Kentucky is set to have youthful wide receiver room in 2026
The early signing period has come and gone. Kentucky officially added 14 players to the roster with 12 high school prospects and two junior college transfers joining the program as we shift from the Mark Stoops era to the Will Stein era in Lexington. Once again, one specific position stood out in this cycle.
One year after adding five high school prospects and four transfer wide receivers to the roster, we saw UK again be active at the position during the early signing period. The Wildcats added five more high school recruits to the program. The staff prevented Denairius Gray and Prince Jean from flipping despite some other late interest, and UK surprised many when top-200 prospect Kenny Darby signed with the program on Friday.
We still are unsure who will be coaching the position in 2026, but position coach L’Damian Washington has been hanging around and played a big role in Kentucky securing some signatures late. No matter what coaching movement happens over the next week or so, UK will have a very youthful wideout room.
- Ashton Cozart (Redshirt Junior)
- Hardley Gilmore IV (Junior)
- David Washington Jr. (Redshirt Sophomore)
- Cameron Miller (Sophomore)
- DJ Miller (Sophomore)
- Preston Bowman (Redshirt Freshman)
- Montavin Quisenberry (Redshirt Freshman)
- Quintin Simmons Jr. (Redshirt Freshman)
- Kenny Darby (Freshman)
- Dallas Dickerson (Freshman)
- Denairius Gray (Freshman)
- Prince Jean (Freshman)
- Davis McCray (Freshman)
The Cats currently have 13 full scholarship wideouts on the roster. Ten of those will be in their first or second season of college football in 2026. Ashton Cozart, Hardley Gilmore IV, and David Washington Jr. are the only upperclassmen. Only Gilmore has received extensive action.
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Gonzaga 94, Kentucky 59
That was awful
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Pope's reaction
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NOT the Avengers.
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Former Cats
on Will Stein's staff.
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Gilmore (34 career receptions), DJ Miller (13 career receptions), and Cameron Miller (13 receptions) are the only players on the roster to have recorded double-digit receptions. Odds are high that Stein’s staff goes to the transfer portal in January to address this position’s lack of experience. There will probably be some two-way roster movement with some attrition in this position room. However, it’s clear that the youth movement is on.
Expect some young players to contribute at wide receiver again after Kentucky once again loaded up at the position via high school recruiting.
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