New offers flood in for Kentucky Football recruiting targets

We’re now just six days out from National Signing Day and the Kentucky Football coaching staff has been working their tails off since the regular season came to a close. UK picked up a commitment from three-star defensive lineman Quentel Jones on Thursday morning and will host a mass gathering of commits and top targets this weekend. Momentum continues to build.

With the future of the 2022 recruiting class hanging in the balance between now and next Wednesday, the UK staff is still putting in work for the next group of high schoolers. This week, Kentucky has offered several high school sophomores and juniors that all hail east of the Mississippi River. Different members of the staff have made in-school visits to most of these recruits before formally extending offers.

Let’s learn more about who they are.

Class of 2023 offers

Bryson Rodgers, 4-star WR: 6-1, 175 pounds – Zephyrhills, FL (Wiregrass Ranch High School)

Most of the recruits offered this week have been pass-catchers, none more highly-ranked than Bryson Rodgers. On3’s Consensus rankings have him listed as a top 300 junior and a top 40 wide receiver. Rodgers holds a slew of big-time offers, including ones from Alabama, Florida, Penn State, Oregon, Georgia, Michigan, and several other Power 5 programs. Kentucky’s defensive backs coach Chris Collins extended an offer on Thursday afternoon.

Playing out of Florida, Rodgers has already taken multiple trips to visit the Gators in recent months. However, with the new coaching staff changes down in Gainesville, Florida might not be the unspoken frontrunner for much longer. Kentucky is looking to take advantage of that. Michigan, Rutgers, and Penn State also hosted him for unofficial visits in recent months.

Rodgers caught 42 balls as a junior for 645 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Desmond Umeozulu, 4-star EDGE: 6-5, 220 pounds – Upper Marlboro, MD (Charles Herbert Flowers High School)

One of the most talented prospects we’ll talk about is Desmond Umeozulu, who we briefly mentioned on Tuesday. Ranked by the On3 Consensus as a top 300 recruit from his class and a top-five player from the state of Maryland, the 6-foot-5, 220-pounder is already a load on the edge. His offer from Kentucky came in on Tuesday. Umeozulu also holds offers from the likes of Ole Miss, Boston College, Maryland, Michigan State, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Rutgers, Pittsburgh, and Virginia.

RJ Johnson, 3-star ATH: 6-3, 180 pounds – McDonough, GA (Eagles Landing Christian Academy)

After visiting Lexington in early November to watch Kentucky host Tennessee, RJ Johnson picked up his offer from the Wildcats exactly one month later on Wednesday. Defensive backs coach Chris Collins is the primary recruiter for Johnson, which is presumably the side of the ball he’s being recruited at for the next level. Johnson plays mostly cornerback for Eagles Landing down in the talent-rich state of Georgia.

He also holds offers from the likes of Wake Forest, Louisville, Florida, Boston College, LSU, Georgia Tech, and Virginia while receiving interest from Georgia, Auburn, and North Carolina. Johnson took additional game visits this season to see Florida, Auburn, Louisville, and Georgia.

Lamar Seymore, 4-star WR: 6-0, 175 pounds – Miami, FL (Miami Central High School)

Despite his status as a Miami Hurricane commit, the current coaching situation with that program might have Lamar Seymore weighing his options. Kentucky went out and offered the four-star pass-catcher, who pledged to Miami all the way back in April of 2020. Despite his commitment, Seymore has since picked up offers from the likes of Florida State, Penn State, West Virginia, Central Florida, Georgia Tech, and Texas A&M.

Seymore has been taking visits to other schools over the summer though, so it’s safe to say he’s at least doing his due diligence with them. He was at Central Florida for the program’s spring game and then once again in June. Seymore told KSR that he received an in-school from UK staff members this week, leading to the offer.

Keith Samspon Jr., 4-star DL: 6-3, 285 pounds – New Bern, NC (New Bern High School)

Keith Sampson Jr. dropped a top 10 list back in October that did not include Kentucky, but an offer from the ‘Cats on Wednesday could change that. Considered by the On3 Consensus rankings as the No. 206 prospect in his class, Sampson Jr.’s recruitment is heating up. He holds powerhouse offers from the likes of Alabama, Ohio State, and Georgia while receiving interest from Clemson. South Carolina and NC State are also making a strong early push.

Kentucky is next to throw its hat into the ring.

Famah Toure, NR WR: 6-3, 195 pounds – Pleasantville, NJ (Irvington High School)

The offers are beginning to fly in for Famah Toure, who has earned scholarships from the likes of Kentucky (on Wednesday), Vanderbilt, and Ole Miss just since the start of December. Syracuse, Boston College, Pittsburgh, Maryland, and Rutgers had already offered him. Toure has been to Rutgers multiple times too, as the Scarlet Knights were the first school to offer him. Pulling him out of New Jersey could be a tall order for the UK staff, but they at least plan on giving it a shot.

Class of 2024 offers

Elijah Moore, NR WR: 6-4, 190 pounds – Olney, MD (Good Counsel High School)

With early offers from the likes of West Virginia, Maryland, Florida State, Pittsburgh, Ole Miss, Boston College, and now Kentucky, Elijah Moore figures to be a primetime recruit moving forward.

Tayvion Galloway, NR TE: 6-5, 215 pounds – Chillicothe, OH (Unito High School)

Not a stranger to those who follow Kentucky Football recruiting closely, Tayvion Galloway finally picked up his offer from UK on Tuesday. Already considered the top sophomore tight end from the state of Ohio, associate head coach Vince Marrow made sure to establish a relationship early. Galloway was wildly impressed by his trip to Lexington when he watched UK knock off LSU and told KSR on Thursday he was expecting an offer from the ‘Cats to come in this week.

But just because Kentucky got in early doesn’t mean it has the edge. Notre Dame, Cincinnati, Michigan State, Michigan, and Ohio State also got him on campus during the season. Galloway recently told Jeremy Birmingham of Letterman Row that his family grew up watching the Buckeyes and that said it was a “blessing” to hear from OSU.

Keep a close eye on this kid…

Jaylen Harvey, NR LB: 6-2, 210 pounds – Gaithersburg, MD (Quince Orchard High School)

A prospect still on the rise, Jaylen Harvey is the most under-the-radar recruit we’ll discuss. His offer from Kentucky came from wide receivers coach Scott Woodward on Tuesday, his fifth from a Divison I program. Harvey also holds scholarships from Boston College, Maryland, Vanderbilt, and Buffalo. He helped lead Quince Orchard HS to a Maryland state title this year, suiting up as a linebacker.