3-star '24 EDGE Amontrae Bradford looking to officially visit Kentucky in the fall

Kentucky football’s official visitor list for the month of June is growing by the day, but some of the Wildcats’ top targets intend to take those trips in the fall. One of them is Amontrae Bradford, who announced an offer from defensive coordinator Brad White on Wednesday.

Bradford is a 6-foot-5, 230-pound EDGE from Statesboro, GA considered a three-star prospect and the No. 818 overall recruit in the class of 2024, per the On3 Industry Ranking. Kentucky was the 21st Division I school to extend him a scholarship, joining a list that already includes Colorado, Nebraska, Georgia Tech, Minnesota, Virginia Tech, Indiana, and Vanderbilt, among others.

Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas A&M have also been staying in touch with the talented pass rusher.

BLESSED! To receive my 21st ⭕️ffer from The University of Kentucky!! #BELT pic.twitter.com/0vTP234ckZ

— Amontrae "AB” Bradford•3⭐️ (@AmontraeB) May 10, 2023

Coach White came to visit Bradford on Wednesday to extend an offer in person, but defensive backs coach Chris Collins is the one in contact with him the most.

“It’s kinda hard not to have a connection with Coach Collins,” Bradford told KSR on Wednesday. “He’s the type of guy that’s gonna tell you how it is and he gonna talk to you. I can talk to him about really anything, it doesn’t always have to be about football. He’s someone that’s really good to talk to.”

Since taking a camp visit over the summer to UK, Bradford has been in steady communication with Collins. He’s put on an extra 30 pounds of weight during that time, which has helped grow interest from Kentucky and other Power 5 schools.

“I feel like I’ve been picking things up,” Bradford said about his recruitment. “The only thing with me from last year, probably why I didn’t get the offers for real was because of my weight. I would say I was like 210 (pounds) last year and I put on about 30 pounds almost. My body and how it was when I seen (Kentucky) that first time is completely different now.”

So far, Bradford already has official visits locked in this summer for Indiana (June 16) and Vanderbilt (June 23). He added that he’ll likely schedule another to Georgia Tech and possibly Virginia Tech. After that, he’ll look to the fall to take more visits, one of which could go to Kentucky.

“I’m gonna try to lock in one with Kentucky for the fall and Minnesota in the fall,” Bradford said. “I know I got one for Western Kentucky in the fall.”

A commitment will likely come once those fall visits are in the book.

“I’m looking for someone who is gonna recruit me for me,” he added. “Not just as a football player but me as a person. Somebody I can bond with, talk to if I need to, things like that. That’s what’s really gonna get me. If you can sit down and have a conversation with me just about life, outside of football? That’s what I like.”