Kentucky trending for 2024 LB Devin Smith

Kentucky is trending to land the commitment of Brunswick (Ga.) three-star linebacker Devin Smith, according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM).

Smith is set to announce his college decision on Sept. 22, choosing between Kentucky and LSU.

LSU recruiting analyst Billy Embody entered an expert prediction in favor of Kentucky with a confidence level of 60%.

“His visit to Lexington to kick off the season gave the Wildcats a chance to really turn up the heat on him as a top-tier target for that staff,” Embody wrote.

Smith took an official visit to Lexington the first week of the season for the Wildcats’ season-opening 44-14 win over Ball State.

“Either Way I’ll Be A Cat,” he said on social media about his upcoming announcement.

Smith is the nation’s No. 605 overall prospect and No. 62 linebacker in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking — a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is also the No. 68 player in Georgia.

Smith does not currently have a publicly listed On3 NIL Valuation. The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets high school and college athletes’ projected annual value (PAV). The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.

Kentucky picks up recent momentum

Kentucky currently holds the No. 26 class in the nation in the 2024 On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. Mark Stoops’ staff made a huge splash Friday night by flipping a pair of four-star twins from Michigan. Corbin (Ky.) four-star defensive lineman Jerod Smith and his brother, four-star EDGE Jacob Smith flipped their commitment from the Wolverines to the Wildcats.

Hodgenville (Ky.) Lexington Christian Academy four-star quarterback Cutter Boley headlines the class along with top-200 Cincinnati Withrow cornerback Terhyon Nichols.