3-star safety Casey Etienne visits Kentucky

Kentucky football has not had a heavy recruiting presence in South Florida recently. Linebackers coach Mike Stoops is attempting to change that.

The former Arizona head coach and Oklahoma defensive coordinator has some strong ties in the Miami and Ft. Lauderdale area. To close the 2023 cycle, Stoops landed high three-star linebacker Jayvant Brown out of Ft. Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas. Stoops has Kentucky back in that area in 2024.

Three-star safety Casey Etienne visited Kentucky over the weekend.

Had a great time at Kentucky Friday!! Thank you for everything @Mike_Stoops41 @CoachBuffano @UKStoopsTroops @Andrew_Ivins @MohrRecruiting @Redskins32 @5manfree pic.twitter.com/O377KcuxYL

— Casey Etienne Jr. (@jellyfam_case) April 23, 2023

The Ft. Lauderdale (Fla.) Cardinal Gibbons safety is the No. 838 overall prospect in On3’s Industry Ranking. The 6-foot-2 defensive back helped lead his school to consecutive state titles and is also an impact player on the Cardinal Gibbons basketball team.

Etienne owns 17 reported offers with Iowa, Iowa State, Maryland, Penn State, Syracuse, and Vanderbilt joining Kentucky as the power conference schools to issue a verbal scholarship offer. Etienne is also getting some significant Ivy League interest. The safety recorded 53 tackles as a junior in 2022.

End of Season Highlights Pt.1🙏🏾
1 Int, 3 PBU, 2FF, 2FR, 53 TT, 1 Blocked Kick
All God!@5manfree @D1Blackwell8 @RehmanZack @Andrew_Ivins @RWrightRivals @DemetricDWarren @MohrRecruiting @D5Army pic.twitter.com/yBCmqunJQc

— Casey Etienne Jr. (@jellyfam_case) December 1, 2022

Per On3’s database, Etienne’s first unofficial visit of the spring occurred when the defensive back made the trip to Lexington this past weekend. The Wildcats currently have six scholarship safeties on the 2022 roster. However, both Jalen Geiger and Zion Childress are entering senior seasons. Safety is a significant need for Kentucky in the 2024 cycle.

Kentucky is looking to recruit the fertile South Florida region more consistently moving forward. Casey Etienne is a prospect to keep an eye on.