Four-Star Official Visits Headline Kentucky Football Recruiting Weekend

This weekend will be the first time in a long time that the Kentucky football team has opened its doors to a large group of official visitors. CB Alex Afari and LB Jacquez Jones recently used an official visit to see the Wildcats’ campus, but Mark Stoops is cranking up his recruiting game a few more notches with six players expected to arrive in Lexington on Friday, joining Tyreese Fearbry, who’s visit is set to begin today. The group consists of a couple of commits and five four-star prospects.

The younger brother of former Wildcat wide receiver, Ahmad Wagner, Vince Marrow is trying to secure a third offensive tackle commit in the 2022 class by pulling one of the best from the Buckeye State. Unlike his older brother, Ohio State is all-in on Wagner. He used his first official visit last weekend in Columbus, telling Lettermen Row:

“Excellence really, that’s probably the biggest thing I came away [from the visit] with,” Wagner said. “Everything they do, they do with excellence.”

Wagner will officially visit Notre Dame next week, followed by Penn State. For his fifth official he will choose between Stanford and Auburn.

This weekend’s official marks the third time the highest-ranked uncommitted prospect from the state of Kentucky has been on UK’s campus in ten days. The Lexington native was trying on a UK uniform on the first day of the open recruiting period. Now he’ll start his visit tour at Kentucky. It’s a good sign for the Cats, but a decision is still not likely until after he gets to watch his prospective schools play in person. Oregon and South Carolina are Kentucky’s top contenders.

Even though he’s listed by 247 Sports as a wide receiver, the big target will most likely be a tight end at the next level. Recruited by Frank Buffano, 247 Sports ranks Conley as a four-star prospect and the No. 234 player in America. Conley has offers from a handful of schools, but Kentucky is the first place he will officially visit.

Also, don’t pay attention to that Nebraska prediction. The confidence level is a “1” on a scale of 1-10 and it’s from a “Nebraska Insider” in February, which makes that Crystal Ball pick essentially worthless.

That’s right. Kentucky is hosting not one, but two pass-catchers from Kansas City this weekend. This receiver has received a little more interest than Conley, officially visiting Iowa State last weekend and checking out Boulder, Colorado at the end June. Buff’s first significant recruiting targets, we’ll see if Kansas City can become the new Detroit for Kentucky.

“I’m from Kentucky, it’s my home,” Bingham told KSR shortly after committing to the Cats. “The great people of Kentucky, I would love to play in front of them with the crazy crowd in Lexington and just be home. Be home.” Heavily pursued by Notre Dame prior to his decision, this weekend will provide further affirmation for the gifted athlete from Eastern Kentucky. 

Another commitment secured by Vince Marrow, this weekend will provide an opportunity for Kattus to get much more acquainted with his future surroundings. The son of former Michigan tight end and team captain, Eric Kattus, Josh will not be the only Cincinnati Moeller tight end on the 2022 roster. Brenden Bates is preparing for a larger role this season after a potential breakout redshirt sophomore season was stalled by injury.

The talented edge rusher is kicking things off, expected to touch down in Lexington on Thursday. An exceptional athlete with a frame that can add a ton of muscle, Kentucky will try to convince Fearbry he can be he next Josh Allen a week after he was wowed at Pitt. Adam Luckett has more on what Fearbry’s recruitment means for the Wildcats.