3-star '24 IOL Marc Nave announces commitment to Kentucky

Hello there, Big Blue Nation. How about a YAHTZEE!?

On Thursday afternoon, three-star class of 2024 offensive lineman Marc Nave announced his commitment to the Kentucky Wildcats. The 6-foot-5, 315-pound product of Toledo (OH) Central Catholic was previously committed to Ohio State before backing off that decision in late September. Kentucky was already involved the first time around and then pounced when Nave went back on the market.

Nave took just one visit after decommitting from Ohio State, which was an unofficial visit to Kentucky last month. He was expected in Lexington for an official visit this past weekend, and while that trip ultimately never took place, his mind had already been made up. He was going to be a ‘Cat.

“Coach (Vince) Marrow and Coach (Zach) Yenser are great coaches and they are even better people,” Nave told On3’s Hayes Fawcett. “I’ve built a very good relationship with Marrow and Yenser and they have with my family as well. I would say I’m closest to them two and their plan for me is to come in as a true freshman and make an impact.”

Nave is considered the No. 629 overall high school senior in the country by the On3 Industry Ranking, which also rates him as a top 50 IOL in the cycle. Since decommitting from Ohio State, he received additional offers from the likes of Purdue, Arizona State, and South Florida. Nave previously held offers from schools such as Georgia, Indiana, Duke, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Missouri, Auburn, Louisville, and more.

Kentucky was actually the very first Power 5 school to give Nave a scholarship, which came all the way back in May 2022. Assistants Vince Marrow and Zach Yenser took the lead on Nave’s recruitment and used that longstanding relationship to help secure a commitment over a year later.

“The development from Coach Yenser and him being a former NFL offensive live coach sold me,” Nave added. “An opportunity to come in and have a shot at getting playing time early in the SEC was another big factor. The environment and people are amazing.”

Mave boosts a 2024 recruiting class for Kentucky that is now up to 23 commitments, good enough to be ranked 23rd in the country, according to On3. UK now has four offensive linemen in the fold with the addition of Nave. He joins three-star IOL Aba Selm (No. 633 overall), three-star IOL Hayes Johnson (No. 1,125), and three-star IOL Jadon Lafontant (No. 1,304).