Kentucky moves up in On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings

Defensive recruiting is on fire for Mark Stoops and his staff at Kentucky.

Following the commitment of Austintown (Ohio) Westerville North four-star EDGE Brian Robinson, Kentucky moved up to No. 24 in the 2024 On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

Robinson’s commitment comes less than a month after the Wildcats flipped four-star defensive line twins Jerod Smith and Jacob Smith from Michigan.

Robinson is the nation’s No. 131 overall prospect and No. 9 edge rusher in the 2024 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking — a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is also the No. 5 player in Ohio.

Kentucky ‘checked every box’

He chose the Wildcats over schools like Maryland, Michigan, Penn State and Tennessee. One big reason was that Kentucky checked every box on his personal recruiting checklist.

“Everything that I asked for, they showed me,” Robinson told On3’s Chad Simmons. “I had a checklist in the beginning of my recruiting process from education all the way to housing. They checked every box. There’s some colleges that I went to that I never got to see housing, and when I asked about it, it was made like it wasn’t a big deal. And the reason it was a big deal for me is because strength and conditioning, nutrition and home is where I spend most of my time.

“I have a certain amount of time I can spend with a strength and conditioning coach, I have a certain amount of time I can spend with a position coach. I have a certain amount of time I can spend with other coaches. Home, strength and conditioning and nutrition is where I spend most of my time, so those are the three most important things to me.”

Robinson also enjoyed the family atmosphere that Kentucky provides.

“Everything about it fits me because it’s a home, family atmosphere,” Robinson said. “It’s not a business atmosphere. Kentucky is the only university that I walk on and I feel at home. I don’t feel like I’m a guest, I don’t feel like I’m a visitor, I don’t feel like I’m a recruit, I don’t feel like I’m a prospect. Every single time I was on the campus at the University of Kentucky, I felt like I was at home.”

Robinson headlines ‘Cats class

Robinson is now the highest-rated prospect committed to Kentucky in the 2024 cycle — a class that includes seven blue-chip recruits. Other blue chips include Hodgenville (Ky.) Lexington Christian Academy four-star quarterback Cutter Boley, Cincinnati Withrow four-star cornerback Terhyon Nichols, Cross Plains (Tenn.) East Robertson four-star linebacker Elijah Groves, the Smith twins and Belle Grade (Fla.) Pahokee four-star wide receiver Hardley Gilmore.