Kentucky football Friday evening recruiting news and notes
Time for our weekly recruiting update presented by our friend Andy Luedecke at MyPerfectFranchise. Andy is a huge college sports fan and franchise veteran, having owned multiple franchises and businesses. Using his expertise, he helps others find their American Dream through a very thorough consultation and evaluation process.
Kentucky football might be on a bye week, but recruiting never takes time off. As the Wildcats continue to prepare for a showdown against No. 3 Tennessee next weekend in Knoxville, the future of the program remains in flux. Vince Marrow is up in Ohio to “find some future Cats” while other members of the staff are making the recruiting rounds, as well.
The last week has been rather busy when it comes to the world of recruiting; let’s dive right into everything that’s gone down when it comes to UK.
Kaden Moorman decommits from ‘Cats — who’s next at RB?
It’s not exactly a massive shock, but seeing three-star running back Kaden Moorman decommit is still a tough loss. The 5-foot-10, 205-pound Franklin County star has dealt with multiple minor injuries during his senior season, which has severely limited his on-field production for the Flyers. He’s played in five of Franklin County’s eight games this season and saw just a handful of snaps in one of those appearances for that reason.
Moorman is considered a mid-three-star recruit, per the On3 Consensus, and initially chose the ‘Cats over Toledo and Wisconsin. He’ll surely have more suitors with news of his decommitment. Losing an in-state recruit is always tough, but the UK coaching staff has long had its eyes elsewhere when it comes to running backs.
The most popular name is three-star South Paulding (GA) running back Jamarion Wilcox, who was in Lexington last weekend for a visit and even attended Big Blue Madness. He recently earned a scholarship from Clemson and visited Kansas earlier this month (Wilcox is high school teammates with ’23 Kansas QB commit Kasen Weisman), although Kentucky is in hot pursuit and has been for a while now. The staff still has a running back committed to the ’23 class in three-star Khalifa Keith, but more ball carriers will likely be on the way.
RB commit Khalifa Keith hearing from other schools
Speaking of Keith… The Kentucky commit announced on Friday afternoon that he’s earned an offer from the Tennessee Volunteers. Keith has been a Wildcat pledge since early July and visited campus earlier this month, but continues to hear from other schools. South Carolina has also offered the 6-foot-2, 205-pounder out of Parker (AL) High School.
It’s the Vols, though, that are making the biggest push. Keith has been to Knoxville twice for unofficial game visits since the 2022 season began. The Gamecocks will get a visit this weekend when they take on Texas A&M. This one certainly isn’t over for the Kentucky staff.
But if you’re looking for an inkling of possible good news regarding Keith, take into account the fact that Kentucky offered his teammate at Parker, 4-star ’24 DL Jeremiah Beaman, on Friday afternoon. A Top 100 recruit in the nation according to On3, Beaman holds additional offers from the likes of Alabama, Clemson, Auburn, Arkansas, Florida, and several others.
Ja’Keem Jackson enjoyed Kentucky atmosphere
Currently committed to the Florida Gators, four-star CB Ja’Keem Jackson hasn’t shown any indication that he might actually back off that decision, but Kentucky sure is putting on the pressure. Jackson was in Lexington over the weekend to watch the ‘Cats beat Mississippi State at Kroger Field, and he appears to have enjoyed his visit. He was able to reunite with his older brother Markevus, who is now on the UK track and field team.
“It was good seeing (Markevus) again. I was doing the visit, but it was good seeing him and spending time with him,” Jackson told Corey Bender of Gators Online. “I’ve been there before. It was good and it was my first time seeing the game atmosphere. It was pretty good with my parents and brother.”
If Kentucky does manage to flip Jackson, he would instantly become the team’s top-ranked recruit from the ’23 class. The 6-foot-0, 180-pounder out of Osceola (FL) High School is considered the 156th-best senior in the country, per the On3 Consensus. The coaching staff views Jackson as an immediate-impact type of player.
“They were just saying they need me and I’m a priority for them. Also, that I’m their main guy and they could develop me there. That was what (defensive backs) Coach (Chris) Collins and (head coach) Coach (Mark) Stoops were saying,” Jackson told Gators Online.
Jackson has taken multiple gameday visits to Florida already this season, has another planned for the Gators’ matchup against South Carolina on Nov. 12, and will return to Gainesville in December for his final official visit. Florida is still very much in the driver’s seat.
Cutter Boley visiting Penn State this weekend
Already considered one of the top-ranked quarterbacks from the class of 2025, Lexington Christian Academy’s (KY) Cutter Boley is continuing his string of college visits this year. The 6-foot-5, 205-pound QB has already been to the likes of LSU and Tennessee during the season and took summer visits to the likes of Michigan, Georgia, and Alabama, with the Wolverines and Crimson Tide extending offers. Oregon and Nebraska have offered him over the last few weeks, as well.
This weekend, the in-state star will take a trip to Penn State, where an offer is likely to come with it.
Kentucky absolutely has the inside advantage with Boley at this early stage in his recruitment, but nothing is even close to set in stone. The ‘Cats have been able to get him on campus several times over the last 18 months with offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello recruiting him heavily. Boley is posting huge numbers for LCA this season, too. He’s thrown for 2,531 yards and 20 touchdowns in seven games played for the 4-4 Eagles.
Status of two 4-star WRs
It’s no secret that Kentucky is recruiting a pair of four-star wide receivers, Demitrius Bell (TN) and Karmello English (AL), to help build on the team’s momentum with bringing in playmakers. Bell (a recent Michigan State decommit) was in Lexington earlier this month for an official visit while English (a recent Auburn decommit) did the same in July. Kentucky is still firmly in the hunt with both prospects.
New offers going out this week
Jeremiah Beaman wasn’t the only prospect who earned an offer from the ‘Cats this week. Check out who else has heard from the UK staff over the last several days.
*All player rankings courtesy of the On3 Consensus*
Caleb Odom (TE; 2024) 6-5, 205 | Carrollton (Carrollton, GA)
4-star: No. 243 overall, No. 13 TE
Bradley Shaw (LB; 2024) 6-2, 215 | Hoover (Hoover, AL)
3-star: No. 384 overall, No. 35 LB
Emanuel Ross (WR; 2024) 6-1 185 | Red Bank Catholic (Red Bank, NJ)
3-star: No. 456 overall, No. 68 W
Kendall Jackson (DL, 2024) 6-3, 245 | FW Buchholz (Gainesville, FL)
3-star: No. 494 overall, No. 41 D
Malik Blocton (DL; 2024) 6-3, 255 | Pike Road (Pike Road, AL)
3-star: No. 593 overall, No. 49 DL
Cameron Monteiro (WR; 2024) 6-3, 180 | Brockton (Brockton, MA)
Eagan Boyer (OT; 2024) 6-8, 250 | William Amos Hough (Cornelius, NC)
Zahir Mathis (DL; 2025) 6-5, 230 | Imhotep Institute (Philadelphia, PA)
4-star: No. 26 overall, No. 2 DL
Montavin Quisenberry (WR; 2025) Boyle County (Danville, KY)
Justin Hill (EDGE; 2025) 6-4, 205 | Winton Woods (Forest Park, OH)
Chaston Smith (CB; 2026) 6-1, 145 | Webb School of Knoxville (Knoxville, TN)
Samari Matthews (CB; 2026) 6-0, 170 | William Amos Hough (Huntersville, NC)
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