KSR Today: Can Kentucky Football Recruiting Stay Hot?
Ten days ago, Kentucky football was stuck in a recruiting rut. When Vince Marrow left the program for Louisville, it felt like the beginning of the end. Turns out, he was the Cats’ slump-buster.
Since Marrow’s departure, Kentucky has picked up five commitments. This week kicked off with recruiting wins on back-to-back days. S Messiah Tilson got things started with a triple fake-out, selecting the Cats over a couple of Big Ten programs. LB Max Mohring kept the ball rolling on Tuesday.
A Pennsylvania native, Mohring did not have a high-profile recruitment. UCF was the Cats’ top power conference competition. He had a bunch of offers from Ivy League schools, which tells you there’s a lot going on in between the ears. An instinctual football player, he’s a multi-sport athlete with great positional size and athleticism.
Kentucky made its money early in the Stoops era with proverbial diamonds in the rough. They’re trusting their evaluation, and it’s time those start paying off.
The Next Big Piece for Kentucky…
The cupboard is no longer bare. The key is finding an eye-popping player to make sure there are some quality players on the shelves. Things are trending in the right direction for Kentucky to land one of the top quarterbacks in America.
Matt Ponatoski made a surprise unofficial visit to Kentucky on Monday at the penultimate camp of the summer (the final one is this afternoon). The Cincinnati quarterback was making a pitstop before making his way to the Elite 11 Finals. On day 1, he was one of the top performers at the event. “The dual-sport star made it look easy.”
He was the Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of Ohio in both football and baseball. Alabama and Oregon were major players, but appear to have pivoted elsewhere. Adam Luckett has placed an RPM pick for the Cats to secure a commitment from Ponatoski, which would be an eye-opening addition during the 2026 cycle.
Kentucky 2026 Recruiting Class
In the middle of the commitments is a big week for Kentucky official visits. The Wildcats have a handful of official visitors on campus right now, including a surprise addition to the guest list, tight end Lincoln Watkins.
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| Player | Position | High School | Ranking |
| Jarvis Strickland | T (6-4, 280) | Paducah (Ky.) Tilghman | 4-star (No. 355 overall) |
| Jordan Crutchfield | CB (6-2, 195) | Vero Beach (Fla.) High | High 3-star (No. 416 overall) |
| Messiah Tilson | S (6-2, 165) | Rockford (Ill.) Guilford | High 3-star (No. 450 overall) |
| Prince Jean | WR (6-0, 170) | Valdosta (Ga.) High | 3-star (No. 713 overall) |
| Davis McCray | WR (6-2, 190) | San Antonio (Texas) Cornerstone Christian | 3-star (No. 1,053 overall) |
| Cameron Miller | T (6-5, 310) | Hammond (Ind.) Morton | 3-star (No. 1,320 overall) |
| Max Mohring | LB (6-3, 215) | Malvern (Pa.) Prep | Unranked |
Impressive Skills by a Kentucky Offensive Lineman
Shiyazh Pete was a welcome addition to the Big Blue Wall. The former all-conference offensive tackle at New Mexico State was the final transfer portal addition during the winter cycle. He’s a big man with many skills. One we did not know was his ability to quickly complete a Rubik’s Cube.
A Heartwarming Gesture
Jon Sumrall recruited Chris Lewis to Kentucky. After two seasons in Lexington, the wide receiver followed Sumrall to Troy where he had a breakout year, leading the Sun Belt in touchdown receptions with 10. Unfortunately, Lewis was diagnosed with cancer. He beat the disease, but the tumor in his knee ultimately ended his football career. The two have linked back up in New Orleans where it looks like Lewis will be able to remain in college football in some capacity as a part of Sumrall’s staff.
Kentucky Basketball Summer Practices are Underway
Mark Pope started his week in Colorado Springs with a couple of Cats, Malachi Moreno and Jasper Johnson, before returning to Lexington just in time to put his players to work. If Pope’s conditioning tests are anything like the ones he went through with Rick Pitino, they are not fun, whatsoever, at all.
Speaking of Colorado Springs, KSR’s Jack Pilgrim is still there after spending time watching Team USA train. Jamie Shaw had boots on the ground for On3. The two teamed up to discuss everything they saw in a new edition of Sources Say.
The Stanley Cup is Staying in South Florida
The Canadian Stanley Cup drought continues. For the second straight year, the Edmonton Oilers had a chance to become the first team from Canada to win the Stanley Cup since 1993. For the second straight year, Connor McDavid couldn’t put the team on his back. The Panthers blitzed the Oilers to stave off a game seven trip to Edmonton, winning 5-1 behind Same Reinhart’s four goals to secure their second straight Stanley Cup.
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