Kentucky is going to fight till the end to sign Ben Duncum

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

When Ben Duncum committed to Kentucky, we told you that he could become a “power player” on the Wildcats’ defensive line. He’s become a power player before ever stepping on campus.

The Austin (Tx.) Lake Travis defensive lineman was one of the biggest risers in the recent update to the Rivals300. Unlisted previously, he jumped up to No. 190 overall and the 24th-ranked EDGE in the class.

That climb is thanks to an incredibly productive first three games of the 2025 season. Duncum has 17 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and a blocked field goal. A bit of a tweener, scouts wanted to see how Duncum performed after adding some mass this summer. It’s paid dividends.

“His size combined with his first step and advanced hand usage has made him a defensive standout early on in his senior season,” writes Rivals’ Cody Bellaire.

He’s what we like to call a Rivals Outlier. 247 Sports and ESPN are late to the party, not ranking Duncum with a place-holding three-star tag. That’s not how other schools see it.

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His commitment to Kentucky drew plenty of attention from other programs. Colorado’s Warren Sapp tried to wedge his way in between the Wildcats and Duncum. There’s another SEC school that’s trying to get Duncum to take a visit this fall, Auburn. The Tigers are trying to convince Duncum to take an official visit for a game at Jordan-Hare Stadium. He’s been unwilling to go that far, but he does have a return trip to Kentucky on the docket. Duncum tells Rivals’ Sam Spiegelman that he will be in Lexington when Florida travels to Kroger Field in November.

“They are in a very strong spot,” Duncum said of Kentucky. “I like what I have over there for sure.”

“It’s very personal there for me,” he continued. “Coach (Mark) Stoops and Coach (Brad) White and Coach (Anwar) Stew (Stewart) have been very active in my recruiting and have been awesome getting to know them. I’m excited for the opportunity to play there.”

Kentucky may be in a strong spot, but the Wildcats must maintain that relationship as competitors try to swoop in before Signing Day in December.

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