3-star IOL Isaac Sowells commits to NC State over Kentucky

Kentucky was on a hot recruiting streak throughout June and early July, but couldn’t close things out with a bang.

On Thursday afternoon, three-star offensive lineman Isaac Sowells Jr. committed to NC State, choosing the Wolfpack over Kentucky and South Carolina. Considered the No. 491 overall prospect from the 2025 class by the On3 Industry Ranking, Sowells plays his high school football for Louisville Male.

With Sowells headed elsewhere, Kentucky remains at 17 commits for the 2025 cycle, which ranks 21st in the country and 10th in the SEC according to On3.

BREAKING: 3 ⭐️ OL Isaac Sowells Jr. just committed to NC State!!

This is a HUGE recruiting win for the Pack. Kentucky and South Carolina were his other finalists.

Some regard Sowells as the top center in the country. He felt at home with NC State.

🗞️: https://t.co/zYq7JyZM4z pic.twitter.com/WU906wpok2

— Ethan McDowell (@ethanmmcdowell) July 18, 2024

Sowells took official visits to all three of his finalists. He hit South Carolina first on May 31 before coming to Lexington on June 7 and then NC State on June 21. The 6-foot-2, 290-pound center also officially visited Miami (FL) in June. But in the end, an opportunity to play right away with NC State stood out above the rest. Sowells is the third highest-ranked recruit for the Wolfpack in 2025.

“It was a great time down there. Just how I can shape their offense for the future,” Sowells told KSR last month about his visit to NC State. “Come in and compete and have potential to be a freshman All-American. Gotta put in the work and the time but just help build something special down there.”

Aiding in NC State’s recruiting efforts of Sowells was wide receivers coach Joker Phillips, who was the head coach at Kentucky from 2010-12.

For UK, associate head coach Vince Marrow and offensive line coach Eric Wolford led Sowells’ recruitment. The Wildcats pitched the idea of being a home-state hero and staying close to his family, but NC State ultimately pulled away down the stretch.

With Sowells’ decision, Kentucky sticks with four offensive linemen committed to 2025: three-star OT Darrin Strey, three-star OT Jermiel Atkins, three-star OT Bryan Auguste, and three-star IOL Tucker Kattus.