Here is an update. My standard disclaimer. I am not predicting where anyone will sign. I cannot say for certain whether any offer is currently committable. No one can, honestly, unless they are a member of UK's coaching staff. Discussing this real time information outside the coaching staff can be a violation of NCAA rules. And while NCAA rules may have less traction than they used to, coaches giving away confidential recruiting information is an unforced error that can still get a school into trouble (including by allowing your recruiting competitors to know which players you are seriously pursuing). Coach Stoops has worked very hard to build the program, and he hates unforced mistakes. As novice observers, all of us here are working from the same set of publicly available information. Some of us follow available information more closely, but none of us here knows what our coaches are thinking. If anyone implies otherwise, take it with a couple grains of salt and use your common sense.
Based on my count this morning, 63 current scholarship underclassmen are due back on campus in 2023. Some will not actually be back, because players leave every year. But we won't know the final numbers until next summer.
Coach Stoops currently has 15 verbal commitments in his 2023 class (which means 7 scholarships for 2023 are still theoretically open).
Nasir Addison, DB, Irvington, NJ
Jaremiah Anglin, DB, Lake Wales, FL
Anthony Brown, slotR, Springfield, OH
Ty Bryant, DB, Lexington, KY
Jakob Dixon, WR, Louisville, KY
Grant Godfrey, LB, Suwanee, GA
Koby Keenum, OL, Florence, AL
Khalifa Keith, RB/LB, 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 Zeismer, LB, Danville, KY
Here are some prospects that still appear to have the attention of UK's coaching staff. On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being a miniscule chance and 10 being a sure thing, I will offer my guess at the chance each player ends up at UK. This is just for fun, since I don't know what these players will decide and neither does anyone else here.
Dimetrius Bell, WR, Nashville, TN. Bell decommitted from MI St on August 23 and recently visited UK. He reportedly holds at least 9 SEC offers. If you buy into the narrative that Stoops wants to take one more WR in this class, then Bell may be the most likely candidate based on what we know now. (My guess- 4)
Karmello English, WR, Phenix City, AL. English is a former Auburn commit who decommitted on Sept. 14. Since then, his recruitment has been very quiet, creating some speculation that there could be academic problems. I don't know if there is truth to those rumors. At one time, Englsh was considered a heavily recruited receiver. He visited UK several months ago and was believed at the time to have UK as a finalist. I have not seen any recent evidence that UK is still recruiting him. (My guess- 2)
Kendrick Gilbert, DL, Indianapolis, IN. Gilbert committed to Purdue on August 28. Prior to that, UK and LSU were thought to be recruiting him hard. Gilbert visited UK again this month, but it is anyone's guess whether he is seriously considering a flip. Apparently, UK's coaches are still very interested. Gilbert reportedly holds ten B10 offers and five SEC offers. He has been a UK recruiting priority for a long time. (My guess- 3)
Devin Hyatt, WR, Bradenton, FL. Hyatt is a coveted prospect with at least 9 SEC offers. He has a visit scheduled to UK next month, and it will be interesting to see whether he actually makes it to Lexington. His big brother is a star receiver at TN, and TN has to be considered the heavy favorite right now if they want him. (My guess- 2)
Ja'Keem Jackson, DB, Kissimmee, FL. Jackson is thought to hold offers from 11 SEC schools. He verbally committed to FL on July 28, before UK beat FL in Gainesville. Jackson recently visited UK, so we know there is still mutual interest. Jackson's big brother is a member of UK's track team. If you put much stock in player ratings, Jackson has a higher rating than any current UK commitment. His addition would arguably give UK its finest DB class in the long history of our football program. (My guess- 5)
Branden Palmer, LB, Cornelius, NC. UK is reportedly Palmer's only current SEC offer, but he is intriguing because he is a long, athletic edge LB. It has been reported that UK and WV may be his favorites, and that Brad White is recruiting him. If he actually visits Lexington, then this could get more interesting. (My guess- 2)
Marcellius Pulliam, LB, Tyrone, GA. Pulliam holds at least 4 SEC offers. He has been an interior LB at Sandy Creek hs. Pulliam runs the 100m dash for Sandy Creek's track team, which makes him a very interesting LB prospect at his size. Auburn may be the favorite to sign him. Pulliam unofficially visited UK in June. From time to time, there have been rumors that Pulliam might come back and visit UK officially this fall. If that actually happens, then my estimation of UK's chances will increase. (My guess- 3)
William Spencer, OL, New Albany, IN. Spencer is a Louisville native who formerly played at Male hs. He reportedly holds at least 3 SEC offers. Last month, Steve Wiltfong predicted that Spencer will sign with UK. Wiltfong is usually right. (My guess- 7)
Jamarion Wilcox, RB, Douglasville, GA. Wilcox is thought to hold offers from 3 SEC schools plus Cincinnati and Clemson. He recently visited UK, so we know Coach Stoops is still trying to add to UK's RB roster. Wilcox is having a successful senior season at South Paulding hs and his recruitment has blown up a bit. (My guess- 4)
Don't be surprised if a few new, less familiar prospects visit UK in November and December. It is almost inevitable because it happens in most years. There could be one or more unforeseen flips from other schools, since that is not uncommon. That is how UK signed Trevin Wallace.
Some undergraduate players will leave through the transfer portal in January and then during the spring and summer. It happens every year. Coach Stoops will add more players through the portal too. Former ND DT Jacob Lacey is likely to transfer to UK. He is from Bowling Green, and he recently visited Lexington. The clock is ticking on Lacey's commitment to UK. Obviously, UK is highly likely to accept a transfer QB (or two). There have been rumors about former Boise St QB Hank Bachmeier because he and Coach Scangarello are familiar with one another. Stoops might take a transfer RB if the right guy becomes available. Also, a lot depends on how quickly Kiyaunta Goodwin develops, because Stoops could feel compelled to take a OT through the portal unless he believes he can count on Goodwin as a 2023 starter. But this thread is about the 2023 recruiting class, so let's guess Stoops will take about 5-6 more commitments in this class from hs seniors. So far, there is no evidence that UK's coaching staff is pursuing jucos this year, but you never know.
