Kentucky Commit Ben Duncum Makes Big Move Up Rivals Recruiting Rankings

Ben Duncum on his official visit to Kentucky, via UK Athletics

The high school football season is young, but Ben Duncum has made the most of his early opportunities. The senior defensive lineman committed to Kentucky is soaring up the Rivals Recruiting Rankings.

In the last update in July, Duncum was a high-three-star talent outside of the Rivals300. The early tape popped off the page. He’s now a four-star talent, ranked as the No. 190 player in the class and a Top 25 EDGE prospect.

“Duncum is off to an electric start to his senior season for Lake Travis. Emerging as one of the top edge defenders in Texas as a senior,” wrote Rivals’ Sam Spiegelman.

“Someone we were very excited to gather some early tape on as a senior was Lake Travis High’s Ben Duncum,” wrote Rivals’ Cody Bellaire. “The versatile Kentucky commit has taken snaps as an interior defender, with his hand in the dirt off the edge, and as a stand-up rusher. This year, he’s primarily been playing on the edge, and he has developed some serious hand usage as a pass rusher and as an edge setter. It looks like he’s added some quality mass throughout his frame over the offseason and is becoming quite the run defender as well.”

A 6-foot-5, 250-pound athlete for Austin (TX) Lake Travis, he’s created havoc through the first three games of the season. Duncum has 17 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and a blocked field goal. Not too shabby.

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Duncum committed to Kentucky in June, choosing the Wildcats over Kansas State, Oklahoma State, and Wisconsin. Since his commitment, other schools have tried to pry him away from UK. Baylor, Auburn, and Colorado are actively recruiting the four-star talent.

Duncum is Not the Only Kentucky Commit in the Rivals Rankings

Before you scroll down to find Duncum, you’ll see Matt Ponatoski. The four-star talent from Cincinnati is the No. 110 overall player in the new Rivals300 and the tenth-ranked quarterback.

Through four games, the Kentucky quarterback commit has completed 69% of his passes for 864 yards, 12 touchdowns, and zero interceptions. The biggest game of the year is on the horizon. Ponatoski and Moeller will go toe-to-toe with Cincinnati St. X Friday night at 7 PM ET.

Duncum and Ponatoski are the only two four-star talents in Kentucky’s 2026 recruiting class. The Wildcats are No. 39 in the team rankings, ahead of only Vanderbilt and Mississippi State in the SEC.