'25 QB Stone Saunders down to five finalists, Kentucky makes the cut
Liam Coen has already helped Kentucky land one highly-ranked high school quarterback. Could he repeat that success in the class of 2025?
On Tuesday afternoon, rising junior QB Stone Saunders announced that he is down to just five finalists with Kentucky, Georgia, Michigan, Nebraska, and Miami (FL) all making the cut. Clocking in at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, the Harrisburg (PA) Bishop McDevitt product is considered a three-star talent and is ranked No. 328 overall in the ’25 class according to the On3 Industry Ranking.
Saunders was in Lexington earlier this month on June 11 for an unofficial visit where he met with Coen and head coach Mark Stoops. He was also on UK’s campus for Junior Day in January and once again in April. Saunders has visited Nebraska multiple times this year, as well.
“Kentucky has Coach Coen, who runs a very pro style offense and Coach Stoops and staff has made it a family-like feel to Kentucky,” Saunders told On3’s Hayes Fawcett.
Led by Coen’s recruiting efforts, Kentucky has long been perceived as one of the frontrunners for Saunders. The Wildcats’ offensive coordinator played a significant role in landing four-star ’24 QB Cutter Boley and appears to have found his man from the ’25 class.
“(Coen is) always great with me. I’ve known him a long time,” Saunders told KSR in April. “We were just having fun, watching a lot of film and watching practice. He’s told me that I’d be a great fit for what he wants to do on offense and he loves how I play.”
Coen has plenty of ties to the northeast where Saunders plays his high school ball. The same goes for wide receivers coach Scott Woodward, who is aiding Coen in this recruitment.
“Coach Liam and Coach Woody, the other coaches, the offense they are going to run, the culture they have, the enthusiastic fans. I like all of it,” Saunders said in April. “They have a great program and I could see myself there easily.“
During his sophomore season in 2022, Saunders appeared in 14 games for Bishop McDevitt en route to winning the Gatorade Pennsylvania Player of the Year and a state championship. He has also twice been tabbed as a MaxPreps All-American. Saunders threw for over 3,500 yards and totaled 54 touchdowns with just five interceptions on a completion percentage of 68.7, leading the Crusaders to a 13-1 record and the Class 4A state title.
Discuss This Article
Comments have moved.
Join the conversation and talk about this article and all things Kentucky Sports in the new KSR Message Board.
KSBoard