Kentucky offers 3-star RB SirPaul "Jesus in Cleats" Cheeks

A new recruiting target has emerged from the high school football ranks for the Wildcats.

On Thursday, three-star class of 2026 running back SirPaul “Jesus in Cleats” Cheeks announced a scholarship offer from Kentucky assistant coach Jay Boulware. Checking at 5-foot-9, 190 pounds, the Virginia product is considered the No. 1,107 overall rising high school senior in the country, according to the On3 Industry Ranking.

Along with Kentucky, Cheeks holds additional offers from the likes of Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Wake Forest, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, and others. He was scheduled to officially visit Minnesota last weekend and reportedly has upcoming OVs to West Virginia (this weekend) and Pitt (June 12).

Kentucky Offered !! @WillVapreps @RecruitingVHSFB @CoachJ_Boulware @coachmlew @CRF4Dan pic.twitter.com/KBGfYsrls5

— SirPaul “jesus in cleats” Cheeks (@SirpaulCheeks) June 6, 2025

Aside from having a great name (and an even better self-proclaimed nickname) for a football player, Cheeks has blossomed into a legitimate Power 4 target this year. He was named to the All-Metro Team by the Richmond Times-Dispatch following his junior season at Lloyd C. Bird (VA), where he registered nearly 1,500 all-purpose yards and 18 total touchdowns. Cheeks has since transferred to Varina (VA) for his senior season.

Cheeks doubles as a star track runner, logging a personal record of 10.63 seconds in the 100-meter dash back in April. On the gridiron, he also impressed as a cornerback, wide receiver, and returner, but he’s being recruited mainly as a running back at the college level.

Kentucky currently has two commits locked in from the 2026 cycle: four-star OT Jarvis Strickland and three-star WR Davis McCray. The Wildcats expect to host at least 10 recruits for official visits this weekend.

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