UK's current 2023 recruiting class-
Ty Bryant, DB, Lexington, KY
Koby Keenum, OL, Florence, AL
Khalife Keith, RB, Birmingham, AL
Tanner Lemaster, TE, Washington CH, OH
Kaden Moorman, RB, Frankfort, KY
Shamar Porter, WR, Nashville, TN
Austin Ramsey, OL, Philadelphia, PA
Avery Stuart, DB, Montgomery, AL
Malachi Wood, OL, Richmond, KY
Tommy Ziesmer, LB, Danville, KY
It is likely that Jakob Dixon will commit to UK later today. Dixon is a tall WR out of PRP hs in southwest Jefferson County, same school that produced Elijah Reed last year. Dixon participated in two recent camps in Lexington and received his offer from our coaches after running 4.5 there. Conventional wisdom says he runs solid routes and has dependable hands. For those worried about his player ranking, our coaching staff's evaluation has been proven more reliable (Josh Allen, Benny Snell, Bunchy Stallings, Chris Rodriguez, Eli Cox). Conventional wisdom is that Dixon is being recruited as an H back/flex receiver. His eventual role depends on how his physique develops in UK's gym.
Here is a partial list of some other uncommitted 2023 players who might be considering UK seriously.
Jaremiah Anglin, DB, Lake Wales, FL
Neeo Avery, LB, Olney, MD
Naquil Betrand, OL, Philadelphia, PA
Anthony Brown, slotR, Springfield, OH
Stanquan Clark, LB, Miami, FL
Jeremiah Collins, DB, Louisville, KY
Kendrick Gilbert, DE, Indianapolis, IN
Grant Godfrey, LB, Suwanee, GA
Dylan Gooden, LB, Olney, MD
Devin Hyatt, WR, Bradenton, FL
Ja'Keem Jackson, DB, Kissimmee, FL
Conner Knight, OL, Trussville, AL
Che Ojarikre, ATH, Alpharetta, GA
Curley Reed, DB, Lake Charles, LA
Arvell Reese, LB, Cleveland, OH
William Spencer, OL, Louisville, KY
I am not suggesting all of these offers are committable. I do not expect Betrand, Gilbert, Gooden, Jackson, Knight, Reed, or Reese to end up at UK. In particular, I do not believe the delay in Gilbert's announcement is good news for us. But they are all uncommitted, and UK still has a chance.
I am cautiously optimistic with Jaremiah Anglin, Neeo Avery, Anthony Brown, Jeremiah Collins, Grant Godfrey, Devin Hyatt, and William Spencer. We won't sign all of them, but we will get some of them. With Spencer, it could just be a matter of him improving his grades this fall. Maybe that helps to explain a reason why he is transferring to a hs in southern IN.
More importantly, the recent storm of manufactured indignation from some fans over our 2023 recruiting class is, to be kind about it, premature. The signing date is in December, five months away. It is in the nature of college athletics that rules change over time. Let's be perfectly clear. There is no evidence whatsoever that any of us understands the NIL rule better than UK's athletics department does. In fact, particulars of the NIL rule are stated inaccurately in posts on this website fairly often. There is no evidence that our AD is tying the hands of our coaching staff. In fact, Vince Marrow recently tweeted exactly the opposite, while praising Barnhart as an asset. If Marrow did not believe this, he didn't have to say anything. There is no evidence that Stoops is unhappy with Barnhart. In fact, Stoops has repeatedly stated that the UK head coaching job is a great situation for him. He is prospering in Lexington. He has had opportunities to leave, and many fans continue to predict he will. But Stoops is still here. And there is no evidence that our athletic department's oversight is hurting our football program. In fact, UK has won four straight bowl games and recently signed our best class ever. Avery Stuart's commitment last week proves that Stoops is still attracting top talent.
Despite losing Steve Clinkscale, Jon Sumrall, and Liam Coen, Stoops and his staff have actually expanded their recruiting territory back into FL, TX and most of the eastern seaboard. They are competing with the cream of the SEC for elite players. That takes time. Yesterday's commitment from Koby Keenum proves that Zach Yenser is already getting the knack for SEC recruiting. Mike Stoops has not yet made a recruiting impact, but that is coming. He just got here.
I anticipate another excellent class.