Several of Kentucky's 2026 high school football commits suiting up for season-openers

Kentucky isn’t the only state gearing up for the opening weekend of high school football across the country.

Of the Wildcats’ 15 class of 2026 football commits, nine of them will take the field on either Friday or Saturday for the first time this season. The jewel of Mark Stoops‘ incoming recruiting class, four-star QB Matt Ponatoski, headlines the group as his senior season officially gets underway this Saturday against Princeton (OH). WR Denairius Gray will also suit up on Saturday in a battle against St. Frances Academy (MD) that will be broadcast on ESPN 2. Everyone else scheduled to play this week will hit the field later Friday night.

Dive in below to see when these future Wildcats will be in action over the next 36 hours, but first, a quick word from our sponsor.

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Kentucky FB commits in action this weekend

Matt Ponatoski (QB) 6-2, 190 | Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati, OH)
4-star: No. 241 overall, No. 17 QB

• Saturday vs. Princeton | 4:00 p.m. ET (Massey Ratings predict 42-14 W)

Messiah Tilson (S) 6-2, 165 | Guilford (Rockford, IL)
4-star: No. 323 overall, No. 28 S

• Season starts Friday, Aug. 29 @ Belvidere North

Jordan Crutchfield (ATH) 6-2, 195 | Vero Beach (Fort Pierce, FL)
4-star: No. 389 overall, No. 15 ATH

• Friday vs. Eau Gallie | 7:00 p.m. ET (Massey Ratings predict 27-21 W)

Denairius Gray (WR) 6-1, 170 | Chaminade-Madonna Prep (Boynton Beach, FL)
3-star: No. 401 overall, No. 62 WR

• Saturday @ St. Frances Academy | 7:30 p.m. ET (Massey Ratings predict 40-14 L)

Dallas Dickerson (WR) 6-1, 180 | North Oconee (Bogart, GA)
3-star: No. 537 overall, No. 83 WR

• Friday vs. Dalton | 7:30 p.m. ET (Massey Ratings predict 47-14 W)

Tyreek Jemison (OT) 6-5, 330 | Paulding County (Dallas, GA)
3-star: No. 562 overall, No. 42 OT

• Friday vs. North Atlanta | 7:00 p.m. ET (Massey Ratings predict 41-8 L)

Lincoln Watkins (TE) 6-4, 225 | Port Huron Northern (Port Huron, MI)
3-star: No. 610 overall, No. 36 TE

• Season starts Thursday, Aug. 28 @ Lee M. Thurston

Garrett Witherington (DL) 6-4, 290 | Briarwood Christian (Birmingham, AL)
3-star: No. 822 overall, No. 83 DL

• Friday vs. Oak Mountain | 7:00 p.m. ET (Massey Ratings predict 28-21 L)

Isaiah McMillian (CB) 6-0, 170 | Katy (Katy, TX)
3-star: No. 858 overall, No. 81 CB

• Season starts Saturday, Aug. 30 vs. Dickinson

Ben Duncum (DL) 6-5, 250 | Lake Travis (Austin, TX)
3-star: No. 899 overall, No. 91 DL

• Season starts Friday, Aug. 29 vs. Martin

Davis McCray (ATH) 6-2, 190 | Cornerstone Christian (San Antonio, TX)
3-star: No. 925 overall, No. 50 ATH

• Season starts Friday, Aug. 29 vs. Dallas Christian School

Prince Jean (WR) 6-0, 170 | Valdosta (Valdosta, GA)
3-star: No. 948 overall, No. 135 WR

• Friday vs. Mundy’s Mill | 8:00 p.m. ET (Massey Ratings predict 46-6 W)

Cameron Miller (OT) 6-5, 310 | Morton (Hammond, IN)
3-star: No. 969 overall, No. 72 OT

• Friday vs. Portage | 5:30 p.m. ET (Massey Ratings predict 35-14 L)

Max Mohring (LB) 6-3, 215 | Malvern Prep (Downingtown, PA)
3-star: No. 1,040 overall, No. 88 LB

• Season starts Friday, Aug. 29 vs. La Salle College

Delvechhio Alston (RB) 6-0, 200 | Hewitt-Trussville (Trussville, AL)
3-star: No. 1,221 overall, No. 74 RB

• Friday vs. Jefferson Davis | 8:00 p.m. ET (Massey Ratings predict 44-6 W)

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