Assessing the state of Kentucky football's 2023 recruiting class

Kentucky football’s 2023 recruiting class isn’t far away from completion. With 15 current commits on board, the coaching staff is looking to round out the group as we inch closer to signing day. But who else is on the Wildcats’ Big Board at this point in the process?

Looking at the history of Mark Stoops’s time in Lexington, we should expect Kentucky to add at least three more commits to the ’23 class, and probably more. Since 2013, UK has averaged 22.5 commitments per class, with the most coming in 2014 at 28 commits and the lowest being 18 in 2021. The 2022 class, which is arguably the most talented group of freshmen ever under Stoops, finished with 20 commits.

Before we dive into the uncommitted prospects the Kentucky staff is targeting, let’s quickly list the 15 current commits. The ’23 class ranks 33rd in the country and 11th in the SEC, per the On3 Consensus, featuring a trio of four-star recruits and 12 three-stars. Five of the commits hail from the Bluegrass State.

Kentucky football 2023 commits

*All player rankings courtesy of the On3 Consensus*

Shamar Porter (WR) 6-3, 200 | Ensworth (Nashville, TN)
4-star: No. 211 overall, No. 29 WR

Avery Stuart (S) 6-2, 175 | Alabama Christian Academy (Montgomery, AL)
4-star: No. 233 overall, No. 13 S

Grant Godfrey (LB) 6-3, 200 | North Gwinnett (Suwanee, GA)
4-star: No. 305 overall, No. 26 LB

Anthony Brown (WR) 5-9, 160 | Springfield (Springfield, OH)
3-star: No. 434 overall, No. 61 WR

Jaremiah Anglin (S) 6-0, 180 | Lake Wales (Lake Wales, FL)
3-star: No. 463 overall, No. 47 S

Tommy Ziesmer (EDGE) 6-1, 240 | Boyle County (Danville, KY)
3-star: No. 630 overall, No. 58 EDGE

Kaden Moorman (ATH) 5-10, 205 | Franklin County (Frankfort, KY)
3-star: No. 702 overall, No. 40 ATH

Koby Keenum (IOL) 6-4, 285 | Mars Hill Bible School (Florence, AL)
3-star: No. 750 overall, No. 72 IOL

Austin Ramsey (IOL) 6-3, 365 | Roman Catholic (Philadelphia, PA)
3-star: No. 756 overall, No. 74 IOL

Tanner Lemaster (TE) 6-5, 240 | Washington (Washington Court House, OH)
3-star: No. 1053 overall, No. 56 TE

Malachi Wood (OT) 6-8, 290 | Madison Central (Richmond, KY)
3-star: No. 1125 overall, No. 72 OT

Ty Bryant (ATH) 6-0, 175 | Frederick Douglass (Lexington, KY)
3-star: No. 1159 overall, No. 73 ATH

Khalifa Keith (RB) 6-2, 205 | Parker (Birmingham, AL)
3-star: No. 1248 overall, No. 82 RB

Nasir Addison (WR) 6-2, 180 | Irvington (Irvington, NJ)
3-star: No. 1318 overall, No. 192 WR

Jakob Dixon (WR) 6-5, 200 | Pleasure Ridge Park (Louisville, KY)

Kentucky football 2023 recruiting targets

Now let’s get into the remaining targets. Below are the most notable prospects that the Kentucky staff is seriously recruiting. Some are currently committed elsewhere, but UK is still knocking on the door.

Karmello English (WR) 5-11, 180 | Central (Phenix City, AL)
4-star: No. 150 overall, No. 23 WR

• After decommitting from Auburn a little over two weeks ago, Karmello English is high on Kentucky’s Big Board. He was already near the top of the staff’s wish list before choosing the Tigers, and you better believe UK’s new pass-heavy offense has been a major pitch. Kentucky hosted English for a visit in the spring and then an official visit in June.

Ja’Keem Jackson (CB) 6-0, 180 | Osceola (Kissimmee, FL) Florida commit
4-star: No. 174 overall, No. 20 CB

• Despite being committed to Florida since July, Ja’Keem Jackson still intends on taking an official visit to Kentucky for the Wildcats’ matchup against Mississippi State on Oct. 15. UK was heavily in the mix before he initially went with the Gators, and it appears as though they still have a shot. Auburn, Penn State, and Tennessee have already received official visits with Florida getting him on campus earlier this month. Jackson’s older brother recently transferred to Kentucky for track and field.

Kendrick Gilbert (DL) 6-5, 290 | Cathedral (Indianapolis, IN) Purdue commit
4-star: No. 312 overall, No. 42 DL

• Kentucky missed out on Kendrick Gilbert the first time around, but the staff has yet to give up and continues to recruit the 6-foot-5 defensive lineman. He committed to Purdue over UK back in late August with the likes of Iowa and LSU also involved.

Demitrius Bell (WR) 6-0, 175 | McGavock (Nashville, TN)
4-star: No. 373 overall, No. 52 WR

• Another top-ranked wide receiver, Demitrius Bell backed off his decision to choose Michigan State in late August and his recruitment has boomed ever since. He now holds offers from the likes of Alabama, Georgia, and Florida State but Kentucky is firmly in the mix, if not one of the frontrunners. Bell has scheduled an official visit to Lexington for the weekend of Oct. 8 when UK hosts South Carolina. He’s also visited Georgia unofficially and will be at Nebraska this weekend.

William Spencer (IOL) 6-5, 315 | New Albany Senior (Louisville, KY)
3-star: No. 425 overall, No. 31 IOL

• Originally from Louisville but now playing high school football in Indiana, William Spencer is trending heavily towards the ‘Cats. KSR’s Nick Roush logged an RPM pick earlier this month in favor of UK for Spencer with 55 percent confidence. Other recruiting outlets have done the same in recent weeks. Virginia Tech recently offered and did get Spencer on campus over a week ago, but Kentucky has the momentum.

Devin Hyatt (WR) 6-1, 180 | IMG Academy (Irmo, SC)
3-star: No. 435 overall, No. 62 W

• With Karmello English and Demitrius Bell re-opening their recruitments and Kentucky being involved with both, it’s tough to see how interested the UK staff still is in Devin Hyatt. He told Rivals last month that an official visit to Lexington is scheduled for Nov. 11 against Vanderbilt with an OV to Auburn also set for Oct. 28, but that was before both English and Bell decommitted. Hyatt will be on the keep an eye on.

Marcellius Pulliam (LB) 6-3, 215 | Sandy Creek (Tyrone, GA)
3-star: No. 539 overall, No. 51 LB

• Kentucky was included in Marcellius Pulliam’s top 8 that he dropped in mid-August, along with Clemson, Auburn, Miami (FL), Louisville, Georgia Tech, Indiana, and Mississippi State. Unfortunately for the ‘Cats, Auburn has been trending as of late, getting him on campus unofficially at the end of July and then again last weekend for an official visit. It’s not quite over though. Both Miami (FL) and Kentucky will receive official visits from Pulliam over the next few weekends. A decision could come as soon as October.

Jeremiah Collins (CB) 6-2, 150 | Oakland (Louisville, KY)
3-star: No. 550 overall, No. 56 CB

• Following his commitment from Louisville in late June, Jeremiah Collins told KSR that he intends on taking a trip to Lexington at some point this season. That has yet to happen, but there is still plenty of season left. Collins will be in Starkville this weekend to watch Mississippi State. Kentucky’s current interest in Collins isn’t as high as most others on this list.

Jaquez Keyes (RB) 6-1, 205 | Ironton (Ironton, OH) Wisconsin commit
3-star: No. 589 overall, No. 35 RB

• Kentucky already has a pair of running backs committed to the ’23 class, but with a veteran-heavy stall of ball carriers currently on the roster, the staff is interested in the idea of bringing in more. Jaquez Keyes has been committed to Wisconsin since May, but UK has yet to give up on the Ironton, OH native, an area the staff has been successful in recruiting over the years.

Jamarion Wilcox (RB) 5-9, 190 | South Paulding (Douglasville, GA)
3-star: No. 800 overall, No. 58 RB

• The second running back the staff is seriously looking at is Jamarion Wilcox, who isn’t highly ranked as Keyes but is currently uncommitted. Wilcox was in Lexington last weekend for an official visit and UK appears to have the momentum as of right now. That being said, Clemson reached out with an offer less than two weeks ago while Georgia is also poking around.

Arion Carter (LB) 6-1, 210 | Smyrna (Smyrna, TN) Memphis commit
3-star: No. 1185 overall, No. 106 LB

• I wouldn’t expect Arion Carter to remain committed to Memphis for much longer. The previously unranked prospect has exploded on the recruiting trail the last several weeks, picking up offers from the likes of Auburn, Alabama, USC, Tennessee, Kentucky, Michigan, LSU, Florida, Oregon, and a few others all during the month of September. A visit to Lexington for Carter has not been set up as of right now, but the ‘Cats could very well receive an official visit this season. He was at Tennessee last weekend and LSU is trying to get him on campus. The potential for early playing time plus a connection to the likes of Barion Brown and the Wade twins makes UK an appealing spot for Carter.

Branden Palmer (DL) 6-4, 205 | William Amos Hough (Charlotte, NC)

• Kentucky reached out to Branden Palmer with a written scholarship offer on Aug. 1 and he expects to visit Lexington at some point this season. Virginia Tech, West Virginia, and Eastern Carolina are all involved with the 6-foot-4 defensive lineman, as well. Palmer visited ECU at the beginning of the month.