast.
From the moment he stepped behind the mic at his introductory press conference and called high school recruiting the “lifeblood” of the program, Stein has backed it up with action. And not just with a few flashy offers-he’s going full throttle.
Let’s break down the early moves that are turning heads and why this recruiting cycle could be a turning point for the Wildcats.
Andre Clarke: A Statement Start
Every new era needs a spark, and Stein lit his with the commitment of 4-star cornerback Andre Clarke, one of the biggest gets in January according to Rivals. Clarke is the kind of player who doesn’t just fill a need-he sets a tone. Landing a top-tier defensive back early in the cycle is a message to other recruits: Kentucky is serious, and there’s a new energy in town.
Jamison Roberts: Quarterback Battle Heating Up
One of the more intriguing developments is Kentucky jumping into the mix for Jamison Roberts, a rising 3-star quarterback out of Alabama. Roberts has already drawn offers from four other SEC programs, and Kentucky became the fifth.
With Ole Miss, Auburn, and Oklahoma also in the hunt, this one’s shaping up to be a classic SEC recruiting battle. If the Wildcats can gain traction here, it could be a major signal that Stein’s offensive vision is resonating with top QB talent.
Reed Gerken: Building the Trenches
Offensive line recruiting doesn’t always grab headlines, but it wins games-and Reed Gerken is a name to watch. The 3-star lineman from Perrysburg, Ohio, recently listed Kentucky in his top 10 alongside Louisville and Tennessee. Gerken’s recruitment is still unfolding, but the Wildcats are in the conversation, and that’s where you need to be if you want to build a dominant front.
Jordan Haskins: In-State Momentum
Keeping top in-state talent home is a must for any program trying to level up, and Jordan Haskins is a big one. The 4-star safety out of Lexington has Kentucky back in his top six, alongside Illinois, Indiana, and Louisville. Stein’s staff has clearly made a strong push here, and if they can close on Haskins, it would be a major win-not just for the roster, but for the message it sends to other Kentucky prospects.
Mekai Brown: Big-Time EDGE, Big-Time Competition
One of the most coveted names on the board is Mekai Brown, a 4-star EDGE rusher ranked in the top 60 nationally. He’s got a coast-to-coast visit schedule lined up, from Florida to UCLA, with a stop in Lexington set for April. Brown’s recruitment is going to be a heavyweight fight, but getting him on campus gives Kentucky a shot-and that’s all you can ask for with a player of his caliber.
Matthew Gregory: Swinging for the Fences
When you’re trying to change the trajectory of a program, you have to be willing to chase the big fish. That’s exactly what Stein is doing with Matthew Gregory, a 5-star wide receiver out of Pennsylvania.
Gregory holds 24 offers and is a priority for Penn State, but Kentucky is making a play. Pulling off this kind of recruitment would be a program-defining moment.
Even being in the mix shows how far Stein is willing to go.
Myles Baker & Hayden Stepp: Secondary Surge
The Wildcats also recently extended offers to a pair of 4-star defensive backs in Myles Baker and Hayden Stepp. Baker, a top-300 safety with offers from Alabama, Georgia, and 25 others, adds another high-upside name to the board.
Stepp, a 4-star corner, is a more recent target, and Kentucky has some ground to make up. But again, Stein isn’t shying away from the challenge-he’s diving headfirst into competitive recruitments.
The Bigger Picture
What we’re seeing from Will Stein and his staff isn’t just a flurry of offers-it’s a calculated, aggressive push to elevate Kentucky’s roster to a level it hasn’t consistently reached. The goal? Stack blue-chip talent across every position group and build a foundation that can compete in the SEC, not just survive in it.
It’s early, and offers are just the first step. The real question now is how many of these battles Kentucky can win.
But one thing’s clear: Stein isn’t waiting around. He’s betting big on high school recruiting, and if he can turn these offers into commitments, Kentucky football could be heading into a very different conversation in the years to come.