Kentucky defensive coordinator Jay Bateman is recruiting amid CFP prep

Kentucky made the hiring of new offensive coordinator Joe Sloan official on Monday. However, the new play caller in Lexington made his presence felt before that in recruiting when he helped the Cats secure a signature for four-star wide receiver Kenny Darby. The hiring of defensive coordinator Jay Bateman has not gone public yet, but the 52-year-old is already recruiting for UK.

Amid College Football Playoff prep for Texas A&M, Bateman was working the phones and issues a scholarship offer for Kentucky on Monday. Recruiting truly never stops.

Blessed to receive and offer from the University of Kentucky! @CoachBateman @adamgorney @FriedmanAdamm @ChadSimmons_ @CraigHaubert @BrianDohn247 @TomLoy247 @EdOBrienCFB pic.twitter.com/LsSTnsnh0P

— Ashton Chiles (@Ashton8Chiles) December 16, 2025

Jay Bateman is a Virginia native with ties to the fertile DMV area. The new coordinator in Lexington will likely be asked to hit that area hard in recruiting. When Bateman was at Florida, he was the lead recruiter for top-100 recruit Aaron Chiles. The class of 2024 signee became a starter for the Gators in year two and finished the season with 52 tackles and 2.5 tackles. Now younger brother Ashton Chiles is being recruited by Bateman. The class of 2028 recruit was offered by both Texas A&M and UK on Wednesday. Bateman already has an established relationship with this family from his time spent in Gainesville.

Kentucky head coach Will Stein, Kentucky defensive coordinator Jay Bateman, Kentucky outside linebackers coach Tony Washington Jr., and Kentucky offensive line coach Cutter Leftwich are all working with current playoff teams. Each is trying to win a national championship but future recruiting work for UK is being done now.

The new era of Kentucky football is off and running. Up next is a critical transfer portal window where the program will attempt to find multiple starters for the 2026 roster.

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