Kentucky Pursuing Multiple Players in the Updated 2026 On3 Rankings
Once spring practice ended, college football coaches across the country hit the road recruiting. The month of May provides a valuable opportunity to extend scholarship offers to rising underclassmen who will be the biggest names in recruiting in the years to come.
Mark Stoops’ Kentucky football coaches have doled out dozens and dozens of scholarship offers to underclassmen. Jacob Polacheck has spoken to many of them for KSR+. Today On3 updated the 2026 On300 rankings and many of those players made the cut. Kentucky is casting a wide net and they’re entering the mix for some of the best rising juniors in the country.
Zion Elee
6-3 | 215 pounds | Joppa, MD
Four-Star, No. 8 Overall, No. 1 EDGE
Brad White has primarily recruited the Mid-Atlantic region throughout his time as the Kentucky defensive coordinator. His knowledge of the area and expertise with outside linebackers has the Cats in contention for one of the best players in America. Elee told KSR+ last week that he plans to visit Kentucky in June.
“They’re really a top defense,” Elee said. “I like how their defense runs. I like the formation they run. It fits me and what I want to do in the future. He’s developed a lot of nice players, so I know he can do it.”
Elbert Hill
5-10.5 | 170 | Arkon, OH
Four-Star, No. 13 Overall, No. 1 CB
Ohio State typically dominates recruiting in Northeast Ohio, but Vince Marrow has secured a couple of additions from the area, particularly at Hill’s school, Archbishop Hoban. The Buckeyes and Penn State are major players in Hill’s recruitment, but the top-ranked cornerback in the country plans on visiting Kentucky this summer.
Savion Hiter
5-11.5 | 190 pounds | Mineral, VA
Four-Star, No. 45 Overall, No. 4 RB
The top-ranked running back in two different recruiting services, anybody who’s everybody is recruiting Hiter, with Michigan and Ohio State near the top of his list. He received a scholarship offer from Jay Boulware last week.
Joel Wyatt
6-4 | 185 pounds | Knoxville, TN
Four-Star, No. 116 Overall, No. 16 WR
Kobe Clapper
6-2 | 195 pounds | Cincinnati, OH
Four-Star, No. 167 Overall, No. 17 LB
This could be a big one for Vince Marrow. The Big Dog gave Clapper his first SEC offer before most Power Four programs got in the mix. He attends St. X where he’s teammates with 2024 Kentucky commit Tucker Kattus.
Storm Miller
6-3 | 215 pounds | Strongsville, OH
Four-Star, No. 185 Overall, No. 18 LB
Amari Clemons
5-10 | 178 pounds | Marianna, FL
Three-Star, No. 194 Overall, No. 18 RB
One of the biggest movers in the update, the talented running back went from unranked into the Top 200 of the On300. Florida State, Florida, and Auburn are among the competition for Kentucky. He tells KSR+ he will be in Lexington this summer and shared a connection to the program. He grew up playing ball with Kentucky RB Jason Patterson.
Hakim Satterwhite
6-1 | 175 pounds | Washington DC
Four-Star, No. 258 Overall, No. 22 CB
Another DMV prospect on the Wildcats’ radar, Penn State is the early team to beat for this lengthy cornerback prospect. He’s expected to visit Kentucky this summer.
Malachi Taylor
5-10 | 170 pounds | Pickerington, OH
3-Star, No. 262 Overall, No. 18 ATH
A two-way player in Central Ohio, Vince Marrow got Kentucky in the mix very early in his recruitment. The safety/wide receiver is certainly a name to monitor moving forward.
Will Conroy
6-3 | 275 pounds | Cleveland, OH
4-Star, No. 298 Overall, No. 22 IOL
Conroy attends the same high school as former Kentucky All-American Darian Kinnard. That’s gotta be good for something, right?
Payton Cook
6-1 | 185 pounds | Akron, OH
4-Star, No. 300 Overall, No. 50 WR
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