This will be the third and final significant official visit weekend for the Kentucky football program in June. In addition to this weekend’s recruits, Kentucky hosted four players for mid-week officials, three of which were four-star talents — WR Andrew Marsh, LB Christian Gass, CB Dawayne Galloway, and WR Preston Bowman.
Commitments have followed each official visit weekend thus far. OT Darrin Strey was the first to pop. WR Ja’Kayden Ferguson and CB Andrew Purcell made moves this week. Who will be next? Let’s dive in.
Casting a Wide Net at Wide Receiver with an SEC Commit
Kentucky’s top three wide receivers will probably play their final season in Lexington this fall. Daikiel Shorts needs to replenish the coffers and he’s off to a good start with two players on board in the 2025 recruiting class.
Two more pass-catchers are on their way to Lexington this weekend. Dejerrian “DJ” Miller is the biggest wide receiver on the Kentucky big board. The three-star talent from East St. Louis is a 6-foot-3 athlete who can high-point the football, but what stands out more on tape is his ability to create free releases at the line of scrimmage. A coveted prospect, Kentucky is getting the last official visit after he tripped to Ole Miss and Tennessee.
Speaking of the SEC, Kentucky is bringing in a player who is committed to another SEC program. Kamare Williams pledged his allegiance to Arkansas in late May. The South Florida star was pursued by the big three programs from the Sunshine State, but only made an official trip to Arkansas in June. Kentucky is trying to get out the spatulas to flip this exceptional athlete.
Big Time Kentucky DL Target
There isn’t a more challenging position to recruit than interior defensive linemen. Large humans who have a high motor and can move well aren’t a dime a dozen, but as Deone Walker has shown us, they can make all the difference in the world. That’s why Kalen Edwards is such an important recruit for the Wildcats.
The four-star defensive tackle committed to Auburn after attending the Iron Bowl. When the Auburn defensive line coach bolted for the NFL, Edwards reopened his recruitment. The Tigers are still in the mix. He was on The Plains to start his summer on the road and made a visit to Louisville. Kentucky gets to make the last pitch and they must stick the landing this weekend.
SEC Competition for an Elite EDGE
Typically when Vince Marrow recruits Ohio, Ohio State and Michigan are his most challenging competition. That’s not exactly the case for Cedric Works, the No. 142 overall player in the 2025 recruiting class according to the On3 Industry Ranking.
Cincinnati is pushing to keep the Dayton native close to home. James Franklin is also trying to convince Works to make the move to Penn State. The surprising team in the mix here is Florida, who moved up in his personal pecking order following an official visit to Gainesville. Nevertheless, this is the Big Dog’s territory. This is his weekend to shine and it could be a big one for the future of the Kentucky defense.
Speaking of EDGE prospects, there is one who hasn’t been shy about his feelings for Kentucky. Nicholas Smith, an under-the-radar talent from Georgia, tells Jacob Polacheck he plans to announce a commitment this weekend. You gotta feel good about Kentucky’s chances.
There’s one other defensive player from Georgia officially visiting this weekend, Jaiden Braker. The linebacker hails from the talent-rich Atlanta metro where there’s a ton of competition among Power Four programs. Kentucky is getting the last of five official visits from Braker. He previously tripped to South Carolina, Rutgers, Utah, and NC State.
Two Kentucky Offensive Tackle Targets
Last but not least, the Big Blue Wall is looking for more reinforcements at offensive tackle. The Cats have Strey on board, but Eric Wolford needs a few more.
Jason Ekperuoh is a 6-foot-6, 340-pound prospect from Central Tennessee who has not picked up a ton of steam in his recruitment. Vanderbilt has kicked the tires, but Kentucky is the primary school on his radar.
Jermiel Atkins is another enormous target who’s shown a keen interest in Kentucky. A few of his teammates from Trotwood-Madison in Dayton joined him for a camp earlier this month. Vince Marrow convinced the former hooper to return for an official visit. He took official visits to Arizona State, Virginia Tech, and Minnesota, but Kentucky may not let him leave Lexington without committing.
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