Dead Period: What's Next on the Recruiting Trail for Kentucky Football

There are still days left in June but the busy month of recruiting has come to an end. After hosting hundreds of campers at Kroger Field and more than 30 official visitors, it’s time for the Kentucky coaching staff to briefly exhale.

The recruiting dead period began today and runs through July 24. All official in-person recruiting business is on pause until further notice. After working seven days a week, the Kentucky coaching staff can catch their breath, if only to hold it once decision days roll around.

Kentucky added seven players to the 2025 recruiting class over the last four weeks. That number is expected to grow in the coming weeks. Let’s take a closer look at where the Wildcats stand with some of their top targets and which direction players are trending.

Decision Dates for Kentucky Targets

Things change quickly in college football recruiting. Coaches can put the squeeze on prospects to get a commitment in person or let the cake bake for a planned announcement. The funny thing about plans, they have a way of changing.

Nevertheless, the Fourth of July has become a prime time for decisions across the country. After spending June on the road, they return home to collect their thoughts and make a final decision. We know of at least three top Kentucky targets with announcements planned over the next few weeks.

Isaac Sowells: July 18
Dawayne Galloway: July 5
Jermiel Atkins: July 4

Players Trending Toward Kentucky

Cedric Works: The Top 150 EDGE from Dayton spent his last weekend on the road in Lexington where Vince Marrow pulled out all of the stops. Florida, Penn State, and Cincinnati all received OVs, but Kentucky is the apparent leader without a firm decision date on the table.

Dawayne Galloway: Another Top 150 talent from Ohio who was in over the weekend, Steve Wiltfong placed an RPM pick for Kentucky following his trip to Lexington. It’s felt like the Cats have been the team to beat, even though Purdue moved the needle during his trip to West Lafayette.

Jermiel Atkins: Following an unofficial visit to camp, Atkins returned for an official visit over the weekend. Virginia Tech, Minnesota, and Arizona State also hosted the enormous offensive tackle, but this feels like a player Marrow and Eric Wolford should be able to close.

Had a great time in UK #BBN
@UKFootball pic.twitter.com/lrJ1eyvDPg

— Jermiel Atkins (@JermielAtkins) June 23, 2024

Javeon Campbell: The top-ranked player from the state of Kentucky has been pursued by the biggest names in college football. He officially visited Auburn, Alabama, and Miami, but there appears to be a strong pull to his Old Kentucky Home. A win in this recruitment would be huge for the future of the Kentucky defensive line.

Kalen Edwards: Speaking of defensive linemen, there were not many known DL targets outside of Campbell until we learned Edwards was officially visiting Kentucky last weekend. The one-time Auburn commit from West Tennessee officially visited The Plains and made the trip to Louisville, but it sounds like Kentucky made a significant impression over the weekend. 247’s Josh Edwards made a prediction for the Cats to land this enormous defensive tackle.

Isaac Sowells: This recruitment has been difficult to gauge. In the early days, it appeared to be a Governor’s Cup battle for the Louisville Male center. The Cards did not stay in the battle, but NC State emerged as his top choice. However, it’s still difficult for me to see a scenario where Wolford and Marrow miss on a player of this caliber so close to home. If he does not pick Kentucky in mid-July, the Cats will not stop recruiting him until signing day.

Targets Looking Elsewhere

Brody Lennon appeared to be a lock for Kentucky. Then the Cleveland tight end picked up an offer from Ohio State just days before making the trip to Lexington. It is probably going to be too much for the Wildcats to overcome.

Andrew Stargel was one of the first players Wolford offered upon arriving in Lexington. He was high on Kentuck until the summer got closer. The talented Georgia IOL never made it to Lexington for an official visit and appears to be leaning toward a commitment to Ohio State.

Jaiden Braker officially visited Kentucky over the weekend, but it’s unclear if Kentucky made a big enough move to secure a commitment. South Carolina has been the leader for the athletic linebacker from the Atlanta metro for quite some time. He plans on announcing a decision next month.

Kentucky is one of five finalists for cornerback Shamar Arnoux, but USC appears to be the team to beat entering his decision later this week. He never made it to Lexington for an official visit, all while Kentucky secured commitments for two players at his position and is trending in the right direction for a third.

Kentucky recruited Boyle County WR Montavin Quisenberry for years but slow-played the slot receiver entering the month of June. Meanwhile, West Virginia went all in and it worked for Neal Brown. He committed to the Mountaineers over the weekend. If the Cats miss on more receivers, they could revisit this recruitment down the stretch.

Last, but certainly not least, is Andrew Marsh, a top-100 pass-catcher from Texas. He’s close with Kentucky commit Ja’Kayden Ferguson, but Michigan received an RPM pick for his services from Steve Wiltfong after he officially visited Ann Arbor over the weekend. If a commitment follows, there’s no need to fret just yet. Daikiel Shorts has laid the groundwork to ensure Kentucky will remain in the mix until signing day.

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