Stein seeing success in summer recruiting
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Kentucky’s Will Stein has yet to make his debut as a college football head coach, but that hasn’t slowed him down on the recruiting trail.
Stein, who took over in December following UK’s dismissal of longtime coach Mark Stoops, quickly cobbled together the 10th-best transfer class for 2026, according to 247Sports. Forty-four players, including more than 30 transfers, joined the Wildcats even as Stein was wrapping up his tenure as Oregon’s offensive coordinator in the College Football Playoff.
Now, with the chance to build for the future, Stein’s already assembled a top-20 recruiting class for 2027.
“So far, so good,” the 36-year-old said on Kentucky Sports Radio Tuesday. “I thought we had a really good spring. We got 44 new people into our program in January, which was absolute craziness.
“Our guys have really bought in and done a great job so far.”
Kentucky has had a productive summer so far, landing commitments from six players in the last 10 days. With 24 commitments in total, the Cats’ 2027 recruiting class is considered No. 19 in the country by 247Sports.
The incoming group, which includes Owensboro High School star linebacker Ty Ashley, is highlighted by four-star quarterback Jake Nawrot from Illinois, offensive tackle Dominic Black from Ohio and several high-level three-star prospects.
“I think we’re just aggressive in recruiting,” Stein said of his approach. “If you want to get these great players, you have to wake them up in the morning and put them to bed at night, constantly recruit. It is truly the lifeblood of our program.
“You’ve got to be ultra-aggressive, you have to develop relationships. In the age of NIL and the portal, it still goes back to building relationships with the players, their family, their agents now, with their coaches, everybody in their circle — so when they come on your campus five or six times, they feel at home.”
In the last 10 days, UK picked up commitments from Black, defensive lineman Malachi Brown from Corbin, linebacker Drew Williams from Georgia, edge Jaylen Mercer from Cincinnati, offensive tackle Reed Gerken from Ohio and wide receiver Austin Coles from Florida.
Kentucky’s 2027 class is likely to continue growing this summer, especially with seven visits scheduled with uncommitted players over the next three weeks, and will only be bolstered when the NCAA transfer portal opens next year.
And, Stein said, he isn’t afraid to battle some of the nation’s top teams on the recruiting trail.
“We’re fishing with the big fish,” he said, “and not sitting back and waiting.”
UK opens the 2026 season on Sept. 5 against Youngstown State at Kroger Field.
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