Monday afternoon Kentucky Football recruiting notes

Good afternoon, folks! Kentucky Football had itself a busy weekend both on and off the field. In the midst of spring practice, a slew of high-level recruits came to Lexington for visits to check out everything the program has to offer. They were also able to get a sneak peek at practice and meet with the players and members of the coaching staff.

There were several big names on campus over the weekend with plenty more expected to visit over the coming week as into the annual Spring Game, which is scheduled for Saturday, April 9. A couple of notable prospects even picked up scholarships from the ‘Cats along the way. Let’s dive into the important notes from the recruiting trail.

Recruiting rankings courtesy of On3.

Past weekend visitors

Jalen Thompson (c/o 2023) 6-foot-3, 245-pound DL – Cass Tech (MI)
4-star, No. 221 overall

We’ve mentioned the name Jalen Thompson multiple times on this website before and for good reason. The Cass Tech prospect (which has produced current Kentucky players DeAndre Square and incoming freshman Deone Walker) included Kentucky among his top 10 back in February and was in Lexington for a visit over the weekend for a visit. This was not the first time Thompson has been on UK’s campus, either.

Cass Tech actually brought down more than a dozen of its players for a visit, including Derrick Jackson III (c/o 2025), Daniel Geter (c/o 2023), and Durick Williams Jr. (c/o 2023). Kentucky is doing everything it can to keep that Detroit pipeline alive. Thompson was also at Michigan State recently, which appears to be among the top of his preferred choices, along with Michigan. Ohio State is also making a push.

Liam Andrews (c/o 2024) 6-foot-5, 270-pound IOL – Dexter School (MA)
4-star; No. 38 overall

One of the highest-ranked prospects on this list is sophomore Liam Andrews, who met with new offensive line coach Zach Yenser during his weekend visit. He’s already a big-time prospect despite his age, currently holding offers from the likes of Michigan State, Penn State, Michigan, Pittsburgh, and Kentucky, along with plenty of others. Ohio State was able to get Andrews on campus not long before he came to Lexington, too. UK was one of the first Division I schools to offer him, doing so back in Nov. 2021.

Jaylen Thompson (c/o 2024) 6-foot-0, 175-pound CB – Siegel (TN)
4-star, No. 201 overall

Spelled slightly differently, we have a second Jaylen Thompson joining the list of recent high-caliber visitors. He’s easily one of the most impressive athletes in his class, which has helped him haul in offers from the likes of Michigan, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Georgia, and the Wildcats as a sophomore. Thompson met with defensive backs coach Chris Collins and the rest of the staff while in Lexington on Saturday. Kentucky offered him all the way back in June 2021, but he’s been on the radar for a while now.

Elias Rudolph (c/o 2024) 6-foot-4, 220-pound EDGE – Taft (OH)
4-star, No. 144 overall

A Cincinnati product, Elias Rudolph was on campus Saturday with a couple of his Taft High School teammates. The budding sophomore prospect recently earned offers from schools such as Arkansas and Tennessee. His UK offer came in during Jan. 2022. Rudolph was previously on an unofficial visit to Ohio State in late March, as well.

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The players below are currently not ranked by the On3 recruiting service, but all of them are players to keep an eye on moving forward and were on campus over the weekend. Click on the player’s profile in the links below to learn more about them.

Demitrius Bell (c/o 2023) 6-foot-1, 175-pound WR – Blackman (TN)

Christian Caballero (c/o 2023) 6-foot-3, 210-pound LB – Navarre (FL)

Mekhi Buchanan (c/o 2023) 6-foot-5, 220-pound EDGE – Allatoona (GA)

Jaquez Keyes (c/o 2023) 6-foot-1, 205-pound RB – Ironton (OH)

Ronald Cutts (c/o 2023) 6-foot-0, 210-pound LB – Taft (OH)

Mason Wade (c/o 2024) 6-foot-5, 295-pound OT – Loudoun Valley (VA)

Cody Pagach (c/o 2024) 6-foot-3, 175-pound QB – Independence (TN)

Brian Robinson (c/o 2024) 6-foot-4, 220-pound ATH – Austintown Fitch (OH)

Incoming visitors

We’ll have a more in-depth list of those visiting for this weekend’s Spring Game (it’s gonna be packed), but here are a few names that will be in town early this week.

Gi’Bran Payne (c/o 2022) 5-foot-10, 190-pound RB – LaSalle (OH)
4-star, No. 334 overall

After de-committing from Indiana on March 8, Gi’Bran Payne is in Lexington on Monday for a visit. Kentucky is the first program he’s made a trip to since leaving the Hoosiers. Considering he’s the lone senior on this list, Payne will have to make a new decision relatively soon as college freshmen arrive on campus this summer.

Tayvion Galloway (c/o 2024) 6-foot-4, 215-pound TE – Chillicothe (OH)
4-star, No. 158 overall

One of the fastest rising stars in the sophomore class, Tayvion Galloway is making a return trip to Lexington on Tuesday for an unofficial visit. He holds offers from the likes of Cincinnati, LSU, Michigan, Pittsburgh, and several others. Kentucky was one of the first Power 5 schools to offer Galloway, doing so in Dec. 2021, not long after he was in town to watch the ‘Cats beat LSU in November.

Owen Davis (c/o 2023) 6-foot-3, 210-pound ATH – North Union (OH)

Planning to visit on Tuesday, Owen Davis has been hauling in Divison I offers over the last several weeks, including ones from Ball State, Army, Akron, Western Michigan, and South Dakota. However, he’s beginning to hear more and more from the Power 5 level after taking visits to Illinois and Purdue over the last week. Kentucky, which has yet to offer Davis, is next on his list for a visit.

Received scholarship offers

Elijah Rushing (c/o 2024) 6-foot-6, 225-pound EDGE – Salpointe Catholic (AZ)
4-star, No. 8 overall

Vince Marrow went out west to extend an offer to one of the highest-rated sophomores in the country, Elijah Rushing, who plays his high school ball out in Tuscon, AZ. Rushing is considered a top 10 prospect in the country, according to On3, and the second-best EDGE defender in the class. Kentucky offered him on Saturday, as did Georgia. The likes of Wisconsin, Cal, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Southern California, and Michigan all offered him during March. Oregon has also offered and is considered one of the early frontrunners.

Channing Goodwin (c/o 2024) 6-foot-1, 160-pound WR – Providence Day School (NC)

Another impressive sophomore — although not regarded as highly as Rushing — is Channing Goodwin, who picked up his Kentucky offer on Saturday from Coach Marrow. West Virginia, Virginia Tech, N.C. State, Wake Forest, Pitt, and Louisville have all offered since the beginning of 2022. Goodwin plans on taking a trip to UK, although no date has been decided at this time.