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State of 2026 Recruiting

No doubt, his old Paducah Tilghman hs teammate Martels Carter had a big impact on Strickland's decision. But at the end of the day, this is another recruiting breakthrough for Vince Marrow with an assist from Coach Wolf. Good start for our 2026 class and for the spring portion of UK's recruiting season.
 
Strickland a top 20 OL. A monster get. Thought it odd they told him he is a day 1 player because of us losing everyone. We in trouble if that is the case.
You will probably agree that no offensive lineman is ever a slam dunk day one player. They may have told him that he can play as soon as he earns the role, and that Wolf sees him as an early impact prospect, or similar words to that affect.

In any case, this is an impact commitment for us, and it defeats the narrative that Stoops is headed for a weaker class. Actually, looking at their scheduled OV list, I am expecting a strong class, especially after today.
 
You will probably agree that no offensive lineman is ever a slam dunk day one player. They may have told him that he can play as soon as he earns the role, and that Wolf sees him as an early impact prospect, or similar words to that affect.

In any case, this is an impact commitment for us, and it defeats the narrative that Stoops is headed for a weaker class. Actually, looking at their scheduled OV list, I am expecting a strong class, especially after today.
I'm assuming Louisville offered. Good to win an instate battle.
 
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New UK OV and UV schedule update-

OVs

April 11

Oscar Rios, QB, Downey, CA
Terry Wiggins, LB, Coatesville, PA

May 30

Charles Edgeworth, OL, Chattanooga, TN
Joel Ervin, OL, Ft Myers, FL (Miami commit)
Jarvis Strickland, OL, Paducah, KY (UK commit)
Roderick Tezeno, WR, Opelousas, LA

June 2

Jackson Ford, LB/TE, Malvern, PA

June 6

Marcus Almada, DL, Marion, MA
Andre Clarke, DB, Richmond, VA
Jordan Crutchfield, DB, Ft Pierce, FL
Dallas Dickerson, WR, Bogart, GA
Elijah Satchell, LB, Camden, NJ

June 13

JT Barlow, DB, Evergreen, AL
Darnell Collins, DB, Rome, GA
KJ Deriso, DB/WR, Fayetteville, GA
Justin Edwards, DB/LB, Orlando, FL
Keymian Henderson, WR, Carthage, TX
Davis McCray, WR, San Antonio, TX
Larry Miles, slotR, Orlando, FL
Da'Ron Parks, OL, Sarasota, FL

June 15

Asharri Charles, LB, Venice, FL

June 16

Tyler Duell, OL, W Chester, PA

June 20

Karsten Busch, LB, Louisville, KY (UL commit)
Jaedyn Terry, DB, Manchester, GA (GA Tech commit)
Amari Thomas, RB, Marianna, FL (FL St commit)

Some noteworthy UK UVs-

Last week

Jowell Combay, DB, Marietta, GA
Tristan Lyles, LB, Phenix City, AL
Monshun Sales, WR, Indianapolis, IN

April 5

Landry Brede, OL, Mentor, OH

April 7

Monroe Partin, LB, Daphne, AL
Brian Williams, WR, Lake Mary, FL

April 12

Mathieu Kanu, LB, Nokesville, VA
Ja'Dyn Williams, LB, Massillon, OH
 
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More new 2026 UK offers reported.

Amiri Acker, WR, Iva, SC
Parker Crim, LB, Lima, OH
Alex Cross, WR, Bradenton, FL
Markel Dabney, LB, Richmond, VA
LaRon Dues, DB, Sarasota, FL
Courtlin Heard, OL, Sharpsburg, GA
Courtney Heard, OL, Sharpsburg, GA
Joshua Joseph, DB, Miami, FL
Brady Owens, TE, Arlington, VA
Emari Patterson, DB, Orlando, FL
Jamir Perez, DL, Cleveland, OH
Franklin Sherod, DB, Edmond, OK
Roderick Tenezo, WR, Opelousas, LA
Ashley Walker, OL, Hollywood, FL
 
More new 2026 UK offers reported.

Amiri Acker, WR, Iva, SC
Parker Crim, LB, Lima, OH
Alex Cross, WR, Bradenton, FL
Markel Dabney, LB, Richmond, VA
LaRon Dues, DB, Sarasota, FL
Courtlin Heard, OL, Sharpsburg, GA
Courtney Heard, OL, Sharpsburg, GA
Joshua Joseph, DB, Miami, FL
Brady Owens, TE, Arlington, VA
Emari Patterson, DB, Orlando, FL
Jamir Perez, DL, Cleveland, OH
Franklin Sherod, DB, Edmond, OK
Roderick Tenezo, WR, Opelousas, LA
Ashley Walker, OL, Hollywood, FL
Question. With all of the offers we have out there do you think the staff has actually looked at and evaluated film on every one of these players ?
We have recruited well under Stoops so I assume we have looked at them all, maybe even seen many play in person ?
 
do you think the staff has actually looked at and evaluated film on every one of these players ?

I have no direct knowledge, but with the size of the staff, with dozens of young assistants, one must assume film evaluation is a twelve month effort.

Come to a QB Club meeting: at times several student staff members come
to handle the video and tech related stuff. When we quit paying assistant coaches a little cash, I started giving an envelope to the kid running the video . . . and more youngsters started showing up!?!?!
 
Strickland a top 20 OL. A monster get. Thought it odd they told him he is a day 1 player because of us losing everyone. We in trouble if that is the case.
Look at the length of his arms. Arm and leg length (obviously along with strength)
are especially important for O-Tackles, who often have to “reach” to block speedy edge rushers.

This commitment MIGHT be a signal of a “coming back to Jesus moment.” Stoops built an SEC competitive program “from
the inside, out.”
 
Question. With all of the offers we have out there do you think the staff has actually looked at and evaluated film on every one of these players ?

Yes, of course.

We have recruited well under Stoops so I assume we have looked at them all, maybe even seen many play in person ?

You are scratching the surface on the difference between a scholarship offer and an online player rating. Before a Power 4 staff (including ours) offers a scholarship to a prospect, they talk with the prospect, discuss the prospect with the his hs coach, and evaluate his film. (At a minimum.) Sometimes a prospect will make a UV to campus before being offered. Sometimes a prospect will participate in one of the coaching staff's June/July camps before being offered.
 
Updated UK 2026 OV schedule.

April 11

Oscar Rios, QB, Downey, CA
Terry Wiggins, LB, Coatesville, PA

May 30

Charles Edgeworth, OL, Chattanooga, TN
Joel Ervin, OL, Ft Myers, FL (Miami commit)
Cameron Miller, OL, Hammond, IN
Jarvis Strickland, OL, Paducah, KY (UK commit)
Roderick Tezeno, WR, Opelousas, LA

June 2

Jackson Ford, LB/TE, Malvern, PA

June 6

Marcus Almada, DL, Marion, MA
Jordan Crutchfield, DB/LB, Ft Pierce, FL
Dallas Dickerson, WR, Bogart, GA
Dylan Purter, DB, Tuskegee, AL (LSU commit)
Elijah Satchell, LB, Camden, NJ

June 13

Adam Balogoun-Ali, LB, W Palm Beach, FL
JT Barlow, DB, Evergreen, AL
Darnell Collins, DB, Rome, GA
KJ Deriso, DB/WR, Fayetteville, GA
Justin Edwards, DB/LB, Orlando, FL
Keymian Henderson, WR, Carthage, TX
Davis McCray, WR, San Antonio, TX
Larry Miles, slotR, Orlando, FL
Da'Ron Parks, OL, Sarasota, FL
Amari Thomas, RB, Blountsville, FL (FL St commit)

June 15

Asharri Charles, LB, Venice, FL

June 16

Tyler Duell, OL, W Chester, PA

June 20

Kamari Blair, OL, Clarksville, TN
Karsten Busch, LB, Louisville, KY (UL commit)
Ben Duncum, DL, Austin, TX
Tyreek Jemison, OL, Dallas, GA
Jaedyn Terry, DB, Manchester, GA (GA Tech commit)

More OVs are likely to be added later, and a few will get cancelled or postponed. This lineup of OVs has become heavily focused on WR, OL, LB, and DB. By August camp, Coach Stoops should have each of those positions stocked with multiple commitments. Coach Wolf is getting it done with OL recruiting.

Rios and Wiggins are in Lexington now. Important visits. I don't expect a quick decision from either because both have many options.

You may be wondering if any of these prospects can be considered UK leans. It's still a little early for that (although Strickland is already committed). But the following seem heavily focused on UK, maybe above and beyond the level of interest an OV implies. Not saying we get all of them, but Stoops will sign at least several of these-

Balogoun-Ali
Blair
Crutchfield
Deriso
Duell
Duncum
Edgeworth
Ford
Jemison
(Strickland)
 
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Notwithstanding all the online hype about the transfer portal (which is good for lots of clicks), recruitment of high level hs players remains the life blood for Power 4 football programs. Recruiting solid hs players typically involves lower NIL costs than transfers and typically (not always, obviously) brings players who stay longer in the program. It should be recognized that hs players enter a Power 4 program for purposes of development, while the transfer portal provides more experienced (and typically more expensive) players in order to plug positional voids on the roster. Recruiting hs players provides the foundation for strong programs and will continue to be fundamentally important.

UK 's 2026 visitation schedule is dominated by prospects from the talent-rich states of GA and FL. Our coaching staff is putting together a strong list of visitors. This foreshadows another excellent signing class, although it is important to keep in mind that important commits historically visit and announce in the fall as well.

Updated 2026 UK OVs-

April 11

Oscar Rios, QB, Downey, CA
Terry Wiggins, LB, Coatesville, PA

(Both Rios and Wiggins showed up and reportedly had positive visits.)

May 30

Charles Edgeworth, OL, Chattanooga, TN
Joel Ervin, OL, Ft Myers, FL (Miami commit)
Cameron Miller, OL, Hammond, IN
Jarvis Strickland, OL, Paducah, KY (UK commit)
Roderick Tezeno, WR, Opelousas, LA

June 2

Jackson Ford, LB/TE, Malvern, PA

June 6

Marcus Almada, DL, Marion, MA
Jordan Crutchfield, DB/LB, Ft Pierce, FL
Dallas Dickerson, WR, Bogart, GA
Jach Fuchs, OL, Hendersonville, TN
Dylan Purter, DB, Tuskegee, AL (LSU commit)
Elijah Satchell, LB, Camden, NJ

June 13

Adam Balogoun-Ali, LB, W Palm Beach, FL
JT Barlow, DB, Evergreen, AL
Darnell Collins, DB, Rome, GA
KJ Deriso, DB/WR, Fayetteville, GA
Justin Edwards, LB/DB, Orlando, FL
Keymian Henderson, WR, Carthage, TX
Davis McCray, WR, San Antonio, TX
Larry Miles, slotR, Orlando FL
Da'Ron Parks, OL, Sarasota, FL
Amari Thomas, RB, Blountstown, FL (FL St commit)

June 15

Asharri Charles, LB, Venice, FL

June 16

Benjamin Corhei, OL, Valdosta, GA
Tyler Duell, OL, W Chester, PA

June 20

Kosci Barnes, DB, Greensboro, NC
Kamari Blair, OL, Clarksville, TN
Karsten Busch, LB, Louisville, KY (UL commit)
Ben Duncum, DL, Austin, TX
Tyreek Jemison, OL, Dallas, GA
Jaedyn Terry, DB, Manchester, GA (GA Tech commit)

Three prospects who don't appear on this OV schedule are Matt Ponatoski (QB, Cincinnati, OH), Josaih Hope (DL, Ratcliff, KY), and Jamarcus Whyce (DL, Dayton, OH). I suspect all three would like to OV UK but their offers are not currently committable.

If you want to know which other prospects besides Strickland are more likely to commit to UK, it's simply too early to know. So this is in the realm of guessing. The OVs themselves will be pivotal. Some prospects find what they are looking for during the visit and make a commitment. Others are just doing due diligence with a longer list of candidate schools that interest them and take their time. Don't hold me to this, but I might say Adam Balogoun-Ali, Ben Duncum, Jach Fuchs, and Charles Edgeworth seem smitten with UK at this early stage of their recruitments.
 
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Notwithstanding all the online hype about the transfer portal (which is good for lots of clicks), recruitment of high level hs players remains the life blood for Power 4 football programs. Recruiting solid hs players typically involves lower NIL costs than transfers and typically (not always, obviously) brings players who stay longer in the program. It should be recognized that hs players enter a Power 4 program for purposes of development, while the transfer portal provides more experienced (and typically more expensive) players in order to plug positional voids on the roster. Recruiting hs players provides the foundation for strong programs and will continue to be fundamentally important.

UK 's 2026 visitation schedule is dominated by prospects from the talent-rich states of GA and FL. Our coaching staff is putting together a strong list of visitors. This foreshadows another excellent signing class, although it is important to keep in mind that important commits historically visit and announce in the fall as well.

Updated 2026 UK OVs-

April 11

Oscar Rios, QB, Downey, CA
Terry Wiggins, LB, Coatesville, PA

(Both Rios and Wiggins showed up and reportedly had positive visits.)

May 30

Charles Edgeworth, OL, Chattanooga, TN
Joel Ervin, OL, Ft Myers, FL (Miami commit)
Cameron Miller, OL, Hammond, IN
Jarvis Strickland, OL, Paducah, KY (UK commit)
Roderick Tezeno, WR, Opelousas, LA

June 2

Jackson Ford, LB/TE, Malvern, PA

June 6

Marcus Almada, DL, Marion, MA
Jordan Crutchfield, DB/LB, Ft Pierce, FL
Dallas Dickerson, WR, Bogart, GA
Jach Fuchs, OL, Hendersonville, TN
Dylan Purter, DB, Tuskegee, AL (LSU commit)
Elijah Satchell, LB, Camden, NJ

June 13

Adam Balogoun-Ali, LB, W Palm Beach, FL
JT Barlow, DB, Evergreen, AL
Darnell Collins, DB, Rome, GA
KJ Deriso, DB/WR, Fayetteville, GA
Justin Edwards, LB/DB, Orlando, FL
Keymian Henderson, WR, Carthage, TX
Davis McCray, WR, San Antonio, TX
Larry Miles, slotR, Orlando FL
Da'Ron Parks, OL, Sarasota, FL
Amari Thomas, RB, Blountstown, FL (FL St commit)

June 15

Asharri Charles, LB, Venice, FL

June 16

Benjamin Corhei, OL, Valdosta, GA
Tyler Duell, OL, W Chester, PA

June 20

Kosci Barnes, DB, Greensboro, NC
Kamari Blair, OL, Clarksville, TN
Karsten Busch, LB, Louisville, KY (UL commit)
Ben Duncum, DL, Austin, TX
Tyreek Jemison, OL, Dallas, GA
Jaedyn Terry, DB, Manchester, GA (GA Tech commit)

Three prospects who don't appear on this OV schedule are Matt Ponatoski (QB, Cincinnati, OH), Josaih Hope (DL, Ratcliff, KY), and Jamarcus Whyce (DL, Dayton, OH). I suspect all three would like to OV UK but their offers are not currently committable.

If you want to know which other prospects besides Strickland are more likely to commit to UK, it's simply too early to know. So this is in the realm of guessing. The OVs themselves will be pivotal. Some prospects find what they are looking for during the visit and make a commitment. Others are just doing due diligence with a longer list of candidate schools that interest them and take their time. Don't hold me to this, but I might say Adam Balogoun-Ali, Ben Duncum, Jach Fuchs, and Charles Edgeworth seem smitten with UK at this early stage of their recruitments.
Do you still expect Karsten Busch to OV ?
 
Current 2026 UK OV schedule update.

On April 11, QB Oscar Rios (Downey, CA) and LB Terry Wiggins (Coatesville, PA) visited UK. Since then, Wiggins has committed to PA St. Rios remains uncommitted.

May 30

Charles Edgeworth, OL, Chattanooga, TN
Joel Ervin, OL, Miami FL (Miami commit)
Cameron Miller, OL, Hammond, IN
Jarvis Strickland, OL, Paducah, KY (UK commit)
Roderick Tezeno, WR, Opelousas, LA (SoCal commit)

June 2

Jackson Ford, LB/TE, Malvern, PA

June 6

Marcus Almada, DL, Marion, MA
Andre Clarke, DB, Richmond, VA
Jordan Crutchfield, DB, Ft Pierce, FL
Dallas Dickerson, WR, Bogart, GA
Jack Fuchs, OL, Hendersonville, TN
Dylan Purter, DB, Tuskegee, AL (LSU commit)
Elijah Satchell, LB, Camden, NJ

June 13

Delvecchio Alston, RB, Hewitt-Trussville, AL
Adam Balogoun-Ali, LB, W Palm Beach, FL
JT Barlow, DB, Evergreen, AL
Darnell Collins, DB, Rome, GA
KJ Deriso, WR/DB, Fayetteville, GA
Justin Edwards, LB, Orlando, FL
Walt Frazier, DL, Haverford, PA
Keymian Henderson, WR, Carthage, TX
Davis McCray, WR, San Antonio, TX
Larry Miles, slotR, Orlando, FL
Da'Ron Parks, OL, Sarasota, FL
Amari Thomas, RB, Blountstown, FL (FL St commit)

June 15

Asharri Charles, LB, Venice, FL

June 16

Benjamin Corhei, OL, Valdosta, GA
Tyler Duell, OL, W Chester, PA

June 20

Kosci Barnes, DB, Greensboro, NC
Kamari Blair, OL, Clarksville, TN
Karsten Busch, LB, Louisville, KY (UL commit)
Ben Duncum, DL, Austin, TX
Tyreek Jemison, OL, Dallas, GA (VA Tech lean)
Jaedyn Terry, DB, Manchester, GA (GA Tech commit)
 
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New 2026 UK offers-

Dereon Albert, DL, Jackson, MS
Gabe Davis-Ray, DB, Columbus, OH
Jacob Eberhart, ATH, St Louis, MO
Jett Goldsberry, ATH, Lincoln City, IN
Karon Maycock, DB, Miami, FL (FL St commit)
Vincent Smith, DB, Orland Park, IL (N IL commit)
Devonte Taylor, WR, Youngstown, OH
Richard Thigpen, OL, Nashville, TN
Will Vala, TE, Downers Grove, IL
TJ White, LB, Jackson, MS
 
Dallas Dickerson is one of fastest guys in Georgia, runs sub 10.4 100m and sub 4.4 40. Playing this season on defending g 6A state champion. Team loaded with college prospects.
 
Love the Strickland pick up. Educated guesses on who else UK may land?
Look at the list of scheduled UK OVs that I posted (above) on Sunday. The next group of 2026 UK commitments will come from that list between the end of this month and the middle of July.
 
More new 2026 UK offers-

Shmar Akande, DB, Hollywood, FL (Toledo commit)
Max Carmicle, DL, Country Club Hills, IL (N IL commit)
JR Hardrick, DL, S Pittsburg, TN
Nick Lautar, TE, Lebanon, OH
Ron Richardson, DL, Hopewell, VA
 
Richard Thigpen, a big 2026 OT from Nashville Ensworth hs, recently made a UV to UK and there is some superficial evidence that he is working on scheduling a June OV.
 
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