Kentucky cracks On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings Top 25 after latest commitment
Kentucky dipped back into the state of Ohio once more on Thursday, as the Wildcats picked up a commitment from Dayton Northmont four-star EDGE Cedric Works.
The 6-foot-5, 230-pounder becomes the highest-ranked pledge in UK’s 2025 recruiting class, checking in at No. 143 overall in the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
“With Kentucky I believe in the staff to develop me,” Works previously told On3 ahead of his commitment. “It’s a program I definitely think has the ability to develop me.”
Mark Stoops, Vince Marrow and Co. are on pace for a second straight top-25 haul come December. With Works now in the mix, the Cats’ recruiting class now ranks No. 24 in the nation and No. 12 in the SEC, according to the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.
Cats bolstering class with local firepower
The Kentucky coaching staff continues to do damage on the trail in Ohio. Three of the four highest-ranked prospects on Stoops’ pledge list are from the Buckeye State, with Works now leading the way at the top of the class.
Cleveland Heights four-star running back Marquise Davis chose UK over Michigan on May 1. He is a top-200 recruit and the No. 12 tailback in the nation. Cincinnati Withrow four-star wide receiver Quintin Simmons pledged back in February and is a top-50 player at the position.
“What attracts me to Kentucky is the opportunity it comes with and how they prepare their running backs for success,” Davis told On3.
The class also includes the No. 2 player in the Bluegrass, Paducah (Ky.) Tilghman four-star safety Martels Carter Jr. The 6-foot-1 defensive back is the No. 198 overall prospect and No. 17 safety in the class.
Kentucky has more than doubled its 2025 class this month, as Works became commitment No. 7 in June. Paw Paw (Mich.) four-star offensive tackle Darrin Strey joined the fold, as did the likes of Enterprise (Ala.) three-star cornerback Andrew Purcell, Houston Fort Bend Marshall three-star wide receiver Ja’Kayden Ferguson and Cedartown (Ga.) three-star athlete Demarcus Gardner — who flipped from UCF.
“That staff believes in me and thinks I have the chance to be great one day with the right coaches and right program where I can get in and have a chance to play,” Strey told KSR’s Jacob Polacheck following his commitment.
Kentucky still in the mix for more top talent
With 13 commitments now in the 2025 class, Kentucky still has plenty of room as it pushes for a top-10 class in the SEC. According to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine, there are still multiple blue-chippers on the board that could land in Lexington.
Eyes immediately look to Frankfort (Ky.) Western Hills four-star defensive lineman Javeon Campbell, a top-15 DL and the No. 1 player in Kentucky this cycle. The Cats are battling high-profile programs to try and keep the 6-foot-5, 260-pounder home.
Another top-10 player in Ohio could soon join the class, as the Cats are also trending for Columbus Franklin four-star CB Dawayne Galloway following multiple picks logged in the RPM. Like Works, Galloway is a top-150 prospect.