Derek Shay is building his 2027 board

New Kentucky tight ends coach Derek Shay made an instant recruiting splash in his new role on the staff.

Earlier this summer Shay noticed 2026 tight end prospect Lincoln Watkins might still be looking for a school. Shay got Watkins on campus for a visit and locked down a commitment from a player various other SEC schools had been targeting.

Keeping Watkins on board after the recent offer from Tennessee is a big task but Shay’s work now also involves building his recruiting board for the 2027 class.

To that end Shay extended a couple of new offers to players from that class this week.

Richmond (Va.) Benedictine tight end Sam “Sosa” Faniel is one of the 2027 tight ends to land a Kentucky offer this week. Virginia Tech, Penn State, Michigan State, Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Arizona State, Cal, Maryland, NC State, Virginia, Wisconsin, Colorado, Rutgers, and Purdue are other power conference schools that have offered Faniel.

The 6’6, 220-pound tight end was offered by Shay on Tuesday. He has since landed an offer from Pitt.

Shay also extended an offer to Korz Loken of Iola (Wisc.) Scandinavia. The 6’5, 205-pound Class of 2027 prospect has a lot of hype in his own right with a four-star (91.31) Rivals industry ranking. He’s the No. 9 tight end in the 2027 class and the No. 1 player in Wisconsin.

Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa State, Florida State, Notre Dame, Northwestern, Indiana, Illinois, Auburn, Purdue, and Kansas are the other power conference schools that have offered.

According to Rivals’ Greg Smith, Loken attended summer camps at Notre Dame, Florida, and Auburn. Some of the schools recruiting him the hardest are Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Florida State, Auburn, Kansas, Indiana, and Kansas State.

Loken has said he is coveted because he can block and catch at a high level.