LIVE BLOG: The First Kentucky National Signing Day of the Stein Era
Will Stein has been the head football coach of the Kentucky Wildcats for less than 48 hours. This morning, he will sign his first recruiting class on National Signing Day.
Okay, let’s be real. This isn’t Stein’s recruiting class. The last time the Kentucky football program conducted a coaching search, Mark Stoops had two months to assemble a recruiting class, not two days.
The hay has been in the barn for most of these recruits for a while. It will be interesting to see if they all stay in the fold — whether based on their decision or the new coach’s — as Stein begins the very early stages of roster-building. The transfer portal class, which opens on Jan. 2, carries significantly more weight than the group that will put pen to paper on National Signing Day.
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However, the Cats still have 14 verbal commits in the fold as National Signing Day begins. We’ll keep you in the loop as the fax machines start humming, and share tidbits throughout the morning, before Kentucky hosts Will Stein for his introductory press conference at 4 PM ET.
Kentucky 2026 Verbal Commits
Kentucky started the day ranked No. 56 overall and No. 14 in the SEC. The Wildcats have 14 commits after Caleb Pyfrom reopened his recruitment We’re keeping a close eye on Messiah Tilson, who is weighing his options on National Signing Day following the Kentucky coaching change.
| Player | Position | High School | Ranking |
| Matt Ponatoski | QB (6-2, 190) | Cincinnati (Ohio) Moeller | 4-star (No. 226 overall) |
| Messiah Tilson | S (6-2, 165) | Rockford (Ill.) Guilford | 4-star (No. 346 overall) |
| Denairius Gray | WR (6-1, 170) | Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna | High 3-star (No. 522 overall) |
| Dallas Dickerson | WR (6-1, 180) | Bogart (Ga.) North Oconee | High 3-star (No. 589 overall) |
| Lincoln Watkins | TE (6-4, 225) | Port Huron (Mich.) Northern | 3-star (No. 609 overall) |
| Ben Duncum | DL (6-5, 250) | Austin (Texas) Lake Travis | 3-star (No. 748 overall) |
| Isaiah McMillian | CB (6-0, 170) | Katy (Texas) High | 3-star (No. 943 overall) |
| Justyn Hartley | LB/EDGE (6-2, 215) | Hoover (Ala.) High | 3-star (No. 953 overall) |
| Prince Jean | WR (6-0, 170) | Valdosta (Ga) High | 3-star (No. 1,049 overall) |
| Cameron Miller | T (6-5, 310) | Hammond (Ind.) Morton | 3-star (No. 1,072) overall) |
| Davis McCray | WR (6-2, 190) | San Antonio (Texas) Cornerstone Christian | 3-star (No. 1,295 overall) |
| Delvecchio “Deuce” Alston II | RB (6-0, 200) | Trussville (Ala.) Hewitt-Trussville | 3-star (No. 1,421 overall) |
| Jordan Knox | IOL (6-3, 310) | Rock Hill (SC) | JUCO |
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At Least Two More Additions Possible
12/03/2025 05:32:12 PMDuring his introductory press conference, Will Stein was happy with what the Wildcats could put together in about 12 hours, but this Early Signing Period doesn’t end until Friday.
Four-star defensive back Messiah Tilson is the second-highest-ranked player in the class. Rutgers is makign a late push. He plans on sharing his announcement on Friday. Tight end Lincoln Watkins shared on social media that he will wait till Friday, but you won’t need to sweat it. It was a photo with him in UK gear and he used a #GoBigBlue.
If the Wildcats lock in their final two players, there will be 13 high school players in the 2026 recruiting class, one that ranks No. 60 nationally.
Dallas Dickerson Makes it Official
12/03/2025 05:27:48 PMHighlights
About: Dickerson helped North Oconee (Ga.) win the school’s first-ever state title in 2024. Dickerson is a burner who has been clocked at 4.42 in the 40-yard dash and 10.36 in the 100 meters. Oklahoma, Georgia Tech, and Florida were among the runners-up in his recruitment.
Luckett’s Film Room: Dallas Dickerson is one of the faster football prospects in the 2026 class. Has clocked 10.40 in the 100 meters on the North Oconee track team. That speed shows up on tape. A true vertical field stretcher with burner speed and yards after catch ability. Outside receiver with explosive play potential.
Denairius Gray becomes the third WR to sign with Kentucky
12/03/2025 01:43:42 PMHighlights
About: Hailing from a powerhouse program in the Sunshine State, Chaminade-Madonna, Kentucky pulled a recruiting coup by flipping the Top-500 talent from Auburn over the summer. He battled injuries during his senior season, but still caught seven touchdowns in nine games.
Luckett’s Film Room: Denairius Gray is a precise mover who creates easy separation while smoothly getting in and out of breaks. The South Florida wideout plucks the football out of the air with strong but soft hands. Good releases were put on tape and there is real route-running potential. Has the size and movement skills to thrive in the slot.
Davis McCray is in the fold
12/03/2025 01:38:31 PMHighlights
About: One of a handful of players from Texas recruited to Kentucky by L’Damian Washington, McCray recorded 32 receptions for 639 yards and 10 touchdowns last season while also contributing 38 tackles on defense. He also is a long-jumper and runs the 100 meters for his high school track team.
Luckett’s Film Room: Davis McCray is a true outside receiver with solid speed, good burst, and a large catch radius. Rare wide receiver/linebacker combo in high school who showed some tenacity as a collision player in a high traffic area. A big-bodied target as a wideout who can provide value between the hashes. Best bet in this class to turn into an X receiver.
REMINDER: This is an Early Signing Period
12/03/2025 12:12:05 PMYes, today is National Signing Day, but prospects have through Friday to put pen to paper and make it official. In previous years, there might be one guy Kentucky was waiting on, but most for their paperwork filed by Wednesday at lunchtime. as you’re well aware of by now, this isn’t most years.
Will Stein is still getting his ducks in a row, no pun intended. Kentucky will be working to sign a few more guys, and it may take until Friday. The committed players who have yet to sign:
- DB Messiah Tilson (Flip Watch to Rutgers)
- WR Denairius Gray (Flip Watch to UCF)
- WR Dallas Dickerson
- TE Lincoln Watkins
- WR Davis McCray
- CB Braxton Urquhart (JUCO)
Kentucky Target Commits to Belichick
12/03/2025 11:29:37 AMDa’Ron Parks was considered a Top 300 talent for most of the recruiting cycle. He officially visited Kentucky over the summer before ultimately committing to Florida State. Kentucky remained persistent, hosting Parks for the Ole Miss game. The potential for a flip was there, but it was North Carolina who made the late push to get the offensive lineman to Chapel Hill.
Ben Duncum is a Big Addition
12/03/2025 11:08:41 AMHighlights
About: The Texas EDGE was a three-star prospect when he picked Kentucky over Kansas State, Oklahoma State, and Wisconsin. He climbed to No. 292 in the Rivals rankings during a stellar senior season when he tallied 62 tackles, 16 TFLs, 7.0 sacks, 41 QB pressures, and three forced fumbles. Auburn, Colorado, and many others tried to flip Duncum throughout the season, but he remained solid, even after the coaching change. Duncum attends Austin Lake Travis, the school where Will Stein was the recruiter and offensive coordinator from 2018-19.
Luckett’s Film Room: Ben Duncum is a defensive end prospect who is a run-first defender with very good positional size and length. A standout discuss thrower on the Austin (Texas) Lake Travis track team. This three-star recruit has terrific measurables and room to grow into a big frame. Owns a high-ceiling as a run defender.
There are a lot of unsigned Kentucky commits at lunch time
12/03/2025 11:04:02 AMMatt Ponatoski, Isaiah McMillian, Justyn Hartley, Prince Jean, Cameron Miller Jr., Delvecchio Alston II, and Jordan Knox have all sent their signatures in. We’re playing the waiting game for everyone else.
Messiah Tilson, Denairius Gray, Dallas Dickerson, Lincoln Watkins, Ben Duncum, and Davis McCray remain unsigned. Tilson (Rutgers) and Gray (UCF) are on flip watch.
Caleb Pyfrom will not be signing with Kentucky
12/03/2025 11:00:54 AMOur first decommitment of the day has arrived. After committing to Kentucky a few short days ago, junior college offensive guard Caleb Pyfrom backed off his pledge to UK after speaking with head coach Will Stein.
The former Missouri signee has an open recruitment. It looks like the Cats will add just two offensive line prospects today.
This Waiting Game is Weird
12/03/2025 10:11:08 AMThere is a rhythm to normal National Signing Days. A barrage starts around 7:30 AM with a flood of faxes for about an hour or two. Then things slow down for the final few remaining signatures. There is absolutely nothing normal about this National Signing Day.
This afternoon is Will Stein’s introductory press conference. That will be what everyone is talking about, not the players signed in the morning.
Matt Ponatoski was the first player to sign. For most Kentucky fans, anything else is gravy. As of 11:15 AM ET, there are only 7 players signed out of the 14-person class. Will more join the fold? Does Will Stein even want them? There’s so much uncertainty and so much waiting that is abnormal for today, a National Signing Day unlike any other at Kentucky.
College Football Petty Wars
12/03/2025 09:49:38 AMUnless you’re locked into what happened this week between BYU and Penn State, it’s kinda hard to explain. Essentially, the Crumbl cookie CEO ponied up to give Kalani Sitake more money in NIL and salary to prevent the BYU coach from leaving for Penn State. Well, the former Penn State head coach, James Franklin, is taking an incredible shot at his former employer.
Vanderbilt has the No. 1 QB in America
12/03/2025 09:40:07 AMJared Curtis is the third-ranked prospect in the class. The Nashville native flipped from Georgia in the days before National Signing Day. What a weird time to be alive.
Our first look at Will Stein on NSD
12/03/2025 09:16:00 AMUK just tweeted a picture of Will Stein in the War Room on Signing Day. He’s FaceTiming with someone (on one of two phones he’s holding)…who could it be??
Kentucky’s roster looks…different
12/03/2025 09:15:34 AMI went to pull up the football roster on UKAthletics.com to tag some old pictures and was surprised to see it only includes five players, all of whom have signed this morning, along with just one coach, Will Stein.
Obviously, players from the 2025 roster will be retained, but this is a good example of the flip to the new era. Kentucky isn’t wasting time.
Narrator: “It Meant Nothing”
12/03/2025 09:02:10 AMAs soon as I posted the last entry, Kentucky made the addition of McMillian official.
May Mean Something, May Mean Nothing
12/03/2025 08:56:57 AMIsaiah McMillian shared on social media at 8:15 AM ET that he’s signed with Kentucky, and tagged it with #FeedtheStuds. The three-star defensive back was on the fence, reconsidering his decision after the coaching change. We still have not received the official word from UK. It’s probably not something to be concerned about, but it is noteworthy.
Justyn Hartley Makes it Official
12/03/2025 08:44:22 AMHighlights
About: Kentucky saw a diamond in the rough when the Wildcats sought out a commitment from Hartley. The Hoover (Al.) native only had FCS offers at the time. Unranked over the summer, Hartley entered the fray this fall as a Top-40 player in Alabama and No. 946 overall after tallying 75 tackles and 11 TFLs against Alabama 7A competition.
Luckett’s Film Room: Justyn Hartley recorded 75 tackles and 11 tackles for loss as a senior. An undersized outside linebacker prospect, has long arms, quick burst, and shows some twitch at the top of his rush. Very similar prospect to Steven Soles Jr. coming out of high school.
Former Kentucky Commit Signs with Georgia
12/03/2025 08:30:04 AMTyreek Jemison was Eric Wolford’s highest-ranked commitment on the Kentucky offensive line. He decommitted in October, but left the door open to sign with Kentucky. Unfortunately, it was cracked too wide for Kirby Smart. The Dawgs gave the Georgia native a committable offer and the four-star offensive guard took it.
First Surprise: Kentucky Adds JUCO Offensive Lineman
12/03/2025 08:24:05 AMWith so few players committed ahead of National Signing Day, we knew there’d be a few surprises. The first is Jordan Knox, an offensive guard who started his career at Northwestern. He logged a few starts in Evanston before heading to the JUCO ranks. He was a three-star recruit in high school from South Carolina.
Cereal Boxes in Oxford
12/03/2025 08:22:26 AMEach year, recruiting and marketing departments have the challenge of creating unique social media graphics for National Signing Day. After more than a decade, it’s hard to come up with original ideas. Ole Miss is giving each of its players a cereal box. I can’t tell if I hate it or love it.
Kentucky Baseball gets to Flex on Football National Signing Day
12/03/2025 08:19:34 AMWill Stein isn’t the only one fired up today. Nick Mingione is thrilled to have Ponatoski inked.
Kentucky Adds a Deuce at RB
12/03/2025 08:06:27 AMHighlights
About: Known as “Deuce,” Alston took official visits to Minnesota, Memphis, and USF over the summer. After his OV in Lexington, he committed to the Cats. During his junior campaign, he averaged 7.2 yards per carry and won a 7A State Wrestling Title.
Luckett’s Film Room: Deuce Alston is a slashing 200-pound tailback who flashes both feel and acceleration as a rusher. Does a good job of shifting gears and running with contact balance. Shows the skill set to be an effective zone rusher due to his ability to stick his foot in the ground and get north/south.
Add One to the Big Blue Wall, OT Cameron Miller
12/03/2025 07:47:56 AMHighlights
About: Kentucky is getting a second Cameron Miller on the roster, and this one’s a whole lot bigger. The 6-foot-5, 310-pound offensive lineman from Indiana held offers from Purdue, Indiana, West Virginia, Texas Tech, and more when he committed to the Cats in June. “They’ve sent almost 60 people to the NFL. That plays a big role in your development. They produce pros,” Miller told KSR+.
Luckett’s Film Room: Cameron Miller fits the “Planet Theory,” meaning that he is one of the few individuals on earth to combine massive size and movement skills. Can that translate on the field at the next level? The tackle prospect owns athleticism with great size and length plus left tackle potential. Miller has a thin lower half but does bring some big-time traits to the table.
Kentucky Signs an Undecided Commit
12/03/2025 07:43:37 AMIsaiah McMillian was on the fence after Kentucky’s change in leadership. This morning, he still pulled the trigger and signed with the Wildcats.
Highlights
About: Like many others in the 2026 recruiting class, McMillian let other schools know that his options were open once Kentucky made a coaching change. Thanks to some efforts at the 11th hour, Kentucky was able to secure his signature. The Texas native had suitors from around the Lone Star State, all the way up to Iowa. An exceptional track athlete, McMillian has posted a 4.4-second 40-yard dash with a 9’6″ broad jump and 35-inch vertical. During his junior campaign he tallied 57 tackles, 18 pass breakups, and four interceptions.
Luckett’s Film Room: Isaiah McMillian is a cornerback prospect who can trigger downhill, finish tackles, and make plays on the ball in the air. An outstanding tackler on tape who playing with terrific fundamentals when arriving to the ballcarrier. Smoothly flips his hips in coverage on his junior tape and has clocked sub-11 times in the 100 meters. Owns the traits to be a quality zone-heavy cornerback.
Kentucky Adds a Wide Receiver
12/03/2025 07:26:19 AMHighlights
About: Mississippi State, Kansas State, Virginia, and Georgia were in the mix for the Valdosta (Ga.) native when he committed to Kentucky in June. A speedy wideout with solid size, Jean was a jack-of-all-trades throughout his prep career. In addition to catching passes, he dabbled in Wildcat quarterback and returned kicks.
Luckett’s Film Room: Prince Jean is true generator with the ball in his hands. Created chunk gains as a receiver and wildcat quarterback on his junior tape. Owns good acceleration burst with a gadget skill set and route-running potential. Undersized, but has some bonafide play creation skills, and the potential to grow as a route-runner. Feels like a potential excellent fit in Will Stein’s matchup-driven offense.
It’s Good to Have Oil Money
12/03/2025 07:19:57 AMTexas Tech made a lot of headlines over the summer when they pulled in impressive commitments. Those have stuck. Cody Campbell’s deep pockets and Joey McGuire’s consistency helped the Red Raiders secure LaDamion Guyton from Georgia. They also got a five-star offensive tackle, Felix Ojo, in the fold. Texas Tech is going all in. This move on National Signing Day could be the norm over the next few years.
Mitch Barnhart: Risk-Taker
12/03/2025 07:05:36 AMThis cannot get overlooked. Mitch Barnhart joined BBN Tonight just prior to tip-off at Rupp Arena and shared why he’s such a fan of Will Stein. “Undoubtedly, he will call himself a risk taker. And I sort of like that because I’m certainly in that same zone.”
If I were to play a word association game, if you put Barnhart next to the word risk, I would respond with “averse.” Risk taker? Ehhh, I don’t see it, but I do like that Mitch was willing to take a risk on the young former offensive coordinator.
Our Penn State colleagues are going through it
12/03/2025 06:51:15 AMI can promise you that no one is having a more unhappy time right now than Penn State AD Pat Kraft. The Nittany Lions are on Day 52 of their football search. BYU head coach Kalani Sitake just turned them down. No one really knows where they will go next. But they have to go through the early signing period just like the rest of us.
Our colleagues at BWI are going through it.
Ponatoski Leads Off
12/03/2025 06:34:53 AMHighlights
About: An Elite 11 quarterback, Ponatoski was Mr. Ohio in football and baseball as a junior. Over his last two years as a starter at Archbishop Moeller, Ponatoski had 6,612 passing yards, 87 total touchdowns, and only three interceptions. It’s worth repeating. He had 87 touchdowns and three interceptions. Completing 67.9 percent of his passes, accuracy is his strength, and he’s got an arm that’s clocked in the upper-90s from the mound.
Ponatoski plans on playing baseball at Kentucky too, which is a big reason why Kentucky had an advantage in his recruitment over other big-time players in the sport. An MLB Draft decision looms this summer, but the relationship he cultivated with Will Stein during his recruitment was enough to convince Ponatoski to sign today, rather than wait until February. That’s a good forecast for the future of the Kentucky quarterback position.
Luckett’s Film Room: Matt Ponatoski is a clean cut evaluation as an accurate passer who plays with great pace, timing, feel, and projects to be a high-quality starting quarterback quickly during his collegiate career. The quarterback might just be scratching at the surface of what he could become. Processing and accuracy jump out on tape.
Flip Watch
12/03/2025 06:34:11 AMKentucky has just 12 high school commits in the class. They might not get to 12 signees today. Rutgers is pushing hard for Messiah Tilson. UCF is making a move for Denairius Gray. There are two that we will be watching closely this morning.
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