2024 Kentucky QB recruiting board is starting to form
After adding a commitment from Tommy Ziesmer, the class of 2023 is starting to form for Kentucky. The Wildcats are up to six verbal commits in the recruiting cycle and will look to continue that recruiting momentum as we get deeper into the summer. However, one position is blatantly missing from that group.
Last summer, new offensive coordinator Liam Coen worked to build relationships with numerous young QBs but soon became a one-and-done in the SEC. That put the program somewhat behind the eight-ball, and landing a transfer after the 2022 season will be a must-do task for the coaching staff. However, we are now starting to learn more about new offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello and how successful the new coach can recruit will be directly under the microscope over the summer.
As the the camp circuit approaches in June, expect the Kentucky coaching staff to host multiple 2024 quarterback prospects as recruitments narrow at the sport’s most important position. Currently, three targets have emerged as prominent names over the last week.
Kentucky continues long relationship with Dante Reno
Starring for Windsor (Conn.) The Loomis Chaffee School, quarterback Dante Reno led his team to a state championship in 2021, but his recruitment started much earlier than that. The 6-2 QB received his first Power Five offer as a sophomore and is up to nearly 20 offers from big conference programs. Kentucky was one of the first programs to begin a relationship with Reno hosting the quarterback for a camp visit last June and issuing an offer.
However, some other programs have made some noise as Kentucky went through a coaching change. South Carolina offered Reno in December and got the 2024 prospect on campus twice during the spring. The Gamecocks are a major contender and are going to receive another visit from the prospect later this summer.
KSR spoke with Reno last week and confirmed that South Carolina is recruiting the prospect heavily while Scangarello is attempting to build a relationship with the young quarterback. However, the Gamecocks appear to be in the lead as Kentucky is trying to gain ground. Reno has gone on record saying winning is important, and it seems to be essential for South Carolina to make major offensive strides this season with Spencer Rattler behind center.
Expect Kentucky to try and get Reno back on campus this summer as the Wildcats look to make a push for the northeast prospect. Currently, Reno is the No. 228 prospect in the 2024 class, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
Reno has been named an Under Armour All-American and should continue to have a busy recruitment over the next few months.
Big game hunting in Michigan
Saline (Mich.) High QB CJ Carr is one of the fastest rising prospects in the class of 2024. The grandson of former Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr is now a consensus top-25 prospect and one of the top-five quarterbacks in the class.
The potential five-star recruit has received heavy interest from both Michigan and Michigan State for a long time with Alabama and Georgia making a push recently. Carr also plans to visit Notre Dame and Wisconsin this summer. However, Carr spoke to 247 Sports’ Steve Wiltfong and stated that he plans on visiting Kentucky this summer.
While Carr hasn’t posted anything on his social media about the Wildcats, it’s clear that some relationship is being formed. The coaching staff is swimming in the right waters as Scangarello seems to be taking a big early swing on a top flight prospect early in his tenure.
New offer out
After hosting Indianapolis Cathedral QB Danny O’Neil for a camp visit last summer, Purdue became the first Power Five program to offer the top-400 recruit in January. On Monday, Kentucky and Indiana followed up with offers.
Since January, O’Neil has taken visits to Florida State, Georgia, Notre Dame, and Ohio State. The 2024 prospect also was in Lexington in March. With an offer issued on Monday, it seems clear that O’Neil is on the board for the Wildcats, and the expectation should be that the prospect will visit and workout for Kentucky this summer at a camp.
In the class of 2023, O’Neil’s high school teammate Kendrick Gilbert is one of Kentucky’s top defensive line targets as quality control assistant Josh Estes-Waugh appears to be doing some relationship building in the midwest.
Expect more quarterback targets to emerge as Kentucky looks identify prospects and find the program’s quarterback of the future in 2024.
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