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Another Kentucky Target Commits to Rutgers, but the Cats Offered a Swedish Tight End

Nick-Roush-headshotby: Nick Roush06/09/25RoushKSR
Rutgers Helmet
(Mark J. Rebilas | Imagn Images)

Another official visit weekend has come and gone for the Kentucky football program. A day later, it’s just more bad news for the Cats.

For the second straight weekend, a Kentucky target who planned on taking an official visit to Lexington has shut down his recruitment by committing to Rutgers. Justin “JJ” Edwards is a three-star linebacker from Florida. He previously took an official visit to Syracuse, and was planning on making the trip to Lexington next weekend. Instead, he wrapped up a trip to Piscataway by committing to Rutgers.

It was this time a week ago that Greg Schiano delivered more bad news for the Kentucky football program. Rutgers picked up commitments from two offensive line targets, Tyler Duell and Tyrell Simpson. The loss of Duell particularly stung. He’s a guy from the Rust Belt who wasn’t being recruited by Big Ten powers. Kentucky’s competition was primarily West Virginia and Cincinnati. Those are schools you should beat to win recruiting battles. Instead, they lost one to Rutgers.

It’s one thing to lose recruits to Ohio State, or even local kids to Louisville. Kentucky is now losing multiple players to Rutgers. Not Great, Bob!

Kentucky Offers Swedish Tight End

It’s not all bad news, or is it? Kentucky is broadening its recruiting horizons to the fjords of the Scandinavian Peninsula.

Maximilian Tillfeldt Retsler shared on social media that he received his eighth scholarship offer from Vince Marrow and the University of Kentucky. The 6-foot-7, 240-pound tight end is a member of the 2026 recruiting class and a captain for the Swedish National Team.

It appears that Tillfeldt Retsler is a part of the DreamChasers Tour, an organization that brings international athletes to America to showcase their talents at camps across the country. He’s gained some early attention from smaller programs, earning offers from Temple, Akron, and West Virginia, among others.

We’re used to seeing the Cats recruit internationally for kickers. Maybe this Swedish tight end could become the next Max Duffy for Kentucky. Pin it Deep Part II is going to be ELECTRIC.

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2025-08-01